The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 1999 CIA World Factbook, by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

In general, information available as of 1 January 1999 was used in the preparation of this edition.

The World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. Information is provided by the 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), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Department of Defense), Department of State, Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation), National Imagery and Mapping Agency (Department of Defense), Antarctic Information Program (National Science Foundation), 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), and other public and private sources.

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

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

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

Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europa Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia and Montenegro
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Spain
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
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

In addition to the updating of information, the following changes have been made in this edition of The World Factbook. The name Wake Island has been officially changed to Wake Atoll. The Historical perspective and Current issues entries in the Introduction category have been combined into a new Background entry. It appears in only a few country profiles at this time. There are new entries on Population below poverty line, Household income or consumption by percentage share, Electricity—production by source (fossil fuel, hydro, nuclear, other), Electricity—exports, and Electricity—imports. A new reference map of Kosovo has been included and terrain has been added to most of the reference maps.

Abbreviations: This information is included in Appendix A: Abbreviations, which includes all abbreviations and acronyms used in the Factbook, with their expansions.

Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.

Age structure: This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group (0-14 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Agriculture—products: This entry is a rank ordering of major crops and products starting with the most important.

Airports: This entry gives the total number of airports. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces), but must be usable. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Airports—with paved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces). For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups —(1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Airports—with unpaved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces). 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.

Area: This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of all water surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, including inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers).

Area—comparative: This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).

Background: This entry usually highlights major historic events, current issues, and may include a statement about one or two key future trends. This entry appears for only a few countries at the present time, but will be added to all countries in the future.

Birth rate: This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.

Budget: This entry includes revenues, total expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

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, and television entries.

Communications—note: This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of significance not included elsewhere.

Constitution: This entry includes the dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments.

Country map: Most versions of the Factbook provide a country map in color. The maps were produced from the best information available at the time of preparation. Names and/or boundaries may have changed subsequently.

Country name: This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.

Currency: This entry identifies the national medium of exchange and its basic subunit.

Data code: This entry gives the official US Government digraph that precisely identifies every land entity without overlap, duplication, or omission. AF, for example, is the data code for Afghanistan. This two-letter country code is a standardized geopolitical data element promulgated in the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS) 10-4 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology at the US Department of Commerce and maintained by the Office of the Geographer and Global Issues at the US Department of State. The data code is used to eliminate confusion and incompatibility in the collection, processing, and dissemination of area-specific data and is particularly useful for interchanging data between databases. Appendix F cross-references various country data codes and Appendix G does the same thing for hydrographic data codes.

Data codes—country: This information is presented in Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes which includes the US Government approved Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) codes, and Internet codes for land entities.

Data codes—hydrographic: This information is presented in Appendix G: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes which includes the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) codes, Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC; now National Imagery and Mapping Agency or NIMA) codes, and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) codes for hydrographic entities. The US Government has not yet approved a standard for hydrographic data codes similar to the FIPS 10-4 standard for country data codes.

Date of information: In general, information available as of 1 January 1999, was used in the preparation of this edition.

Death rate: This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.

Debt—external: This entry gives the total amount of public foreign financial obligations.

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 184 independent states, including 178 of the 185 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, former Yugoslavia, and the US itself). In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 6 independent states that are not in the UN—Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru, Switzerland, Tonga, and Tuvalu.

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 the foreign mission, chancery address, telephone number, FAX number, consulate general locations, consulate locations, honorary consulate general locations, and honorary 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.

Economic aid—donor: This entry refers to net official development assistance (ODA) from 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 LDCs, and contains a grant element of at least 25%. The entry does not cover other official flows (OOF) or private flows.

Economic aid—recipient: This entry, which is subject to major problems of definition and statistical coverage, refers to the net inflow of Official Development Finance (ODF) to recipient countries. The figure includes assistance from the World Bank, the IMF, and other international organizations and from individual nation donors. Formal commitments of aid are included in the data. Omitted from the data are grants by private organizations. Aid comes in various forms including outright grants and loans. The entry thus is the difference between new inflows and repayments.

Economy: This category includes the entries dealing with the size, development, and management of productive resources, i.e., land, labor, and capital.

Economy—overview: This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.

Electricity—consumption: This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt hours.

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.

Electricity—production by source: This entry indicates the percentage share of annual electricity production of each energy source. These are fossil fuel, hydro, nuclear, and other (solar, geothermal, and wind).

Elevation extremes: This entry includes both the highest point and the lowest point.

Entities: Some of the independent states, dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not independent, and others are not officially recognized by the US Government. "Independent state" refers to a people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory. "Dependencies" and "areas of special sovereignty" refer to a broad category of political entities that are associated in some way with an independent state. "Country" names used in the table of contents or for page headings are usually the short-form names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names and may include independent states, dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty, or other geographic entities. There are a total of 266 separate geographic entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:

INDEPENDENT STATES

191 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua
     and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
     Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
     Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia
     and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,
     Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
     Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
     Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
     Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
     Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
     Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
     Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
     Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
     Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
     Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras,
     Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
     Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
     Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
     Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
     Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
     Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
     Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
     Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
     Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
     Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
     Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
     Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,
     Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
     Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
     Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
     Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
     Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
     South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
     Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
     Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
     Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine,
     UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
     Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

OTHER

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
1 China—Hong Kong
2 Denmark—Faroe Islands, Greenland
16 France—Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
     French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and
     Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Guadeloupe, Juan de
     Nova Island, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion,
     Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tromelin Island, Wallis and
     Futuna
2 Netherlands—Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
3 New Zealand—Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
3 Norway—Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
1 Portugal—Macau
15 UK—Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
     British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,
     Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat,
     Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the
     South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
14 US—American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island,
     Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway
     Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra
     Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Atoll

MISCELLANEOUS

6 Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West Bank, Western Sahara

OTHER ENTITIES

  4 oceans—Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
     Pacific Ocean
  1 World

266 Tota
l
Environment—current issues: This entry lists the most
pressing and important environmental problems.

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 D: Selected International Environmental Agreements, which includes the name, abbreviation, date opened for signature, date entered into force, objective, and parties by category.

Ethnic groups: This entry provides a rank ordering of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.

Exchange rates: This entry provides the official value of a country's monetary unit at a given date or over a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US dollar and as determined by international market forces or official fiat.

Executive branch: This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. 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. 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.

Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis.

Exports—commodities: This entry provides a rank ordering of exported products starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Exports—partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Fiscal year: This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. FY93/94 refers to the fiscal year that began in calendar year 1993 and ended in calendar year 1994. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).

Flag description: This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.

Flag graphic: Most versions of the Factbook include a color flag at the beginning of the country profile. The flag graphics were produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time of preparation. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.

GDP: This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. GDP dollar estimates in the Factbook are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations. See the note on GDP methodology for more information.

GDP methodology: In the Economy section, GDP dollar estimates for all countries are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations rather than from conversions at official currency exchange rates. The PPP method involves the use of standardized international dollar price weights, which are applied to the quantities of final goods and services produced in a given economy. The data derived from the PPP method provide the best available starting point for comparisons of economic strength and well-being between countries. The division of a GDP estimate in domestic currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in dollars gives the PPP conversion rate. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries are often rough approximations. Most of the GDP estimates are based on extrapolation of PPP numbers published by the UN International Comparison Program (UNICP) and by Professors Robert Summers and Alan Heston of the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues. In contrast, currency exchange rates depend on a variety of international and domestic financial forces that often have little relation to domestic output. In developing countries with weak currencies the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP estimate. Furthermore, exchange rates may suddenly go up or down by 10% or more because of market forces or official fiat whereas real output has remained unchanged. On 12 January 1994, for example, the 14 countries of the African Financial Community (whose currencies are tied to the French franc) devalued their currencies by 50%. This move, of course, did not cut the real output of these countries by half. One important caution: the proportion of, say, defense expenditures as a percentage of GDP in local currency accounts may differ substantially from the proportion when GDP accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as, for example, when an observer tries to estimate the dollar level of Russian or Japanese military expenditures. Note: the numbers for GDP and other economic data can not be chained together from successive volumes of the Factbook because of changes in the US dollar measuring rod, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or different sources of information, and changes in national statistical methods and practices. For statistical series on GDP and other economic variables, see the Handbook of International Economic Statistics available from the same sources as The World Factbook.

GDP—composition by sector: This entry gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP.

GDP—per capita: This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.

GDP—real growth rate: This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent.

Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on the Gazetteer of Conventional Names, Third Edition, August 1988, US Board on Geographic Names and on other sources.

Geographic names: This information is presented in Appendix H: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names which indicates where various geographic names—including alternate names, former names, political or geographical portions of larger entities, and the location of all US Foreign Service posts—can be found in The World Factbook. Spellings are normally, but not always, those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names are included in parentheses, while additional information is included in brackets.

Geography: This category includes the entries dealing with the natural environment and the effects of human activity.

Geography—note: This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.

GNP: Gross national product (GNP) is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned by its citizens abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production. The Factbook, following current practice, uses GDP rather than GNP to measure national production. However, the user must realize that in certain countries net remittances from citizens working abroad may be important to national well-being.

Government: This category includes the entries dealing with the system for the adoption and administration of public policy.

Government type: This entry gives the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).

Government—note: This entry includes miscellaneous government information of significance not included elsewhere.

GWP: This entry gives the gross world product (GWP) or aggregate value of all final goods and services produced worldwide in a given year.

Heliports: This entry gives the total number of established helicopter takeoff and landing sites (which may or may not have fuel or other services).

Highways: This entry includes the total length of the highway system as well as the length of the paved and unpaved components.

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.

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.

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).

Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia.

Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussan AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil).

Opium is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics.

Poppy straw concentrate is the alkaloid derived from the mature, dried opium poppy.

Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of
Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.

Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.

Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).

Imports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight)or f.o.b. (free on board) basis.

Imports—commodities: This entry provides a rank ordering of imported products starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Imports—partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved, and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as traditional founding date, date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.

Industrial production growth rate: This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).

Industries: This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.

Infant mortality rate: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year. This rate is often used 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 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 C: International Organizations and Groups which includes the name, abbreviation, address, telephone, FAX, date established, aim, and members by category.

Introduction: This category includes one entry, Background. At present it appears in only a few country profiles, but will be added to others in the future.

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—by occupation: This entry contains a rank ordering of component parts of the labor force by occupation.

Land boundaries: This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries.

Land use: This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for five different types of land use. Arable land—land cultivated for crops that are replanted after each harvest like wheat, maize, and rice. Permanent crops—land cultivated for crops that are not replanted after each harvest like citrus, coffee, and rubber. Permanent pastures—land permanently used for herbaceous forage crops. Forests and woodland—land under dense or open stands of trees. Other—any land type not specifically mentioned above, such as urban areas, roads, desert, etc.

Languages: This entry provides a rank ordering of languages starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent of total population speaking that language.

Legal system: This entry contains a brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.

Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.

Life expectancy at birth: This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. The entry includes total population as well as the male and female components. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.

Literacy: This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition—the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.

Location: This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.

Map references: This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.

Maritime claims: This entry includes the following claims: contiguous zone, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, exclusive fishing zone, extended fishing zone, none (usually for a landlocked country), other (unique maritime claims like Libya's Gulf of Sidra Closing Line or North Korea's Military Boundary Line), and territorial sea. The proximity of neighboring states may prevent some national claims from being extended the full distance.

Merchant marine: Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc.; or a grouping of merchant ships by nationality or register. This entry contains information in two subfields—total and ships by type. Total includes the total number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. Ships by type includes a listing of barge carriers, bulk cargo ships, cargo ships, combination bulk carriers, combination ore/oil carriers, container ships, intermodal ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock carriers, multifunction large—load carriers, oil tankers, passenger ships, passenger-cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea passenger ships, specialized tankers, tanker tug-barges, and vehicle carriers.

A captive register is a register of ships maintained by a territory, possession, or colony primarily or exclusively for the use of ships owned in the parent country; it is also referred to as an offshore register, the offshore equivalent of an internal register. Ships on a captive register will fly the same flag as the parent country, or a local variant of it, but will be subject to the maritime laws and taxation rules of the offshore territory. Although the nature of a captive register makes it especially desirable for ships owned in the parent country, just as in the internal register, the ships may also be owned abroad. The captive register then acts as a flag of convenience register, except that it is not the register of an independent state.

A flag of convenience register is a national register offering registration to a merchant ship not owned in the flag state. The major flags of convenience (FOC) attract ships to their registers by virtue of low fees, low or nonexistent taxation of profits, and liberal manning requirements. True FOC registers are characterized by having relatively few of the registered ships actually owned in the flag state. Thus, while virtually any flag can be used for ships under a given set of circumstances, an FOC register is one where the majority of the merchant fleet is owned abroad. It is also referred to as an open register.

A flag state is the nation in which a ship is registered and which holds legal jurisdiction over operation of the ship, whether at home or abroad. Maritime legislation of the flag state determines how a ship is crewed and taxed and whether a foreign-owned ship may be placed on the register. An internal register is a register of ships maintained as a subset of a national register. Ships on the internal register fly the national flag and have that nationality but are subject to a separate set of maritime rules from those on the main national register. These differences usually include lower taxation of profits, use of foreign nationals as crew members, and, usually, ownership outside the flag state (when it functions as an FOC register). The Norwegian International Ship Register and Danish International Ship Register are the most notable examples of an internal register. Both have been instrumental in stemming flight from the national flag to flags of convenience and in attracting foreign-owned ships to the Norwegian and Danish flags.

A merchant ship is a vessel that carries goods against payment of freight; it is commonly used to denote any nonmilitary ship but accurately restricted to commercial vessels only.

A register is the record of a ship's ownership and nationality as listed with the maritime authorities of a country; also, it is the compendium of such individual ships' registrations. Registration of a ship provides it with a nationality and makes it subject to the laws of the country in which registered (the flag state) regardless of the nationality of the ship's ultimate owner.

Military: This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military structure, manpower, and expenditures.

Military branches: This entry lists the names of the ground, naval, air, marine, and other defense or security forces.

Military expenditures—dollar figure: This entry gives current military expenditures in US dollars; the figure is calculated by multiplying the estimated defense spending in percentage terms by the gross domestic product (GDP) calculated on an exchange rate basis not purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. The figure should be treated with caution because of different price patterns and accounting methods among nations, as well as wide variations in the strength of their currencies.

Military expenditures—percent of GDP: This entry gives current military expenditures as an estimated percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Military manpower—availability: This entry gives the total numbers of males and females age 15-49 and assumes that every individual is fit to serve.

Military manpower—fit for military service: This entry gives the number of males and females age 15-49 fit for military service. This is a more refined measure of potential military manpower availability which tries to correct for the health situation in the country and reduces the maximum potential number to a more realistic estimate of the actual number fit to serve.

Military manpower—military age: This entry gives the minimum age at which an individual may volunteer for military service or be subject to conscription.

Military manpower—reaching military age annually: This entry gives the number of draft-age males and females entering the military manpower pool in any given year and is a measure of the availability of draft-age young adults.

Military—note: This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere.

Money figures: All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

National holiday: This entry gives the primary national day of celebration—usually independence day.

Nationality: This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens—noun and adjective.

Natural 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).

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. An example would be President SADDAM Husayn of Iraq. Saddam is his name and Husayn is his father's name. He may be referred to as President SADDAM Husayn or President SADDAM, but not President Husayn. 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, William Jefferson CLINTON, 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 Saddam, President Castro, Chairman Mao, President Clinton, or Sultan Tunku Salahuddin. The same system of capitalization is extended to the names of leaders with surnames that are not commonly used such as Queen ELIZABETH II.

Personal Names—Spelling: The romanization of personal names in the Factbook normally follows the same transliteration system used by the US Board on Geographic Names for spelling place names. At times, however, a foreign leader expressly indicates a preference for, or the media or official documents regularly use, a romanized spelling that differs from the transliteration derived from the US Government standard. In such cases, the Factbook uses the alternative spelling.

Personal Names—Titles: The Factbook capitalizes any valid title (or short form of it) immediately preceding a person's name. A title standing alone is lowercased. Examples: President YEL'TSIN and President CLINTON 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.

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 taken into account the effects of the growing incidence of AIDS infections. These countries are Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Population below poverty line: National estimates of the percentage of the population lying below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.

Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.

Ports and harbors: This entry lists the major ports and harbors selected on the basis of overall importance to each country. This is determined by evaluating a number of factors (e.g., dollar value of goods handled, gross tonnage, facilities, military significance).

Radio broadcast stations: This entry includes the total number of AM, FM, and shortwave broadcast stations.

Railways: This entry includes the total length of the railway network and component parts by gauge: broad, dual, narrow, standard, and other.

Reference maps: This section includes world, regional, and special or current interest maps.

Religions: This entry includes a rank ordering of religions starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent of total population.

Sex ratio: This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups—at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertility patterns. Eventually it could cause unrest among young adult males who are unable to find partners. The sex ratio at birth for the World is 1.06 (1999 est.).

Suffrage: This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.

Telephone numbers: All telephone numbers in the Factbook consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area code (where required) in parentheses, and the local number. The one component that is not presented is the international access code, which varies from country to country. For example, an international direct dial telephone call placed from the US to Madrid, Spain, would be as follows:

An international direct dial telephone call placed from another country to the US would be as follows:

Telephone system: This entry includes a brief characterization of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:

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 regular 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.

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).

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.

Inmarsat—International Mobile Satellite Organization (London); provider of global mobile satellite communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications at sea, in the air, and on land.

Intelsat—International Telecommunications Satellite
Organization (Washington, DC).

Intersputnik—International Organization of Space
Communications (Moscow); first established in the former
Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now
marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in
North America, Africa, and East Asia.

landline—communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground.

Marecs—Maritime European Communications Satellite used in the Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency.

Marisat—satellites of the Comsat Corporation that participate in the Inmarsat system.

Medarabtel—the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network.

microwave radio relay—transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path.

NMT—Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular telephone system that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).

Orbita—a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet—switched digital telephone network.

radiotelephone communications—the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets.

satellite communication system—a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provides 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.

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.

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.

Total fertility rate: This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population growth in the country. High rates will also place some limits on the labor force participation rates for women. Large numbers of children born to women indicate large family sizes that might limit the ability of the families to feed and educate their children.

Transnational Issues: This category includes only two entries at the present time —Disputes—international and Illicit drugs—that deal with current issues going beyond national boundaries.

Transportation: This category includes the entries dealing with the means for movement of people and goods.

Transportation—note: This entry includes miscellaneous transportation information of significance not included elsewhere.

Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.

United Nations System: This information is presented in Appendix B: United Nations System as a chart, table, or text (depending on the version of the Factbook) that shows the organization of the UN in detail.

Waterways: This entry gives the total length and individual names of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.

Weights and measures: This information is presented in Appendix E: 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. FY93/94 refers to the fiscal year that began in calendar year 1993 and ended in calendar year 1994.

Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence Community estimates. The Handbook of International Economic Statistics, published annually in September by the Central Intelligence Agency, contains detailed economic information for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the successor nations to the Soviet Union, and selected other countries. The Handbook can be obtained wherever the Factbook is available.

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 governmentwide 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 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 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 1996 edition was printed by GPO and the 1997 edition was reprinted by GPO. The year 1999 marks the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency and the 56th year of continuous basic intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and its two predecessor programs

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prepares The World Factbook in printed, CD-ROM, and Internet versions. US Government officials may obtain information about availability of the Factbook directly from their own organizations or through liaison channels to the CIA. Other users may obtain sales information about printed copies and CD-ROMs from the following:

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

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/

The Internet version may be accessed through the following World-Wide
Web uniform resource locator (URL): http://www.cia.gov

Electronic file preparation by Printing and Photography Group, Central
Intelligence Agency.

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

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 3%
  other: 39% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 5,640,841; female 5,422,460)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 7,273,681; female 6,776,750)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 374,666; female 336,484) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.95% (1999 est.)
note: this rate reflects the continued return of refugees

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.33 years male: 47.82 years female: 46.82 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)

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

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 31.5%
  male: 47.2%
  female: 15% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan; note—the
  self-proclaimed Taliban government refers to the country as Islamic
  Emirate of Afghanistan
  conventional short form: Afghanistan
  local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
  local short form: Afghanestan
  former: Republic of Afghanistan

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat,
  singular—velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian,
  Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol,
  Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz,
  Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar,
  Vardak, Zabol
  note: there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and
  Khowst

National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April;
Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day,
19 August

Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but all factions tacitly agree they will follow Shari'a (Islamic law)

Executive branch: on 27 September 1996, the ruling members of the
  Afghan Government were displaced by members of the Islamic Taliban
  movement; the Islamic State of Afghanistan has no functioning
  government at this time, and the country remains divided among
  fighting factions
  note: the Taliban have declared themselves the legitimate government
  of Afghanistan; the UN has deferred a decision on credentials and
  the Organization of the Islamic Conference has left the Afghan seat
  vacant until the question of legitimacy can be resolved through
  negotiations among the warring factions; the country is essentially
  divided along ethnic lines; the Taliban controls the capital of
  Kabul and approximately two-thirds of the country including the
  predominately ethnic Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan; opposing
  factions have their stronghold in the ethnically diverse north

Judicial branch: non-functioning as of March 1995, although there
are local Shari'a (Islamic law) courts throughout the country

Political parties and leaders: Taliban (Religious Students
  Afghanistan comprised of Jumbesh-i-Melli Islami (National Islamic
  other smaller parties are Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party)
  SAYYAF]; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement)
  GAILANI]; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party)

Political pressure groups and leaders: tribal elders represent
  traditional Pashtun leadership; Afghan refugees in Pakistan,
  Australia, US, and elsewhere have organized politically; Peshawar,
  Pakistan-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National

International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: note: embassy operations suspended 21 August 1997 chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US embassy in Kabul
has been closed since January 1989 due to security concerns

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
  white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the
  emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions
  above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by
  a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by
  two crossed scimitars
  note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag

Economy—overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during two decades of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During that conflict one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 750,000 registered Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan and about 1.2 million in Iran. Another 1 million have probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport. Much of the population continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country, with one estimate putting the rate at 240% in Kabul in 1996. International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian problem, let alone promote economic development. Government efforts to encourage foreign investment have not worked. The economic situation did not improve in 1998. Numerical data are likely to be either unavailable or unreliable.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 28.5% services: 18.5% (1990)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry 10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5%, services and other 10.7% (1980 est.)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 35.19% hydro: 64.81% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

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

Exports—partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic

Imports—partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India,
South Korea, Germany

Economic aid—recipient: $214.6 million (1995); note?US provided $450 million in bilateral assistance (1985-93); US continues to contribute to multilateral assistance through the UN programs of food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons

Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1—4,750 (February 1999), 17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note—these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which was fixed at 50.600 afghanis to the dollar until 1996, when it rose to 2,262.65 per dollar, and finally became fixed again at 3,000.00 per dollar on April 1996

Telephone system:
  domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; in 1997,
  telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif,
  Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and
  microwave systems
  international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
  linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
  commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni

Television broadcast stations: NA note: in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces; also, the government ran a central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 30 provinces; it is unknown if any of these stations currently operate

Railways:
  total: 24.6 km
  broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to
  Towraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to
  Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya

Waterways: 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up
to about 500 DWT

Pipelines: petroleum products—Uzbekistan to Bagram and
Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km

Merchant marine:
total: 1 container ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,982
GRT/14,101 DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 11
  over 3,047 m: 3
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 33
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military branches: NA; note—the military does not exist on a national basis; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various groups

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,392,336 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions; question over which group should hold Afghanistan's seat at the UN

Illicit drugs: world's second-largest illicit opium producer after Burma (cultivation in 1998—41,720 hectares, a 7% increase over 1997; potential production in 1998—1,350 metric tons) and a major source of hashish; increasing number of heroin-processing laboratories being set up in the country; major political factions in the country profit from drug trade

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

Land boundaries:
  total: 720 km
  border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
  Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia,
  173 km with Montenegro)

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

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium,
copper, timber, nickel

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 15%
  forests and woodland: 38%
  other: 21% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along
southwestern coast

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

Environment—international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 568,642; female 530,088)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 957,561; female 1,105,870)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 84,280; female 118,130) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69 years male: 65.92 years female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs,
  Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
  note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from
  1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
  note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious
  observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing
  private religious practice

Literacy:
  definition: age 9 and over can read and write
  total population: 93%
  male: NA%
  female: NA% (1997 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 36 districts (rrethe, singular—rreth)
  and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll
  (Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster,
  Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove,
  Kukes, Lac, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik),
  Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin,
  Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode),
  Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri),
  Vlore
  note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
  administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
  name following in parentheses)

Constitution: a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note—the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24
  July 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Pandeli MAJKO (since 2 October
  1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
  approved by the president
  elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a
  five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA
  2002); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's
  Assembly vote by number—total votes 122, for 110, against 3,
  abstained 2, invalid 7

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party—PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI,
  EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marisa R. LINO embassy: Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana mailing address: American Embassy, Tirana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9510

Economy—overview: An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression accompanying the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of 1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by the budget deficit which exceeded 12%. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997—which had attracted deposits from a substantial portion of Albania's population—triggered severe social unrest which led to more than 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and an 8% drop in GDP. The new government installed in July 1997 has taken strong measures to restore public order and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy continues to be bolstered by remittances of some 20% of the labor force which works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. In 1998, Albania probably recovered most if not all of the 7% drop in GDP of 1997.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 56% industry: 21% services: 23% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 1.692 million (1994 est.) (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture (nearly all private; but some state employed) 49.5%, private business sector 22.2%, state business sector 28.3% (including state-owned industry 7.8%); note—includes only those domestically employed

Unemployment rate: 14% (October 1997) officially, but likely to
be as high as 28%

Budget:
revenues: $624 million
expenditures: $996 million, including capital expenditures of $NA

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 4.3% hydro: 95.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Imports—partners: Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1—139.93 (January 1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996), 92.70 (1995), 94.62 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for
  every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist
  government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used
  it to build fences
  international: inadequate; international traffic carried by
  microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

Railways:
total: 447 km (none electrified)
standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake
Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,394 GRT/41,429
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 622,013 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government

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 cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe

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

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

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%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 13%
  forests and woodland: 2%
  other: 82% (1993 est.)

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

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37% (male 5,911,910; female 5,696,538)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 9,255,702; female 9,063,954)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 559,570; female 645,812) (1999 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.24 years male: 68.07 years female: 70.46 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 61.6%
  male: 73.9%
  female: 49% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
  conventional short form: Algeria
  local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
  Shabiyah
  local short form: Al Jaza'ir

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

Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976;
  revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996;
  note—referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was
  signed into law 7 December 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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Liamine ZEROUAL (appointed president 31
  January 1994, elected president 16 November 1995)
  head of government: Interim Prime Minister Smail HAMDANI (since 15
  December 1998); note—appointed as interim prime minister until April
  1999 presidential elections
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 16 November 1995 (next to be held NA April 1999;
  note—ZEROUAL announced in September 1998 his intention to step down
  after early presidential elections); prime minister appointed by the
  president
  election results: Liamine ZEROUAL elected president; percent of
  vote—Liamine ZEROUAL 61.3%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National
  People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the
  Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by
  the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve
  six-year terms; created as a result of the constitutional revision
  of November 1996)
  elections: National People's Assembly—last held 5 June 1997 (next to
  be held NA 2001); elections for two-thirds of the Council of
  Nations—last held 25 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2003)
  election results: National People's Assembly—percent of vote by
  party—NA%; seats by party—RND 156, MSP 69, FLN 62, Nahda Movement
  34, FFS 20, RCD 19, PT 4, Republican Progressive Party 3, Union for
  Democracy and Freedoms 1, Liberal Social Party 1, independents 11;
  Council of Nations—percent of vote by party—NA%; seats by party—RND
  80, FLN 10, FFS 4, MSP 2 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the
  president, party breakdown NA)

Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front or FIS BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed; a new party law was enacted in March 1997

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ramtane LAMAMRA chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME
  embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
  mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers

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

Economy—overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 52% of budget revenues, 25% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve economic stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy. Despite substantial progress toward economic adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural adjustment process. Burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994 and the following year signed onto a three-year extended fund facility which ended 30 April 1998. Progress on economic reform, a Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995, and oil and gas sector expansion have contributed to a recovery since 1995. Investments in developing hydrocarbon resources have spurred growth, but the economy remains heavily dependent on volatile oil and gas revenues. The government has continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector in order to reduce high unemployment and improve living standards.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 51% services: 37% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)

Labor force—by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%, transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $14.4 billion
  expenditures: $15.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.4
  million (1998 est.)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 98.91% hydro: 1.09% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle

Exports—partners: Italy 18.8%, US 14.8%, France 11.8%, Spain 8%,
Germany 7.9% (1995 est.)

Imports—partners: France 29%, Spain 10.5%, Italy 8.2%, US 8%,
Germany 5.6% (1995 est.)

Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1—61.264 (January 1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995), 35.059 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic
  satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic
  earth stations are planned)
  international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy,
  France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and
  Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations—2
  Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and
  1 Arabsat

Railways:
  total: 4,772 km
  standard gauge: 3,616 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 102,424 km
  paved: 70,570 km (including 608 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 31,854 km (1995 est.)

Ports and harbors: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf,
Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes

Merchant marine:
  total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 933,672 GRT/1,094,104
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas
  tanker 11, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea
  passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 51 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 24 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)

Military branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force,
Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,046,931 (1999 est.)

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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

Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation

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

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 10%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 70%
  other: 15% (1993 est.)

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

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 12,840; female 12,074)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 17,933; female 18,035)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 1,494; female 1,410) (1999 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: 1.06 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.46 years male: 71.23 years female: 79.95 years (1999 est.)

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

Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other
Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual

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

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

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
  20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20
  January 1993)
  head of government: Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997)
  and Lieutenant Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 3 January 1997)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
  ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
  on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
  last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
  election results: Tauese P. SUNIA elected governor; percent of
  vote—Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 51%, Peter REID (independent) 49%

Legislative branch: 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 NA November 1998 (next
  to be held NA November 2000); Senate—last held 3 November 1996 (next
  to be held 7 November 2000)
  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—NA
  note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of
  Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held
  7 November 2000); results—Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat)
  reelected as delegate for a sixth term

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

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC

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—overview: This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk 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. According to one observer, attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism, a developing sector, may be held back by the current financial difficulties in East Asia.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

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

Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing
vessels), handicrafts

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

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

Imports—commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%,
petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%

Telephone system:
  domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular phone
  services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Ports and harbors: Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao,
Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 56%
  forests and woodland: 22%
  other: 20% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion

Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14% (male 4,880; female 4,527)
  15-64 years: 73% (male 25,811; female 22,444)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 4,196; female 4,081) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.46 years male: 80.55 years female: 86.55 years (1999 est.)

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 heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by officials called veguers

Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular—parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
  represented by Veguer Jean-Pierre COURTOIS (since NA); and Spanish
  Coprince Episcopal Monseigneur Joan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January
  1971) represented by Veguer Francesc BADIA Battalla (since NA)
  head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
  (since 21 December 1994)
  cabinet: Executive Council designated by the Executive Council
  president
  elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
  Council and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held
  16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
  election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council
  president; percent of General Council vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or
  Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by
  direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14
  to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA February
  2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%,
  ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party—UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan, France, (two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the coprinces alternately); Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal des Cortes, (presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council)

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group or AND
note: there are two other small parties

International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (3493) 280-2227; FAX: (3493) 205-7705; note—Consul General Douglas R. SMITH makes periodic visits to Andorra

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 that do not have a national coat of arms in the center

Economy—overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 10 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing 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.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $138 million
  expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1—143.39 (January 1999), 149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges international: landline circuits to France and Spain

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

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

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

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%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 23%
  forests and woodland: 43%
  other: 32% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: the 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, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change

Geography—note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 2,545,006; female 2,473,732)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 2,938,178; female 2,909,844)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 143,074; female 167,703) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.39 years male: 46.08 years female: 50.82 years (1999 est.)

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.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 42%
  male: 56%
  female: 28% (1998 est.)

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: transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

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

Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992

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

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 January
  1999); note—the president is both chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected without
  opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in
  Angola's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the
  last elections to be held (next to be held NA)
  election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote,
  making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place
  finisher Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's
  National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
  repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed

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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of
the Supreme Court are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of years of armed resistance before joining the current unity note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly

Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC,
  ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,
  SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu" chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550

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—overview: Angola is an economy in disarray because of more than 20 years of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources—gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits—Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform government policies. The increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998 dims economic prospects for 1999 especially if the oil sector were to be damaged.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 53% services: 34% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry and services
15% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment
affecting more than half the population (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $928 million
  expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
  million (1992 est.)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 24.73% hydro: 75.27% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

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

Exports—commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton (1998)

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

Exchange rates: kwanza (NKz) per US$1—350,000 (February 1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995), 59,515 (1994); note—readjusted Kwanzas per US$1,000 through 1994, per US$1 thereafter

Telephone system: telephone service limited mostly to government
  and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military
  links
  domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and
  tropospheric scatter
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 2,952 km (limited trackage in use because of land mines still
  in place from the civil war) (1997 est.)
  narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 76,626 km
  paved: 19,156 km
  unpaved: 57,470 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo,
Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo

Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,384 GRT/78,357 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 32
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
  914 to 1,523 m: 6
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 220
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
  914 to 1,523 m: 100
  under 914 m: 82 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
National Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,280,377 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
  commercial salt ponds)

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

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 1,581; female 1,529)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 3,874; female 3,695)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 366; female 465) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years male: 74.72 years female: 80.78 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%

Literacy:
  definition: age 12 and over can read and write
  total population: 95%
  male: 95%
  female: 95% (1984 est.)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
  represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since 1 November 1995)
  head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March
  1994)
  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; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the
  members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total,
  7 elected by direct popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held March 2004)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—ANA 2,
  AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), ECLAC (associate)

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—overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. The economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September but recovered in 1996. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, contributed to economic growth in 1997-98. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financing sector. A comprehensive package of financial services legislation was enacted in late 1994. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend on the tourism sector and, therefore, on continuing income growth in the industrialized nations.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 16% services: 80% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%

Budget:
  revenues: $20.4 million
  expenditures: $23.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.8
  million (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes; sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry; fish, lobsters

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Telephone system:
  domestic: modern internal telephone system
  international: microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin
  (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

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: second-smallest continent (after Australia)

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 about 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: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 5,140 m

Natural resources: none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium,
copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and
hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)

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

Environment—current issues: in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants

Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: the coldest, windiest, highest, 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

Population: no indigenous inhabitants, but there are seasonally
  staffed research stations
  note: approximately 29 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic
  Treaty, send personnel to perform seasonal (summer) and year-round
  research on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the
  population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent
  and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the
  region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately
  4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000
  personnel including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard
  research are present in the waters of the treaty region; Summer
  (January) population—3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201,
  Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11,
  France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea
  14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia
  254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378
  (1998-99); Winter (July) population—964 total; Argentina 165,
  Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9,
  India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102,
  South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); year-round stations—42
  total; Argentina 6, Australia 4, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, Finland
  1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ
  1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Ukraine 1,
  UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (1998-99); Summer-only stations—32 total;
  Argentina 3, Australia 4, Bulgaria 1, Chile 7, Germany 1, India 1,
  Japan 3, NZ 1, Peru 1, Russia 3, Sweden 2, UK 5 (1998-99) in
  addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous
  occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary
  facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research

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. Administration is carried out through consultative member meetings—the 22nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in Norway in May 1998. At the end of 1998, there were 43 treaty member nations: 27 consultative and 16 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations that have made no claims have reserved the right to do so. The US does not recognize the claims of others. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are—Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are—Belgium, Brazil (1983), Bulgaria (1978) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), and the US. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are—Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), and Ukraine (1992). 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 in 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; 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 activities 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 the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964); Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but was subsequently rejected; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna, and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research.

Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected or scientific 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 Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, 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 (703) 306-1031, or see their website at www.nsf.gov.

Economy—overview: No economic activity is conducted at present, except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad. Antarctic fisheries in 1997-98 reported landing 92,456 metric tons. Unregulated fishing landed five to six times more than the regulated fishery, and allegedly illegal fishing in antarctic waters in 1998 resulted in the seizure (by France and Australia) of at least eight fishing ships. A total of 9,604 tourists visited in the 1997-98 summer, up from the 7,413 who visited the previous year. Nearly all of them were passengers on 13 commercial (nongovernmental) ships that made 92 trips during the summer. Around 200 tourists were on yachts or commercial aircraft. Most tourist trips lasted approximately two weeks.

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 2 (American Forces Antarctic
Network), shortwave 1 (Argentina Antarctic Base de Egercito
Esperanza) (1998)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (American Forces Antarctic
Network-McMurdo) (1997)

Airports: 17; 27 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the Antarctic Treaty, have landing facilities for either helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises operate two additional air facilities; helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, 1 is greater than 3 km in length, 6 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 3 are less than 1 km in length, and 2 are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, 4 are greater than 3 km in length, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 2 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 2 are less than 1 km in length, and 4 are of unknown length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for landing (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

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

Disputes—international: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary above); sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; the US and most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west

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

Area:
  total: 440 sq km
  land: 440 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Redonda

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 9%
  forests and woodland: 11%
  other: 62% (1993 est.)

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

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

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 8,414; female 8,137)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 21,936; female 22,227)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 1,504; female 2,028) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.46 years male: 69.06 years female: 73.98 years (1999 est.)

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

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

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March
  1994)
  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; prime minister
  appointed 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 9 March 1999 (next to
  be held NA March 2004)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—ALP
  12, UPP 4, independent 1

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

Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester
  coalition of three opposition political parties—United National
  Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or
  ACLM, and the Progressive Labor Movement or PLM

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
  (subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 consulate(s) general: Miami

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

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

Economy—overview: Tourism continues to be by far the dominant activity in the economy accounting directly or indirectly for more than half of GDP. Increased tourist arrivals have helped spur growth in the construction and transport sectors. The dual island nation's agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited water supply and labor shortages that reflect the pull 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 about half of all tourist arrivals.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 12.5% services: 83.5% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)

Budget:
  revenues: $122.6 million
  expenditures: $141.2 million, including capital expenditures of
  $17.3 million (1997 est.)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock

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

Exports—partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and
Tobago 2%, US 0.3%

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Telephone system:
  domestic: good automatic telephone system
  international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station—1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands
  Antilles) and Guadeloupe

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (repeater
transmitters for Deutsche Welle and BBC world broadcasts) (1998)

Railways:
  total: 77 km
  narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost
  exclusively for handling sugarcane)

Merchant marine:
  total: 517 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,706,126
  GRT/3,542,664 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 338, chemical tanker 7, combination
  bulk 2, container 111, liquefied gas tanker 2, multifunctional
  large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 9,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 10 ships,
  Slovenia 2, and Cyprus 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal
Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes Coast Guard)

Illicit drugs: over the long-term, considered a relatively minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recently, a transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; potentially more significant as a drug-money-laundering center

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; smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean,
Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean)

Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow

Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov 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 icelocked 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

Environment—international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes—see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix

Economy—overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

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

Disputes—international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia

Background: A part of the Spanish empire until independence in 1816, Argentina subsequently experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. Meantime, thanks to rich natural resources and foreign investment, a modern agriculture and a diversified industry were gradually developed. After World War II, a long period of Peronist dictatorship was followed by rule by a military junta. Democratic elections finally came in 1983, but both the political and economic atmosphere remain susceptible to turmoil.

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

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

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

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

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

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

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 52%
  forests and woodland: 19%
  other: 19% (1993 est.)

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

Environment—current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls and improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cities; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
  Conservation

Geography—note: second-largest country in South America (after
  Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South
  Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle
  Channel, Drake Passage)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 5,124,087; female 4,932,060)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 11,457,399; female 11,469,346)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 1,553,158; female 2,201,614) (1999 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.76 years male: 71.13 years female: 78.56 years (1999 est.)

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20%
practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 96.2%
  male: 96.2%
  female: 96.2% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias,
  singular—provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal);
  Buenos Aires; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes;
  Distrito Federal*; 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

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989);
  Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989);
  Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 14 May 1995
  (next to be held NA October 1999)
  election results: Carlos Saul MENEM reelected president; percent of
  vote—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; formerly, three members appointed by each of the provincial legislatures; presently transitioning to one-third of the members being elected every two years to a six-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms) elections: Senate—transition phase will continue through 2001 elections when all seats will be fully contested; winners will randomly draw to determine whether they will serve a two-year, four-year, or full six-year term; Chamber of Deputies—last held 26 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PJ 39, UCR 1, others 32; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PJ 119, UCR 69, Frepaso 36, other 33

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme
Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the
Senate

Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos
Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical
NA]; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party

Political pressure groups and leaders: Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces

International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
  BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
  RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
  UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Diego Ramiro GUELAR
  chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
  New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
  embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
  mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO
  address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034

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—overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. However, when President Carlos MENEM took office in 1989, the country had piled up huge external debts, inflation had reached 200% per month, and output was plummeting. To combat the economic crisis, the government embarked on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. In 1991, it implemented radical monetary reforms which pegged the peso to the US dollar and limited the growth in the monetary base by law to the growth in reserves. Inflation fell sharply in subsequent years. The Mexican peso crisis produced capital flight, the loss of banking system deposits, and a severe, but short-lived, recession in 1995; a series of reforms to bolster the domestic banking system followed. Real GDP growth recovered strongly, reaching almost 9% in 1997. In 1998, increasing investor anxiety over Brazil, its largest trading partner, produced the highest domestic interest rates in more than three years and slowed growth to 4.3%. Despite the relatively high level of growth in recent years, double-digit unemployment rates have persisted, largely because of rigidities in Argentina's labor laws.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 37% services: 56% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $56 billion
  expenditures: $60 billion, including capital expenditures of $4
  billion (1998 est.)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 45% hydro: 44.3% nuclear: 10.7% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock

Exports—commodities: cereals, feed, motor vehicles, crude
petroleum, steel manufactures

Exports—partners: Brazil 31%, US 8%, Chile 7.0%, China 3%,
Uruguay 3% (1997 est.)

Imports—commodities: motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, organic
chemicals, telecommunications equipment, plastics

Exchange rates: peso is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of 1 peso = $1

Telephone system: 12,000 public telephones; extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

Railways:
  total: 37,830 km
  broad gauge: 23,992 km 1.676-m gauge (167 km electrified)
  standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 11,073 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 208,350 km
  paved: 47,550 km (including 567 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 160,800 km (1998 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km;
natural gas 9,918 km

Ports and harbors: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro
Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata,
Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia

Merchant marine:
  total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,856 GRT/363,335 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 10, container 1, oil tanker 13, railcar carrier
  1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea
  passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 141
  over 3,047 m: 5
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 58
  914 to 1,523 m: 45
  under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 1,233
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 67
  914 to 1,523 m: 621
  under 914 m: 541 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,435,551 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: short section of the southwestern boundary with Chile is indefinite—process to resolve boundary issues is underway; claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; increasing money-laundering center

Background: Armenia was one of the 15 successor republics to the USSR in December 1991. Its leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Although a cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994, the sides have not made substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. In January 1998, differences between President TER-PETROSSIAN and members of his cabinet over the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process came to a head. With the prime minister, defense minister, and security minister arrayed against him, an isolated TER-PETROSSIAN resigned the presidency on 3 February 1998. Prime Minister Robert KOCHARIAN was elected president in March 1998. Concerns about Armenia's economic performance have continued since 1997 with a slowdown in growth and the serious impact of the 1998 financial crisis in Russia.

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

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 Lerr 4,095 m

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 24%
  forests and woodland: 15%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has 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 without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 25% (male 442,117; female 425,561)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 1,100,334; female 1,148,595)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 122,170; female 170,457) (1999 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.56 years male: 62.21 years female: 71.13 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly
  Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
  note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from
  Armenia

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 98% (1989 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (marzer, singular—marz)
  and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular—k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat,
  Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
  Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan*

Independence: 28 May 1918-2 December 1920 (First Armenian
Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
  head of government: Prime Minister Armen DARBINYAN (since 10 April
  1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  special election last held 30 March 1998 (next election to be held
  March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of
  vote—Robert KOCHARIAN 59%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 41%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or
  Azgayin Zhoghov (190 seats; members serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 5 July 1995 (next to be held in the spring of
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—Republican Bloc 159 (ANM 63, DLP-Hanrapetutyun Bloc 6,
  Republic Party 4, CDU 3, Intellectual Armenia 3, Social Democratic
  Party 2, independents 78), SWM 8, ACP 7, NDU 5, NSDU 3, DLP 1, ARF
  1, other 4, vacant 2; note—seats by party change frequently

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
  CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM
  (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rouben R. SHUGARIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LEMMON embassy: 18 General Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7020

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 area. 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 (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-98. Armenia also managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. The Russian financial crisis generated concerns about Armenia's economic performance in 1998. Although inflation dropped to 10% and GDP grew about 6%, the industrial sector remained moribund. Much of Armenia's population remains heavily dependent on remittances from relatives abroad, and remittances from Russia fell off sharply in 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 30% services: 35% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: manufacturing, mining, and construction 25%, agriculture 38%, services 37%

Budget:
  revenues: $322 million
  expenditures: $424 million, including capital expenditures of $80
  million (1998 est.)

Industries: much of industry is shut down; metal-cutting machine
  tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted
  wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals,
  trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 46.05% hydro: 26.32% nuclear: 27.63% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal

Exchange rates: dram per US$1—535.62 (January 1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995), 288.65 (1994)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications oversees the
  Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; the national operator is
  Armentel; the Greek Telecoms Company owns 90% of Armentel and will
  provide a $60 million eight-year loan; Armenia has about 4,000
  Internet users on one satellite channel
  domestic: local—350,000 telephones are located in Yerevan; a
  fiber-optic loop provides digital service to 80,000 of Yerevan's
  customers; GSM cellular is available in Yerevan, as is paging;
  intercity—the former Soviet system provides service to 380,000
  numbers mostly governmental
  international: Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe line
  through Iran; additional international service is available by
  microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch; 1
  INTELSAT earth station

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, programs are received by relay from Russia; 100% of the population receive Armenian and Russian TV programs) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
  lines
  broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 5
  over 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air
Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 732,495 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the
  Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding,
  separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional
  demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic
  consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit
  drugs—mostly opium and hashish—to Western Europe and the US via
  Iran, Central Asia, and Russia

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

Land use:
  arable land: 11%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 89% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 7,724; female 7,106)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 22,723; female 24,747)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 2,623; female 3,752) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.09 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 (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.04 years male: 73.33 years female: 80.94 years (1999 est.)

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

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands
  (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo
  KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29
  July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES
  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 a four-year term; election last
  held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001)
  election results: inconclusive; no party won majority in December
  1997 parliamentary elections; no new government formed as of May 1998

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats;
  members elected by direct popular vote and serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA
  December 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—AVP
  10, MEP 9, OLA 2

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges are
appointed by the monarch)

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO
(associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

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—overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $345.3 million
  expenditures: $378.5 million, including capital expenditures of $107
  million (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products, crude oil for refining and reexport

Economic aid—recipient: $26 million (1995); note?the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996

Telephone system:
  domestic: more than adequate
  international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands
  Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

Highways:
  total: 300 km
  paved: 130 km
  unpaved: 170 km
  note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large
  tracts of the interior

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,366 GRT/1,595 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Illicit drugs: drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; added to the US list of major drug producing or drug transit countries in December 1996

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia

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

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 12 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 3 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all grass and sand)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and
Territories

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and the Western Hemisphere

Area:
  total: 82.217 million sq km
  note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
  Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
  North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other
  tributary water bodies

Area—comparative: slightly less than nine times the size of the
US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific
Ocean, but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)

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 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: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
highest point: in the Milwaukee Deep at 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;
  icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic
  Ocean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern
  Atlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from May
  to October; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
  September

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

Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes—see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix

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

Telephone system:
  international: numerous submarine cables with most between
  continental Europe and the UK, between North America and the UK, and
  in the Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via
  satellite networks

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

Transportation—note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two
important waterways

Background: Australia became a British commonwealth in 1901. Blessed by rich natural resources, the country enjoyed rapid gains in herding, agriculture, and manufacturing and made a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Australia subsequently developed its minerals, metals, and fossil fuel markets, all of which have become key Australian exports. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney will host the 2000 summer Olympics.

Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean

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

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

Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 54%
  forests and woodland: 19%
  other: 21% (1993 est.)

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 Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
  Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
  Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
  Desertification

Geography—note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 21% (male 2,023,569; female 1,926,901)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 6,317,045; female 6,172,735)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 1,022,485; female 1,320,816) (1999 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.14 years male: 77.22 years female: 83.23 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100% (1980 est.)

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

Government type: democratic, federal-state system recognizing the
British monarch as sovereign

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

Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since 16 February
  1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
  March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11
  March 1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal
  Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime
  minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
  appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
  leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
  usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a
  three-year term

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the
  Senate (76 seats—12 from each of the six states and two from each of
  the two territories; one-half of the members elected every three
  years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
  Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the
  basis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no
  state can have fewer than five representatives)
  elections: Senate—last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by
  October 2001); House of Representatives—last held 3 October 1998
  (next to be held by October 2001)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—Liberal-National 35, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 9, Greens
  1, One Nation 1, independent 1; House of Representatives—percent of
  vote by party—NA; seats by party—Liberal-National 80, Labor 67,
  independent 1

Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other
justices are appointed by the governor general

Political pressure groups and leaders: Australian Democratic
Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and
Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

International organization participation: ANZUS, APEC, AsDB,
  Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM
  (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Sharp PEACOCK
  chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and
  San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES
  embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
  Territory 2600
  mailing address: APO AP 96549
  consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and 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; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars

Economy—overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s, but the economy has expanded at reasonably steady rates in recent years. Canberra's emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate that reached 4.5% last year. After a slow start in 1998, exports rebounded in the second half of the year because of a sharp currency depreciation and a redirection of sales to Europe, North America, and Latin America.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 31% services: 65% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.8% (1989)

Labor force—by occupation: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $90.73 billion
  expenditures: $89.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY98/99 est.)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 91.14% hydro: 8.84% nuclear: 0% other: 0.02% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry

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

Exports—partners: Japan 20%, ASEAN 16%, EU 10%, South Korea 9%,
US 9%, NZ 8%, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1997)

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

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.56 (February 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3668 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations—10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (Australia's only shortwave station, Radio Australia, broadcasts to the world in seven languages, using 23 frequencies) (1998)

Television broadcast stations: 104 (64 of these stations are government-owned and 40 are commercial) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified)
  broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gauge
  standard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gauge
  dual gauge: 172 km NA gauges

Highways:
  total: 913,000 km
  paved: 353,331 km (including 13,630 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 559,669 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport
(Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston
(Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville

Merchant marine:
  total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,767,387 GRT/2,426,710
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 3, chemical tanker 4, container 4,
  liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 8, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 262 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 112 914 to 1,523 m: 120 under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 146 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 114 under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal
Australian Air Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,212,272 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: territorial claim in Antarctica
(Australian Antarctic Territory)

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

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. After the annexation to Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allied powers, Austria's 1955 State Treaty declared the country "permanently neutral" as a condition of the Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet collapse relieved the external pressure to remain unaligned, but neutrality had evolved into a part of Austrian cultural identity, which has led to an ongoing public debate over whether Vienna legitimately can remain outside of European security structures. A wealthy country, Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and, like many EU members, is adjusting to the new European currency and struggling with high unemployment.

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

Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers

Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m

Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal,
lignite, copper, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 23%
  forests and woodland: 39%
  other: 20% (1996 est.)

Environment—current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
  Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol

Geography—note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 702,261; female 666,310)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 2,792,484; female 2,713,397)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 478,071; female 786,776) (1999 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.48 years male: 74.31 years female: 80.82 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1974 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Austria
  conventional short form: Austria
  local long form: Republik Oesterreich
  local short form: Oesterreich

Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular—bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
  head of government: Chancellor Viktor KLIMA (since 28 January 1997);
  Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice
  of the chancellor
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held in
  the spring of 2004); chancellor chosen by the president from the
  majority party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by
  the president on the advice of the chancellor
  election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of
  vote—Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%,
  Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2%

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or
  Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64
  members; members represent each of the states on the basis of
  population, but with each state having at least three
  representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and the
  National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by
  direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: National Council—last held 17 December 1995 (next to be
  held in the fall of 1999)
  election results: National Council—percent of vote by party—SPOe
  38.3%, OeVP 28.3%, FPOe 22.1%, LF 5.3%, Greens 4.6%, other 1.4%;
  seats by party—SPOe 71, OeVP 53, FPOe 40, LF 10, Greens 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof;
Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court
or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
caucus floor leader and Alexander VAN DER BELLEN, party spokesman];

Political pressure groups and leaders: Federal Chamber of Trade and Commerce; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
  EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
  UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO,
  UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
  chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALL
  embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Economy—overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy with a high standard of living. As a member of the European Monetary Union (EMU), Austria's economy is closely integrated with other EU member countries, especially with Germany. Austria's membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market. Through privatization efforts, the 1996-98 budget consolidation programs, and austerity measures, Austria brought its total public sector deficit down to 2.5% of GDP in 1997 and public debt—at 66% of GDP in 1997—more or less in line with the 60% of GDP required by the EU's Maastricht criteria. Cuts mainly affect the civil service and Austria's generous social system, the two major causes of the government deficit. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service sector, particularly telecommunications and energy. The strong GDP growth of 1998 is expected to dwindle back to 2.3% in 1999, and observers caution that this projection may be revised downwards in view of the Asian and Brazilian crises and Germany's lower growth projection.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 30.8% services: 67.8% (1997 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: services 67.7%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 0.7% (salaried employees, 1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $50.4 billion
  expenditures: $55.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism (1997)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 34.4% hydro: 65.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1997)

Agriculture—products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Exports—commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, paper and paperboard, metal goods, iron and steel, telecommunication equipment, textiles, medical and pharmaceutical products (1997)

Exports—partners: EU 62% (Germany 35.1%, Italy 8.3%), Central and
Eastern Europe 17.6% (Hungary 4.9%), Japan 1.3%, US 3.7% (1997)

Imports—commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, apparel, metal goods, oil and oil products, office and data-processing machinery, medical and pharmaceutical products, telecommunication equipment, textiles (1997)

Imports—partners: EU 68.9% (Germany 41.7%, Italy 8%), Central and Eastern Europe 11% (Hungary 3.1%), Asia 7.1% (Japan 2.2%), US 5.4% (1997)

Economic aid—donor: ODA, $513 million (1997); of which, bilateral $298 million, multilateral $215 million

Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1—11.86 (January
  1999), 12.379 (1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995),
  11.422 (1994)
  note: on 9 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 13.7603 Austrian shillings per euro; the euro will replace
  the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in
  2002

Telephone system:
  domestic: highly developed and efficient
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 61 (several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (Austria's single shortwave station, Radio Austria International, transmits its programs to the world in six languages using 12 frequencies and six communication satellite relays) (1998)

Railways:
  total: 5,849 km (there is also 594 km of private tracks)
  standard gauge: 5,470 km 1.435-m gauge (3,418 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 379 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified)
  (1997)

Highways: 129,061 km paved: 129,061 km (including 1,613 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 67,066 GRT/95,693 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, combination bulk 2, container 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,735,469 (1999 est.)

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

Background: In 1806, Azerbaijan, a region of Turkic Muslim people, was conquered by the Russians. In 1918, Azerbaijan declared independence from Russia, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. It again declared its independence in 1991, following the collapse of the USSR. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still unresolved after 10 years and Baku has yet to settle disputes with its neighbors over oil rights in the Caspian Sea. During the war, Karabakh Armenians declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating some 750,000 Azerbaijani refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994.

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

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.)

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

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: 11%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea

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, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton

Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 1,292,018; female 1,240,745)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 2,361,792; female 2,496,721)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 202,755; female 314,193) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.08 years male: 58.76 years female: 67.63 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,
  Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.)
  note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
  region

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

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 99%
  female: 96% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic
  conventional short form: Azerbaijan
  local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
  local short form: none
  former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 26 November
  1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and
  confirmed by the National Assembly
  elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
  election last held 11 October 1998 (next to be held October 2003);
  prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the
  president and confirmed by the National Assembly
  election results: Heydar ALIYEV elected president; percent of
  vote—Heydar ALIYEV 76%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis
  (125 seats; members serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 12 and 26 November 1995 (next to be held NA
  2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NAP
  and allies 115, APF 4, PNIA 3, Musavat Party 1, vacant 2

Political parties and leaders: New Azerbaijan Party or NAP
ELCHIBEY, chairman]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan

Political pressure groups and leaders: self-proclaimed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Sadval,
Lezgin movement

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
  CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM
  (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 or P. O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO embassy: Azadliq Prospekt 83, Baku 370007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7050

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—overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Caucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and natural gas. Production from the Caspian oil field declined through 1997 but registered an increase in 1998. Negotiation of more than a dozen production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $30 billion to oil field development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. A major short-term obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building up with Turkey, Iran, the UAE, and the nations of Europe. A serious long-term challenge is the maintenance of the competitiveness of non-oil exports in world markets.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 15%, services 53% (1997)

Budget:
  revenues: $565 million
  expenditures: $682 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 90.55% hydro: 9.45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats

Exports—commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton

Imports—commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles

Exchange rates: manats per US$1—3,865.00 (November 1998), 3,985.38 (1997), 4,301.26 (1996), 4,413.54 (1995), 1,570.23 (1994)

Telephone system: Azerbaijani telecommunications fall under the Ministry of Communications; Azerbaijan's telephone system is a combination of old Soviet era technology used by Azerbaijani citizens and small- to medium-size commercial establishments, and modern cellular phones used by an increasing middle class, large commercial ventures, international companies, and most government officials; the average citizen waits on a 200,000-person list for telephone service; Internet and E-mail service are available in Baku domestic: local—the majority of telephones are in Baku or other industrial centers; intercity—about 700 villages still do not have public phone service; all long distance service must use Azertel's (Ministry of Communications) lines; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its separated enclave to Nakhichevan international: the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite service between Baku and Turkey provides access to 200 countries; additional satellite providers supply services between Baku and specific countries; Azerbaijan is a signator of the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE); their lines are not laid but the Turkish satellite and a microwave between Azerbaijan and Iran can provide Azerbaijan worldwide access through this system

Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (Azerbaijan's single shortwave station transmits its programs to the Middle East in eight languages)

Television broadcast stations: 2; note—the Ministry of Communications is the monopoly broadcaster and rebroadcaster of television in Azerbaijan; Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian, Iranian, British broadcasting companies, Voice of America, and other European channels are available via satellite; television is broadcast to Nakhichevan by satellite

Railways:
  total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)

Merchant marine:
  total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 251,404 GRT/ 306,264 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 12, oil tanker 42, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
  short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 33 (1996 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,639,144 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for opiates via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia to Western Europe

Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of Florida

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 32%
  other: 67% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 39,271; female 38,740)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 92,830; female 96,814)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 6,696; female 9,354) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.25 years male: 70.94 years female: 77.64 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98.2%
  male: 98.5%
  female: 98% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas

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, Nicholls Town and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock
  Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since 2
  January 1995)
  head of government: Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since
  19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since
  December 1994)
  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; prime minister and deputy prime minister
  appointed by the governor general

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 a five-year term) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14 March 1997 (next to be held by March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—FNM 35, PLP 5

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
  CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS,
  OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlington Griffith BUTLER chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arthur SCHECHTER embassy: Queen Street, Nassau mailing address: local or express mail address: P.O. Box N-8197, Nassau; stateside address: American Embassy Nassau, P.O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address: Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

Economy—overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. Moderate growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences led to an increase of the country's GDP by an estimated 4% in 1998. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute less than 10% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run will depend heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued income growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visitors.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 5% services: 92% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: government 30%, tourism 40%, business services 10%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $766 million
  expenditures: $845 million, including capital expenditures of $97
  million (FY97/98)

Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish,
refined petroleum products

Exports—partners: US 24.5%, EU (excluding UK) 23.9%, UK 12.6%,
Singapore 5.6% (1997)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil,
vehicles, electronics

Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1—1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar)

Telephone system:
  domestic: 91,183 telephone subscribers; totally automatic system;
  highly developed
  international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida;
  3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat
  (Atlantic Ocean)

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,079 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,631,924
  GRT/41,196,326 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 209, cargo 241, chemical tanker 43, combination
  bulk 13, combination ore/oil 22, container 61, liquefied gas tanker
  34, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 170, passenger 62,
  passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 140,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 48, short-sea passenger 12, specialized
  tanker 2, vehicle carrier 19
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49
  countries among which are Norway 177, Greece 141, UK 113, US 61,
  Denmark 39, Finland 27, Japan 25, Sweden 24, France 22, and Italy 22
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 33 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; banking industry vulnerable to money laundering

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 6%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 92% (1993 est.)

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; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs

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

Geography—note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

Population: 629,090 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 227,801 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 97,316; female 94,708)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 249,594; female 169,337)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 9,241; female 8,894) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.47 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.32 years male: 72.75 years female: 77.96 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 85.2%
  male: 89.1%
  female: 79.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: State of Bahrain
  conventional short form: Bahrain
  local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
  local short form: Al Bahrayn

Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (manatiq,
  singular—mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah,
  Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar
  Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat
  'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
  note: all municipalities administered from Manama

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);
  Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,
  born NA 1969)
  head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa
  (since 19 January 1970)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
  by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26
August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet;
appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992

Political pressure groups and leaders: several small, clandestine
  leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the
  arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists have fomented
  unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an
  elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
  ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
  ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 3119, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama

Flag description: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side

Economy—overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 46% services: 53% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 150,000 (1997 est.) note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.5 billion
  expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1999 budget)

Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish

Exports—partners: India 18%, Japan 11%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South
Korea 7%, UAE 5% (1997)

Imports—partners: Saudi Arabia 45%, US 10%, UK 6%, Japan 5%,
Germany 4% (1997)

Telephone system: modern system; good domestic services and
  excellent international connections
  domestic: NA
  international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave
  radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and
  Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 228,273 GRT/304,654 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 121,451 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Qatar currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

Population: uninhabited
  note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
  naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
  World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by
  special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
  generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and
  remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the
  middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife
  Service

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note—there is
one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely
covered with vegetation and unusable

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 18 nm
  continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot,
humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

Land use:
  arable land: 73%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 15%
  other: 5% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season

Environment—current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38% (male 24,516,722; female 23,346,904)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 38,441,064; female 36,586,743)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 2,303,613; female 1,922,921) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.6 years male: 60.73 years female: 60.46 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 38.1%
  male: 49.4%
  female: 26.1% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
  conventional short form: Bangladesh
  former: East Pakistan

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi note: there may be one additional division named Sylhet

Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996);
  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 Sheikh HASINA Wajed (since 23
  June 1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the
  president
  elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
  term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October
  2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that
  wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the
  president
  election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without
  opposition; percent of National Parliament vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya
  Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single
  territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%;
  seats by party—AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 2, election still
  to be held 1; note—the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an
  Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held
  under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were
  characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter
  turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and
  opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to
  widespread street violence

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC,
  OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
  UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Khwaja Mohammad SHEHABUDDIN
  chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John C. HOLZMAN
  embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
  mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000

Flag description: green with a large red disk slightly to the
  hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood
  shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush
  countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam

Economy—overview: Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. The economy is largely agricultural, with the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), inadequate power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed's Awami League government has made some headway improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing the capital markets; for example, it has negotiated with foreign firms for oil and gas exploration, better countrywide distribution of cooking gas, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and power plants. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. Severe floods, lasting from July to October 1998, endangered the livelihoods of more than 20 million people. Foodgrain production fell by 4 million tons, forcing Dhaka to triple its normal foodgrain imports and placing severe pressure on Bangladesh's balance of payments. The floods increased the country's reliance on large-scale international aid. So far the East Asian financial crisis has not had major impact on the economy.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 17% services: 53% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 23.7% (1992)

Labor force: 56 million note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, and Oman (1996)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 25%, industry and mining 10% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.8 billion
  expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997)

Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,
steel, fertilizer

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 97.35% hydro: 2.65% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes; beef, milk, poultry

Exports—commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather,
frozen fish and seafood

Exports—partners: Western Europe 42%, US 30%, Hong Kong 4%, Japan
3% (FY95/96 est.)

Imports—partners: India 21%, China 10%, Western Europe 8%, Hong
Kong 7%, Singapore 6% (FY95/96 est.)

Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1—48.500 (January 1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996), 40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: poor domestic telephone service
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
  international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
  neighboring countries

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (one of
  Bangladesh's two shortwave stations, Bangladesh Betar or Radio
  Bangladesh, transmits its programs to the world in six languages on
  four frequencies) (1998)

Railways:
  total: 2,745 km
  broad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (1998 est.)

Highways:
  total: 204,022 km
  paved: 25,095 km
  unpaved: 178,927 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)

Merchant marine:
  total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 315,855 GRT/453,002 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 33, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 19,772,013 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: a portion of the boundary with India is
indefinite; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island

Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in
neighboring countries

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Land use:
  arable land: 37%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 12%
  other: 46% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 30,132; female 29,359)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 85,437; female 88,131)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 9,862; female 16,270) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.98 years male: 72.22 years female: 77.81 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%,
Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 97.4%
  male: 98%
  female: 96.8% (1995 est.)

Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint
  Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint
  Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
  note: the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS
  (since 1 June 1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
  September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6
  September 1994)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
  the prime minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary monarch; governor general
  appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
  general

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of
  Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: House of Assembly—last held 20 January 1999 (next to be
  held by January 2004)
  election results: House of Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—BLP 26, DLP 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are
appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal
Service)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
  chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Coral Gables (Florida), Miami, and New York
  consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador E. William CROTTY
  embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
  Bridgetown
  mailing address: P.O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055

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—overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-98. Offshore finance and informatics are important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce the unacceptably high unemployment rate, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $725.5 million
  expenditures: $750.6 million, including capital expenditures of
  $126.3 million (FY97/98 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and
beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing

Imports—commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs,
construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1—2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar)

Telephone system:
  domestic: island wide automatic telephone system
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are two cable channels) (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 641,550 GRT/1,087,042
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 26, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 4,
  refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
  Canada owns 2 ships, Hong Kong 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground
Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 49,600 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique
Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all rock)

Natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Background: For centuries Byelorussia has been fought over, devastated, and partitioned among Russia, Poland, Lithuania, and, in World Wars I and II, Germany. After seven decades as a Soviet republic, the newly named Belarus declared its independence in August 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. On 25 December 1998, Russian President Boris YEL'TSIN and Belarusian President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO signed several agreements intended to provide greater political, economic, and social integration while preserving both states' sovereignty.

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,098 km
  border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km,
  Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

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

Land use:
  arable land: 29%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 15%
  forests and woodland: 34%
  other: 21% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 1,027,974; female 985,342)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 3,390,552; female 3,591,245)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 463,369; female 943,302) (1999 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: 0.49 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.13 years male: 62.04 years female: 74.52 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,
Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic,
Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
  conventional short form: Belarus
  local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
  local short form: none
  former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 6 voblastsi (singular—voblasts') and one municipality* (harady, singular—horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence: 25 August 1991 (Belarusian Supreme Soviet declaration of independence from the Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note—date set
by referendum of 24 November 1996; represents Minsk liberation from
German occupation

Constitution: 30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24
November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and
became effective 27 November 1996

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Sergey LING (acting since 18
  November 1996, confirmed 19 February 1997); First Deputy Prime
  Ministers Petr PROKOPOVICH (since 23 December 1996) and Vasiliy
  DOLGOLEV (since 2 December 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Valeriy
  KOKOREV (since 23 August 1994), Vladimir ZAMETALIN (since 15 July
  1997), Ural LATYPOV (since 30 December 1997), Gennadiy NOVITSKIY
  (since 11 February 1997), Leonid KOZIK (since 4 February 1997),
  Aleksandr POPKOV (since 10 November 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA;
  according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should be in
  1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via the November
  1996 referendum); prime minister and deputy prime ministers
  appointed by the president
  election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent of
  vote—Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%
  note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye
  Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet
  Respubliki (64 seats; eight appointed by the president and 56
  indirectly elected by deputies of local councils for four-year
  terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Pretsaviteley
  (110 seats; note—present members came from the former Supreme Soviet
  which LUKASHENKO disbanded in November 1996)
  elections: last held May and November-December 1995 (two rounds,
  each with a run-off; disbanded after the November 1996 referendum;
  next to be held NA)
  election results: after the November 1996 referendum, seats for the
  Chamber of Representatives were filled by former Supreme Soviet
  members as follows: PKB 24, Agrarian 14, Party of Peoples Concord 5,
  LDPB 1, UPNAZ 1, Green World Party 1, Belarusian Social Sports Party
  1, Ecological Party 1, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1,
  independents 61; 58 of the 64 seats in the Council of the Republic
  have been appointed/elected

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives

Political parties and leaders: Party of Communists Belarusian or
chairman]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic

International organization participation: CCC, CEI, CIS, EAPC,
  EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
  ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires CHEREPANSKY chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD (recalled to Washington in June 1998; Charge d'Affaires Randall LE COCQ) embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe of white on the hoist side bears the Belarusian national ornament in red

Economy—overview: Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism". In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO re-imposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprise. This produced a climate hostile to private business, inhibiting domestic and foreign investment. The Government of Belarus has artificially revived economic output since mid-1996 by pursuing a policy of rapid credit expansion. In a vain attempt to keep the rapidly rising inflation in check, the government placed strict price controls on food and consumer products, which resulted in food shortages. Long lines for dairy products, chicken, and pork became common in the closing months of 1998. With the goal of slowing down the devaluation of the Belarusian ruble, LUKASHENKO in 1997 introduced a new, complex system of legal buying/selling hard currencies. The new "command" system proved to be totally unworkable and resulted in galloping devaluation. In addition to the burdens imposed on businesses by high inflation and an artificial currency regime, businesses have also been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and retroactive application of new business regulations prohibiting practices that had been legal. A further economic problem is the sizable trade deficit.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 43% services: 37% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.9% highest 10%: 19.4% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 40%,
agriculture and forestry 19%, services 41% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2.3% officially registered unemployed
(December 1998); large number of underemployed workers

Budget:
  revenues: $4 billion
  expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: tractors, metal-cutting machine tools, off-highway dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity, wheel-type earth movers for construction and mining, eight-wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use in tundra and roadless areas, equipment for animal husbandry and livestock feeding, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, linen fabric, wool fabric, radios, refrigerators, other consumer goods

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.92% hydro: 0.08% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1997)

Agriculture—products: grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk

Imports—commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles, sugar, foodstuffs

Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1—139,000 (25 January 1999 official Belarusian exchange rate), 46,080 (2nd qtr 1998), 25,964 (1997), 15,500 (yearend 1996), 11,500 (yearend 1995), 10,600 (yearend 1994)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all
  telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company)
  Beltelcom which is a monopoly
  domestic: local—Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a
  cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long;
  local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity—Belarus
  has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving
  at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics form
  synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries'
  systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational
  international: Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL),
  Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE) and has access to the
  Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide
  connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide
  service is available to Belarus due to this infrastructure;
  additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat and
  Intersputnik earth stations

Television broadcast stations: 17 (1997); note—Belarus has a state-run television broadcasting network; independent local television stations exist

Railways: total: 5,563 km broad gauge: 5,563 km 1.520-m gauge (894 km electrified)

Waterways: NA km; note—Belarus has extensive and widely used
canal and river systems

Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural
gas 1,980 km (1992)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (1996 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 62 (1996 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Interior
Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,115,121 (1999 est.)

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

Background: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. In the half century following, it has prospered as a small, modern, technologically advanced European state and member of the European Union. Its unique political circumstance is the long-standing differences between the wealthier Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the poorer French-speaking Walloons of the south, differences that are becoming increasingly acute.

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,385 km
  border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
  Netherlands 450 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: median line with neighbors
  exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68
  km from coast)
  territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 21%
  other: 34%

Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Environment—current issues: the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
  Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
  Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol

Geography—note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West
European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of
both the EU and NATO

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 895,987; female 853,494)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 3,389,572; female 3,318,266)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 703,933; female 1,020,782) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.53 years male: 74.31 years female: 80.9 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1980 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

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

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular—province; Flemish: provincien, singular—provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen note: the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10 provinces

National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King
LEOPOLD I to the throne in 1831)

Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993;
parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state

Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March
  1992)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved
  by Parliament
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
  by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Flemish, 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 Flemish, 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 21 May 1995 (next to be held in June 1999) election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV 1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3, ECOLO 2; note—before the 1995 elections, there were 184 seats; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by party—CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP 12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL 10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%, AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%; seats by party—CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21, PRL 18, PSC 12, VB 11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2; note—before the 1995 elections, there were 212 seats note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch

Political pressure groups and leaders: Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
  Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
  EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN
  chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJAS
  embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
  mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist
side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Economy—overview: This highly developed 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, although the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of Wallonia. 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. Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.9% industry: 27.2% services: 70.9% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: services 69.7%, industry 27.7%, agriculture 2.6% (1992)

Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle
assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals,
textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 41.73% hydro: 0.33% nuclear: 57.93% other: 0.01% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Exports—commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products

Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1—34.77 (January
  1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995),
  33.456 (1994)
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace the
  local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephones: 5.691 million (1992 est.); 1.7 million cellular
telephone subscribers (1998)

Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
  completely automated domestic and international telephone and
  telegraph facilities
  domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
  network; limited microwave radio relay network
  international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—2
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 77, shortwave 1 (Belgium's single shortwave station, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, transmits its programs internationally in Dutch, English, French, and German, using 21 shortwave frequencies)

Television broadcast stations: 24 (in addition, there are Dutch programs on cable, TV-5 Europe by satellite relay, and American Forces Network by relay from Germany) (1997)

Railways:
total: 3,380 km (2,459 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)

Highways:
  total: 143,175 km
  paved: 143,175 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports),
Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,668 GRT/56,412 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 8, oil tanker 6
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,098,883 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Mexico

Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Maritime claims:
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note—from
  the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's
  territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,
  1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
  the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences
  with Guatemala

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 2%
  forests and woodland: 92%
  other: 3% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to
December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize
City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central
America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 49,991; female 48,074)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 65,507; female 63,796)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 4,129; female 4,292) (1999 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.2 years male: 67.23 years female: 71.26 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)

Literacy:
  definition: age 14 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 70.3%
  male: 70.3%
  female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
  note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal,
Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17
  November 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 2 August 1998);
  Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA July 1993)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
  the prime minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
  appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
  general

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
  Senate (eight members; members are appointed for five-year terms,
  five on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the
  leader of the opposition, and one after consultation with the Belize
  Advisory Council—this council serves as an independent body to
  advise the governor general with respect to difficult decisions such
  as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal
  of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.) and the
  National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular
  vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: National Assembly—last held 1 August 1998 (next to be
  held NA August 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PUP
  26, UDP 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on advice of the prime minister

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY
  chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL
  embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
  mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025

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—overview: The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The new government faces important challenges to economic stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised, but a lack of progress in reigning in spending could bring the exchange rate under pressure.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 22% services: 56% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 71,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(1997 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%,
government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%

Budget:
  revenues: $140 million
  expenditures: $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY97/98 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp

Exports—commodities: sugar 46%, bananas 26%, citrus fruits, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Telephone system: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1 (Voice of America relay station),
FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable

Merchant marine:
  total: 403 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,740,325
  GRT/2,511,709 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 259, chemical tanker 5, container 9,
  liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 58, passenger-cargo 2,
  refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea/passenger
  3, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries:
  Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 34,531 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,989 km
  border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
  Togo 644 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 31%
  other: 48% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 1,510,703; female 1,501,437)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 1,511,114; female 1,637,155)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 62,459; female 82,699) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.08 years male: 51.98 years female: 56.24 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important
being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

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: 37%
  male: 48.7%
  female: 25.8% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Benin
  conventional short form: Benin
  local long form: Republique du Benin
  local short form: Benin
  former: Dahomey

Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique,
  Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
  note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed;
  they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau;
  moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"

Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)
  election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of
  vote—Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held 28 March 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PRB
  20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, PCB 2, AC
  1, RDP 1, other 17

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle,
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Civic Renewal or ARC
  Sylvain AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and
  KINA]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten
  note: as of December 1998, more than 110 political parties were
  officially recognized; among them are Benin Renaissance Party or
  PRB, Our Common Cause or NCC, Cameleon Alliance or AC, Rally for
  Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA,
  ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
  (subscriber), ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Economy—overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1990-95 and 5% in 1996-98. Rapid population growth has offset much of this growth in output. Inflation has subsided over the past three years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program since 1991.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 14% services: 52% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $299 million
  expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14
  million (1995 est.)

Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock

Exports—partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 11%, Morocco 10%, Libya 6%, France (1997)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum
products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1—566.36 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and
  cellular connections
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  submarine cable

Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Highways:
  total: 6,787 km
  paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,430 km (1996 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
National Gendarmerie

Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 1,363,878 females age 15-49: 1,425,987 (1999 est.) note: both sexes are liable for military service

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 697,715
females age 15-49: 722,323 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 67,622
females: 67,238 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
Western Europe and the US

Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 94% (1997 est.)
  note: developed (55%) and rural/open space (39%) comprise 94% of
  Bermudian land area

Environment—current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 6,174; female 6,023)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 21,479; female 22,041)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 2,897; female 3,858) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.97 years male: 75.19 years female: 78.83 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other 34% (1991)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 99% (1970 est.)

Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*,
Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997)
  head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
  the monarch; premier appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of
  Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
  2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%,
  independents 1%; seats by party—PLP 26, UBP 14

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER
  consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire,
  Hamilton
  mailing address: P.O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
  General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300

Flag description: red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue 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—overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing financial services for international firms and luxury tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $504.6 million
  expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75
  million (FY97/98)

Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete
products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: miscellaneous manufactured articles, machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals

Telephone system:
  domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
  international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Highways:
  total: 225 km
  paved: 225 km
  unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
  note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that
  are privately owned

Merchant marine:
  total: 97 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,647,576 GRT/7,612,686
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 20,
  liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 15,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
  countries among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11,
  Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force,
Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 6%
  forests and woodland: 66%
  other: 26% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: violent storms coming down 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—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography—note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Population: 1,951,965 (July 1999 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 405,745; female 376,738)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 561,754; female 530,420)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 39,251; female 38,057) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.75 years male: 53.19 years female: 52.29 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 42.2%
  male: 56.2%
  female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

People—note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan

Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
  plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
  Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,
  Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen
WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)

Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the
National Assembly

Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972);
  note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July
  1972); note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the
  monarch, approved by the National Assembly
  note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members
  nominated by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

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: last held NA (next to be held NA)
  election results: NA

Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the monarch; High
Court, judges appointed by the monarch

Political pressure groups and leaders: United Front for Democracy
(exiled); Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic
Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign

International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Bhutan has a
  Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th
  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—overview: The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 40% of GDP. 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. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 38% services: 24% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry
and commerce 2%

Budget:
  revenues: $146 million
  expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96 est.)
  note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
  Bhutan's budget expenditures

Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide

Electricity—production: 1.717 billion kWh (1996) note: exports electricity to India

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.41% hydro: 99.59% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

Exports—commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices

Imports—commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice

Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note—Indian currency is also legal tender

Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1—42.508 (January 1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994); note—the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Telephone system:
  domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few
  telephones in use
  international: international telephone and telegraph service is by
  landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 254,992 (1999 est.)

Background: Bolivia broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Its subsequent history has been marked by a seemingly endless series of coups, counter-coups, and abrupt changes in leaders and policies. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but the leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, strikes, and drug dealing. Current issues include encouraging and negotiating the terms for foreign investment; strengthening the educational system; continuing the privatization program; pursuing judicial reform and an anti-corruption campaign.

Land boundaries:
  total: 6,743 km
  border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km,
  Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 24%
  forests and woodland: 53%
  other: 21% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to efficient fuel combustion, as well as to physical activity by those unaccustomed to it from birth; 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

Geography—note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 1,573,391; female 1,540,123)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 2,199,077; female 2,307,490)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 164,213; female 198,556) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.43 years male: 58.51 years female: 64.51 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed white and
Amerindian ancestry) 30%, white 15%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 83.1%
  male: 90.5%
  female: 76% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
  conventional short form: Bolivia
  local long form: Republica de Bolivia
  local short form: Bolivia

Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)

Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular—departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

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 Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997);
  Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August
  1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August
  1997); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from a panel of
  candidates proposed by the Senate
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 1 June 1997
  (next to be held June 2002)
  election results: Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; percent of
  vote—Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, Juan
  Carlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA
  (CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote;
  Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on 5 August
  1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR and
  PDC

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso
  Nacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27
  seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130
  seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies—last held 1
  June 1997 (next to be held June 2002)
  election results: Chamber of Senators—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2; Chamber of
  Deputies—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—ADN 32, MNR 26,
  MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed
for a 10-year term by National Congress

Political parties and leaders:
  Center-Left Parties: Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR
  SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]
  FERNANDEZ, Hugo VILLEGAS]
  Indigenous Parties: Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement

International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelo PEREZ Monasterios
  chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK
  embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
  mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032

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—overview: With its long history of semifeudal social controls, dependence on mineral exports, and bouts of hyperinflation, Bolivia has remained one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries. However, Bolivia has experienced generally improving economic conditions since the PAZ Estenssoro administration (1985-89) introduced market-oriented policies which reduced inflation from 11,700% in 1985 to about 20% in 1988. PAZ Estenssoro was followed as president by Jaime PAZ Zamora (1989-93) who continued the free-market policies of his predecessor, despite opposition from his own party and from Bolivia's once powerful labor movement. President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-1997) vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) as well as the privatization of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. Hugo BANZER Suarez has tried to further improve the country's investment climate with an anticorruption campaign. With the scheduled completion of a $2 billion natural gas pipeline to Brazil in 1999, Bolivia hopes to become an energy hub in the region.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 26% services: 57% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.7% (1990)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture NA%, services and utilities NA%, manufacturing, mining and construction NA%

Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages,
tobacco, handicrafts, clothing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 40.68% hydro: 59.32% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber

Exports—commodities: metals 34%, natural gas 9.4%, soybeans 8.4%,
jewelry 11%, wood 6.9%

Imports—commodities: capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum 5%, food 5% (1993 est.)

Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1—5.6491 (January 1999), 5.5101 (1998), 5.2543 (1997), 5.0746 (1996), 4.8003 (1995), 4.6205 (1994)

Telephone system: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities domestic: microwave radio relay system being expanded international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 3,691 km (single track)
  narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 39 km 0.760-m gauge (13 km
  electrified) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 52,216 km
  paved: 2,872 km (including 27 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 49,344 km (1995 est.)

Ports and harbors: none; however, Bolivia has free port
privileges in the maritime ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and
Paraguay

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,948 GRT/58,472 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 12
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 1,118
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 70
  914 to 1,523 m: 224
  under 914 m: 821 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval
Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana),
National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,241,311 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights

Illicit drugs: world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 46,900 hectares under cultivation in 1997, a 2.5% decrease in overall cultivation of coca from 1996 levels; Bolivia, however, is the second-largest producer of coca leaf; even so, farmer abandonment and voluntary and forced eradication programs resulted in leaf production dropping from 75,100 metric tons in 1996 to 73,000 tons in 1997, a 3% decrease from 1996; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation

Background: On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the former Yugoslavia's three warring parties signed a peace agreement that brought to a halt over three years of interethnic civil strife in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement, signed then by Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and Serbian President MILOSEVIC, divides Bosnia and Herzegovina roughly equally between the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska while maintaining Bosnia's currently recognized borders. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission is to deter renewed hostilities. SFOR remains in place. A High Representative appointed by the UN Security Council is responsible for civilian implementation of the accord, including monitoring implementation, facilitating any difficulties arising in connection with civilian implementation, and coordinating activities of the civilian organizations and agencies in Bosnia. The Bosnian conflict began in the spring of 1992 when the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence and the Bosnian Serbs—supported by neighboring Serbia—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, Bosnia's Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement in Washington creating their joint Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation, formed by the Muslims and Croats in March 1994, is one of two entities (the other being the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska) that comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,459 km
  border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312
  km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro)

Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

Natural resources: coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, forests,
copper, chromium, lead, zinc

Land use:
  arable land: 14%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 39%
  other: 22% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air pollution from metallurgical
  plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; widespread
  casualties, water shortages, and destruction of infrastructure
  because of the 1992-95 civil strife

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Muslim/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority

Population: 3,482,495 (July 1999 est.)
  note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerable
  error because of the dislocations caused by military action and
  ethnic cleansing

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 310,430; female 294,298)
  15-64 years: 71% (male 1,221,791; female 1,240,097)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 166,876; female 249,003) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.98 years male: 62.55 years female: 71.71 years (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Ethnic groups: Serb 40%, Muslim 38%, Croat 22% (est.); note—the
Croats claim they now make up only 17% of the total population

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
  local long form: none
  local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina

Administrative divisions: there are two first-order
  administrative divisions—the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and
  Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian
  Serb-led Republika Srpska; note—the status of Brcko in north eastern
  Bosnia is to be determined by arbitration

National holiday: Republika Srpska—"Republic Day," 9 January;
Independence Day, 1 March; Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina—"Republic Day," 25 November

Constitution: the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995,
included a new constitution now in force

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Zivko RADISIC (since 13
  October 1998—Serb); other members of the three-member rotating
  (every 8 months) presidency: Ante JELAVIC (since NA September
  1998—Croat) and Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 14 March 1996—Muslim)
  head of government: Cochairman of the Council of Ministers Haris
  SILAJDZIC (since NA January 1997); Cochairman of the Council of
  Ministers Suetozar MIHAJLOVIC (since 3 February 1999)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairmen
  note: President of the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and
  Herzegovina: Ivo ANDRIC-LUZANIC (since 1 January 1999); Vice
  President is Ejup GANIC; note—president and vice president rotate
  every 3 months; President of the Republika Srpska: Nikola POPLASEN
  (since 29 October 1998)
  elections: the three-person presidency members (one Muslim, one
  Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  the president with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he was
  the incumbent chairman at the time of the election; election last
  held 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held September 2002); the
  cochairmen of the Council of Ministers are appointed by the
  presidency
  election results: percent of vote—Zivko RADISIC with 52% of the Serb
  vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first
  8 months; Ante JELAVIC with 52% of the Croat vote will follow
  RADISIC in the rotation; Alija IZEBEGOVIC with 87% of the Muslim
  vote won the highest number of votes in the election but was
  ineligible to serve consecutive terms as chairman

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina
  consists of the National House of Representatives or Vijece Opcina
  (42 seats—14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Muslim; members elected by
  popular vote to serve two-year terms) and the House of Peoples or
  Vijece Gradanstvo (15 seats—5 Muslim, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members
  elected by the Muslim/Croat Federation's House of Representatives
  and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve two-year terms)
  elections: National House of Representatives—elections last held
  12-13 September 1998 (next to be held in the fall 2000); House of
  Peoples—last held NA (next to be held NA)
  election results: National House of Representatives—percent of vote
  by party/coalition—NA; seats by party/coalition—KCD 17, HDZ-BiH 6,
  SDP 4, Sloga 4, SDS 4, SDBIH 2, SRS-RS 2, DNZ 1, NHI 1, RSRS 1;
  House of Peoples—percent of vote by party/coalition—NA; seats by
  party/coalition—NA
  note: the Muslim/Croat Federation has a House of Representatives
  (140 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve NA year terms);
  elections last held NA (next to be held NA); percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party/coalition—KCD 68, HDZ-BiH 28, SDP 19, SDBIH
  6, NHI 4, DNZ 3, DSP 2, BPS 2, HSP 2, SPRS 2, BSP 1, KC 1, BOSS 1,
  HSS 1; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve NA year terms); elections
  last held NA (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party/coalition—SDS 19, KCD 15, SNS 12, SRS-RS 11, SPRS 10,
  SNSD 6, RSRS 3, SKRS 2, SDP 2, KKO 1, HDZ-BiH 1, NHI 1

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of nine members:
  four members are selected by the Muslim/Croat Federation's House of
  Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska National
  Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the
  European Court of Human Rights

Political parties and leaders: Bosnian Party of Rights or BSP
  IZETBEGOVIC; includes SDA, SBH, GDS, LS]; Croatian Democratic Union
  BIH or SDP (formerly the Democratic Party of Socialists or DSS)
  note: note—SDP and SDBIH announced a merger in 1999

International organization participation: CE (guest), CEI, EBRD,
  ECE, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OAS
  (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Dragan BOZANIC
  chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
  embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
  mailing address: use street address

Flag description: a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Government—note: Until declaring independence in spring 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina existed as a republic in the former Yugoslavia. Bosnia was partitioned by fighting during 1992-95 and governed by competing ethnic factions. Bosnia's current governing structures were created by the Dayton Agreement, the 1995 peace agreement which was officially signed in Paris on 14 December 1995 by then Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and then Serbian President MILOSEVIC. This agreement retained Bosnia's exterior border and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government—based on proportional representation similar to that which existed in the former socialist regime—is charged with conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. The Dayton Agreement also recognized a second tier of government, comprised of two entities—a joint Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska (RS)—each presiding over roughly one-half the territory. The Federation and RS governments are charged with overseeing internal functions.

Economy—overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of communist central planning and management. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1990 to 1995, unemployment to soar, and human misery to multiply. With an uneasy peace in place, output has recovered in 1996-98 at high percentage rates on a low base, but remains far below the 1990 level. Key achievements in 1998 included approval of privatization legislation, the introduction of a national currency—the convertible mark, agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule official debt, and the conclusion of a Standby Agreement with the IMF. Economic data are of limited use because, although both entities issue figures, national-level statistics are not available. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share of activity that occurs on the black market. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community. Wide regional differences in war damage and access to the outside world have resulted in substantial variations in living conditions among local areas and individual families. In 1999, Bosnia's major goals are to implement privatization and make progress in fiscal reform and management. In addition, Bosnia will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance from the international community.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (much of capacity damaged or shut down) (1995)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 34.78% hydro: 65.22% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Telephone system: telephone and telegraph network is in need of
  modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when
  compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics
  domestic: NA
  international: no satellite earth stations

Railways:
  total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km; operating as diesel or steam
  until grids are repaired)
  standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1995); note—some segments
  still need repair and/or reconstruction

Highways:
  total: 21,846 km
  paved: 11,425 km
  unpaved: 10,421 km (1996 est.)
  note: roads need maintenance and repair

Waterways: NA km; large sections of Sava blocked by downed
bridges, silt, and debris

Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992);
note—pipelines now disrupted

Ports and harbors: Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski
Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava none of
which are fully operational), Orasje

Airports—with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Federation Army or VF (composed of both Croatian and Bosnian Muslim elements), Army of the Serb Republic (composed of Bosnian Serb elements); note—within both of these forces air and air defense are subordinate commands

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 764,992 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: minor transit point for marijuana and opiate
trafficking routes to Western Europe

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,013 km
  border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe
  813 km

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: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 47%
  other: 6% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

Environment—current issues: overgrazing; desertification; limited
fresh water resources

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern
part of the country

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 310,578; female 303,495)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 379,836; female 416,073)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 20,224; female 33,961) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.89 years male: 39.42 years female: 40.37 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 69.8%
  male: 80.5%
  female: 59.9% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
  conventional short form: Botswana
  former: Bechuanaland

Administrative divisions: 10 districts and four town councils*;
  Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi,
  Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*,
  South-East, Southern

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice
  President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and
  Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
  five-year term; election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held
  NA October 1999); vice president appointed by the president
  election results: Sir Ketumile MASIRE elected president; percent of
  National Assembly vote—NA
  note: President MASIRE resigned on 31 March 1998; Vice President
  MOGAE assumed the presidency pending elections to be held in 1999;
  on 2 April 1998, Festus MOGAE, then president, designated Seretse
  Ian KHAMA to be vice president

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly—elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—BDP 27, BNF 13

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Archibald Mooketsa MOGWE chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. KRUEGER embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone

Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

Economy—overview: Agriculture still provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 4% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising predominate. Diamond mining and tourism also are important to the economy. The sector is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. Substantial mineral deposits were found in the 1970s and the mining sector grew from 25% of GDP in 1980 to 35% in 1997. Unemployment officially is 21% but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 45% (including 35% mining) services: 51% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: 100,000 public sector; 135,000 private sector, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.6 billion
  expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560
  million (FY96/97)

Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash,
potash; livestock processing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock

Exports—partners: EU 74%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 21%, Zimbabwe 3% (1996)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport
equipment, textiles, petroleum products

Imports—partners: Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 78%,
Europe 8%, Zimbabwe 6% (1996)

Exchange rates: pulas (P) per US$1—4.5725 (January 1999), 4.2258 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996), 2.7722 (1995), 2.6846 (1994)

Telephone system: sparse system domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations international: microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air
Wing), Botswana National Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 182,279 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and
  Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabited
  Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at
  the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested

Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 780 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all ice)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island

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

Land boundaries:
  total: 14,691 km
  border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia
  1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,
  Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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: 5%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 22%
  forests and woodland: 58%
  other: 14% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Environment—current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; 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

Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

Population: 171,853,126 (July 1999 est.) note: Brazil took a census in August 1996 which reported a population of 157,079,573; that figure was about 5% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for 1991; the Factbook's demographic statistics for Brazil do not take into consideration the results of the1996 census since the full results have not been released for analysis

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 26,059,687; female 25,095,236)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 55,037,161; female 56,727,196)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 3,626,893; female 5,306,953) (1999 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.06 years male: 59.35 years female: 69.01 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,
Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other
(includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 83.3%
  male: 83.3%
  female: 83.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
  conventional short form: Brazil
  local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
  local short form: Brasil

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

Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;
compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January
  1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1
  January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 4 October
  1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
  election results: Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president;
  percent of vote—53%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congresso
  Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats;
  three members from each state or federal district elected 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 4 October 1998 for one-third of
  Senate (next to be held NA October 2002 for two-thirds of the
  Senate); Chamber of Deputies—last held 4 October 1998 (next to be
  held NA October 2002)
  election results: Federal Senate—percent of vote by party—NA%; seats
  by party—PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5; Chamber of
  Deputies—percent of vote by party—NA%; seats by party—PFL 106, PSDB
  99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58

Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal, 11 judges are
appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate

Political pressure groups and leaders: left wing of the Catholic Church, Landless Worker's Movement, and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are critical of government's social and economic policies

International organization participation: AfDB, BIS, CCC, ECLAC,
  FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
  Mercosur, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
  RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate J. Brian ATWOOD embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900 Brazil mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 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—overview: Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. Prior to the institution of a stabilization plan—the Plano Real (Real Plan) in mid-1994, stratospheric inflation rates had disrupted economic activity and discouraged foreign investment. Since then, tight monetary policy has brought inflation under control—consumer prices increased by 2% in 1998 compared to more than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP growth slowed from 5.7% in 1994 to about 3.0% in 1997 due to tighter credit. The Real Plan faced its strongest challenge in 1998, as the world financial crisis caused investors to more closely examine the country's structural weaknesses. The most severe spillover for Brazil—after Russia's debt default in August 1998—created unrelenting pressure on the currency which forced the country to hike annual interest rates to 50%. Approximately $30 billion in capital left the country in August and September. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international support program in November 1998. Capital continued to leach out of the country, and investors, concerned about the rising mountain of debt and currency widely-viewed as overvalued, stayed on the sidelines. In January 1999, Brazil made an abrupt shift of course in exchange rate policy, abandoning the strong currency anti-inflation anchor of the Real Plan. On 13 January 1999, Central Bank officials announced a one-time 8% devaluation of the real, and on 15 January 1999, the currency was declared to be freely floating. President CARDOSO remains committed to limiting inflation and weathering the financial crisis through austerity and sacrifice as the country rides out a deep recession. He hopes the country will resume economic growth in the second half of 1999, so that he can once again focus on his longer-term goal of reducing poverty and income inequality. CARDOSO still hopes to address mandated revenue sharing with the states and cumbersome procedures to amend the constitution before the end of his second term.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 36% services: 50% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 47.9% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $151 billion
  expenditures: $149 billion, including capital expenditures of $36
  billion (1998)

Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 4.38% hydro: 92.09% nuclear: 0.8% other: 2.73% (1996)

Electricity—imports: 37.5 billion kWh (1996)
note: imported electricity from Paraguay

Agriculture—products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn,
sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Exports—commodities: iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice,
footwear, coffee, motor vehicle parts

Exports—partners: EU 28%, Latin America (excluding Argentina)
23%, US 20%, Argentina 12% (1996)

Imports—commodities: crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs, coal

Exchange rates: reals (R$) per US$1—1.501 (January 1999), 1.161 (1998), 1.078 (1997), 1.005 (1996), 0.918 (1995), 0.639 (1994); CR$ per US$1—390.845 (January 1994) note: the real (R$) was introduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750 cruzeiro reais; from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US$

Telephone system: good working system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations international: 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean Region East)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1,627, FM 251, shortwave 114 (of which 91 are associated with AM stations) (1998)

Railways:
  total: 28,862 km (1,187 km electrified)
  broad gauge: 4,123 km 1.600-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 24,390 km 1.000-m gauge; 13 km 0.760-m gauge
  dual gauge: 336 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails)

Highways: total: 1.98 million km paved: 184,140 km unpaved: 1,795,860 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,980 km; petroleum products 4,762 km;
natural gas 4,246 km (1998)

Ports and harbors: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus,
Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande,
Salvador, Santos, Vitoria

Merchant marine:
  total: 179 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,132,037
  GRT/6,642,442 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 28, chemical tanker 6, combination
  ore/oil 10, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 10, multifunction
  large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 61, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated
  cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 514 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 134 914 to 1,523 m: 325 under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 2,751 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 1,312 under 914 m: 1,366 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 31,723,597 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 1,841,858 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: two short sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute—Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River

Illicit drugs: limited illicit producer of cannabis, minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, mostly 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 the US and Europe; increasingly used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia

Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia

Area:
  total: 60 sq km
  land: 60 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia,
largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in
central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities; now there are UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA
  1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note—both reside in the
  UK
  cabinet: NA
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and
  administrator appointed by the monarch

Flag description: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag

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.

Telephone system: facilities for military needs only
domestic: NA
international: NA

Highways:
  total: NA km
  paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and
  airfield on Diego Garcia
  unpaved: NA km

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016

Disputes—international: the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by
Mauritius and Seychelles

Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Area:
  total: 150 sq km
  land: 150 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes the island of Anegada

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 7%
  permanent pastures: 33%
  forests and woodland: 7%
  other: 33% (1993 est.)

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 catchment)

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 21% (male 2,012; female 1,965)
  15-64 years: 74% (male 7,300; female 6,896)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 539; female 444) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.13 years male: 74.37 years female: 75.92 years (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander

Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
  abbreviation: BVI

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995)
  head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May
  1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity
  STOUTT)
  cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
  the Legislative Council
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
  the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the
  members of the Legislative Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats;
  members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of
  9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February
  2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VIP 6,
  CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, 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

International organization participation: Caricom (associate),
CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate),
UNESCO (associate)

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—overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. 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. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 1.4% services: 97.6% (1991-95 average)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $121.5 million
  expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997)

Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete
block, offshore financial center

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Telephone system: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA
international: submarine cable to Bermuda

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there is one cable company) (1997)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 85%
  other: 12% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from
forest fires in Indonesia

Environment—international agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 54,154; female 51,766)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 106,492; female 95,921)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 7,945; female 6,704) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.84 years male: 70.35 years female: 73.42 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 88.2%
  male: 92.6%
  female: 83.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei

Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular—daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri
  Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5
  October 1967); note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head
  of government
  head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka
  Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah
  (since 5 October 1967); note—the monarch is both the chief of state
  and head of government
  cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by
  the monarch; deals with executive matters
  note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the
  monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members
  appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters,
  and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch)
  that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms

Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1985, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)

International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC,
  ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
  UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni
  Mohammad Alam
  chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW,
  Washington, DC 20037

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Glen Robert RASE
  embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
  Begawan
  mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96534-0001

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—overview: This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government is beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. Because of low world oil prices and the Asian crisis, growth in 1999 is expected to be moderate.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 144,000 (1995 est.); note—includes foreign workers
and military personnel
note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)

Labor force—by occupation: government 48%, production of oil,
natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry,
and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.5 billion
  expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768
  million (1995 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: ASEAN 31%, Japan 27%, South Korea 26%, UK,
Taiwan (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports—partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%,
Japan 5% (1994 est.)

Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1—1.6781 (January 1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994); note—the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Telephone system: service throughout country is excellent;
  international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
  and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Merchant marine:
total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476
GRT/340,635 DWT (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 51,270 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island

Background: A Slavic state, Bulgaria achieved independence in 1908 after 500 years of Ottoman rule. Bulgaria fought on the losing side in both World Wars. After World War II it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. Communist domination ended in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, and Bulgaria began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy. In addition to the problems of structural economic reform, particularly privatization, Bulgaria faces the serious issues of keeping inflation under control and unemployment, combatting corruption, and curbing black-market and mafia-style crime.

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,808 km
  border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
  Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all
  with Serbia), Turkey 240 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 37%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 16%
  forests and woodland: 35%
  other: 10% (1993 est.)

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls
key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 674,643; female 641,943)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 2,744,634; female 2,800,816)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 570,766; female 761,970) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.27 years male: 68.72 years female: 76.03 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%

Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to
ethnic breakdown

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97% (1992 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular—oblast);
Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse,
Sofiya, Varna

Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Petar STOYANOV (since 22 January 1997);
  Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January 1997)
  head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime
  Minister) Ivan Kostov (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers
  Aleksandur BOZHKOV (since 12 February 1997), Evgeniy BAKURDZHIEV
  (since 21 May 1997), Veselin METODIEV (since 21 May 1997)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 October
  and 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); chairman of the
  Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president;
  deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister
  election results: Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of
  vote—Petar STOYANOV 59.73%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno
  Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 19 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—UDF 52%, BSP 22%, ANS 7%,
  Euro-left 5.5%, BBB 4.95%; seats by party—UDF 137, BSP 58, ANS 19,
  Euro-left 14, BBB 12

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a
seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices
appointed or elected for nine-year terms

Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP
(coalition led mainly by Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS
cochairmen]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Democratic Alliance for
  the Republic or DAR; New Union for Democracy or NUD; Podkrepa Labor
  Confederation; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria
  or CITUB; Bulgarian Agrarian National Union—United or BZNS;
  Bulgarian Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian
  National Union; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or
  IMRO; agrarian movement; numerous regional, ethnic, and national
  interest groups with various agendas

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
  CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip DIMITROV chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Avis T. BOHLEN embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5740

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has been removed—it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)

Economy—overview: In April 1997, the current ruling Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) government won pre-term parliamentary elections and introduced an IMF currency board system which succeeded in stabilizing the economy. The triple digit inflation of 1996 and 1997 has given way to an official consumer price increase of 1% in 1998. Following declines in GDP in both 1996 and 1997, the economy grew an officially estimated 4% in 1998. In September 1998, the IMF approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility, which provides credits worth approximately $864 million, designed to support Bulgaria's reform efforts. The government's structural reform program includes: (a) privatization and, where appropriate, liquidation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs); (b) liberalization of agricultural policies, including creating conditions for the development of a land market; (c) reform of the country's social insurance programs; and, (d) reforms to strengthen contract enforcement and fight crime and corruption.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 29% services: 45% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 24.7% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $4.1 billion
  expenditures: $3.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 51.17% hydro: 6.1% nuclear: 42.73% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment; metals, minerals,
and fuels; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles (1997)

Imports—commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles (1997)

Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1—1,685.10 (January 1999),
  1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997), 177.89 (1996), 67.17 (1995), 54.13
  (1994)
  note: the official rate is pegged to the euro as of 1 January 1999

Telephone system: almost two-thirds of the lines are residential
  domestic: extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial
  cable and microwave radio relay; telephone service is available in
  most villages
  international: direct dialing to 36 countries; satellite earth
  stations—1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); Intelsat available
  through a Greek earth station

Television broadcast stations: 33 (in addition, there are two relays of Russian program OK-1 and two relays of TV-5 Europe) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 4,292 km
  standard gauge: 4,047 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 36,724 km
  paved: 33,786 km (including 314 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 2,938 km (1997 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,400 km (1992)

Merchant marine:
  total: 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,005,092 GRT/1,508,614
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 44, cargo 20, chemical tanker 4, container 2,
  oil tanker 8, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated
  cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 56 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border
Troops, Internal Troops

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,693,597 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: twenty bilateral agreements remain unsigned in a dispute over Bulgarian nonrecognition of Macedonian as a language distinct from Bulgarian

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; significant producer of amphetamines, much of which are consumed in the Middle East

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,192 km
  border countries: Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km,
  Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits
of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc,
silver

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 22%
  forests and woodland: 50%
  other: 15% (1993 est.)

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, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 2,792,895; female 2,759,072)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 2,700,253; female 2,978,168)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 147,017; female 198,493) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.89 years male: 44.97 years female: 46.84 years (1999 est.)

Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly
Roman Catholic) 10%

Languages: French (official), tribal languages belonging to
Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 19.2%
  male: 29.5%
  female: 9.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Burkina Faso
  former: Upper Volta

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
  Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo,
  Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
  Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
  Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
  note: a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in
  January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased
  from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
  Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
  Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga,
  Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
  Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie,
  Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
  Zondomo, Zoundweogo)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October
  1987)
  head of government: Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since 6
  February 1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  the number of terms which a president may serve is not limited;
  election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
  minister appointed by the president with the consent of the
  legislature
  election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 88%
  percent of the vote, with 56% of voter turnout

Legislative branch: bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or
  Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely
  consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants
  (120 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms)
  elections: National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (next to
  be held NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—CDP
  101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
Nongma OUEDRAOGO, president]; Burkinabe Environmentalist Party or

Political pressure groups and leaders: watchdog/political action
  groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities;
  Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or HBDHP; Burkinabe General
  Confederation of Labor or CGTB; National Confederation of Burkinabe
  Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; Group
  of 14 February

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
  MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan Rimwangulya OUEDRAOGO chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou

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—overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 85% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress in 1999-2000 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 25% services: 40% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 4.679 million (persons 10 years old and over, according to a sample survey taken in 1991) note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry, commerce, services, government (1998)

Budget:
  revenues: $277 million
  expenditures: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233
  million (1995 est.)

Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing,
soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.64% hydro: 36.36% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: all services only fair domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border
  and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya)
  narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Police, People's Militia

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,230,713 (1999 est.)

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the
Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

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

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

Climate: tropical monsoon; 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)

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

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 49%
  other: 34% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding
and landslides common during rainy season (June to September);
periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution
of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment
contribute to disease

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 8,883,099; female 8,542,087)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 14,343,888; female 14,293,233)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 906,517; female 1,112,478) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.74 years male: 53.24 years female: 56.32 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese
3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%

Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
1%), Muslim 4%, animist beliefs 1%, other 2%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 83.1%
  male: 88.7%
  female: 77.7% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular—yin)
  and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular—pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*,
  Bago*, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*,
  Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*

Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; chapter headings and three of 15 sections have been approved

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
  Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note—the
  prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace
  and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992);
  note—the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta,
  so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18
  September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration
  Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet
  elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation
  of the former prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu
  Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA%; seats by party—NLD
  396, NUP 10, other 79

Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal
system 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 Unity Party or NUP
  SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; Union
  Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (proregime, a social
  eight minor legal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not recognized by the military regime; the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government; Kachin Independence Army or KIA; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Karen National Union or KNU; several Shan factions; All Burma Student Democratic Front or ABSDF

International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,
  NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN
  chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kent M.
  WIEDEMANN
  embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
  mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546

Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions

Economy—overview: Burma has a mixed economy with private activity dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the last 10 years, 1989-98, has aimed at revitalizing the economy after three decades of tight central planning. Thus, private activity has markedly increased; foreign investment has been encouraged, so far with moderate success; and efforts continue to increase the efficiency of state enterprises. Published estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume of black-market trade. A major ongoing problem is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Although Burma remains a poor Asian country, its rich resources furnish the potential for substantial long-term increases in income, exports, and living standards. The short-term outlook is for continued sluggish growth because of internal unrest, minimal foreign investment, and the large trade deficit.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 59% industry: 11% services: 30% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade 10.1%, government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY88/89 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $7.9 billion
  expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7
  billion (FY96/97)

Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.33% hydro: 38.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: India 17%, Singapore 14%, China 11%, Thailand
9%, Japan 4% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery, transport equipment, construction
materials, food products

Imports—partners: Singapore 30%, Japan 17%, China 10%, Thailand
10%, Malaysia 7% (1997)

Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1—6.1163 (January 1999), 6.3432 (1998), 6.2418 (1997), 5.9176 (1996), 5.6670 (1995), 5.9749 (1994); unofficial—310-350 (1998)

Telephone system: meets minimum requirements for local and
  intercity service for business and government; international service
  is good
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Ports and harbors: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein,
Myitkyina, Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy

Merchant marine:
  total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 464,478 GRT/695,923 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 20, container 2, oil tanker 3,
  passenger-cargo 2
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
  Japan owns 2 ships, US 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 11
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 69
  over 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
  914 to 1,523 m: 23
  under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 12,475,987 females age 15-49: 12,224,947 (1999 est.) note: both sexes liable for military service

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,660,309
females age 15-49: 6,510,730 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 496,912
females: 477,803 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: sporadic conflict with Thailand over alignment of border

Illicit drugs: world's largest producer of illicit opium (cultivation in 1998—130,300 hectares, a 16% decline from 1997; potential production—1,750 metric tons, down 26% due to drought and the first eradication effort since the current government took power in 1987) and a minor producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; surrender of drug warlord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a major counternarcotics success, but lack of serious government commitment and resources continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; growing role in the production of methamphetamines for regional consumption

Background: Since the end of the Belgian trusteeship in 1962, Burundi has suffered from ethnic uprisings, coups, and other societal dislocations. In a series of waves since October 1993, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the ethnic violence between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi and have crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC). Since October 1996, an estimated 120,000 Burundian Hutu refugees from the DROC have been compelled to return to Burundi because of insecurity in the region. Continuing ethnic violence with the Tutsi has caused additional Hutu to flee to Tanzania, thus raising their numbers in the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps in that country to about 260,000. Burundian troops have joined armies from Rwanda and Uganda and Congolese Tutsi in trying to overthrow DROC President KABILA and restore security to their borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Land boundaries:
  total: 974 km
  border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda
  290 km, Tanzania 451 km

Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,760 m); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m

Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat,
cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium

Land use:
  arable land: 44%
  permanent crops: 9%
  permanent pastures: 36%
  forests and woodland: 3%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 1,349,995; female 1,345,201)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 1,392,880; female 1,479,835)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 69,748; female 98,278) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.44 years male: 43.54 years female: 47.41 years (1999 est.)

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 32%, Muslim 1%

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: 35.3%
  male: 49.3%
  female: 22.5% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
  conventional short form: Burundi
  local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
  local short form: Burundi

Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura,
  Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo,
  Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
  note: there may be a new province named Mwaro

Constitution: 13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27
  September 1996 and officially sworn in on 11 June 1998) is chief of
  state and head of government and is assisted by First Vice President
  Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President
  Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA); note—former President NTIBANTUNGANYA
  was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996
  head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA is both chief of state
  and head of government; assisted by First Vice President Frederic
  BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President Mathias
  SINAMENYA (since NA)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
  elections: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; note—new Transitional Constitution calls for 121 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996) election results: percent of vote by party—FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats by party—FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly

Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or
  note: opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi
  African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA; Rally for Democracy and
  BAGAZA]

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,
  NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr. embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura

Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below)

Economy—overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with a poorly developed manufacturing sector. The economy is predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 58% industry: 18% services: 24% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 93%, government 4%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $NA
  expenditures: $165 million, including capital expenditures of $42.6
  million (1998 est.)

Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 1.64% hydro: 98.36% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity—imports: 30 million kWh (1996)
note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Agriculture—products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet
potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Imports—commodities: capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1—508 (January 1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995), 252.66 (1994)

Telephone system: primitive system domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 658,115 (1999 est.)

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Land boundaries: total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 11%
  forests and woodland: 66%
  other: 10% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts

Environment—current issues: illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography—note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the
Mekong River and Tonle Sap

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 2,667,768; female 2,587,590)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 2,821,772; female 3,197,604)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 143,016; female 208,770) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.24 years male: 46.81 years female: 49.75 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 35%
  male: 48%
  female: 22% (1990 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
  conventional short form: Cambodia
  local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
  local short form: Kampuchea

Government type: multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Administrative divisions: 20 provinces (khett, singular and
  plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay
  Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe,
  Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Krachen, Mondol Kiri,
  Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu*
  (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab,
  Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
  note: there may be a new municipality called Pailin

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
  by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party—CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15 note: pursuant to the coalition agreement signed in November 1998, a Senate is being created and the legislature will thus become bicameral

Judicial branch: Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997; a Supreme Court and lower courts exercise judicial authority

Political parties and leaders: National United Front for an
Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN
  (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
  IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
  embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
  mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546

Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red
  (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple
  representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red
  band

Economy—overview: After four years of solid macroeconomic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment fell off, and tourism has declined from 1996 levels. Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. Human resource levels in the population are low, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside. The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the countryside will continue to hinder development. Recurring political instability and corruption within government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. Even so, growth may resume in 1999 at, say, 2%.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 51% industry: 15% services: 34% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $261 million
  expenditures: $496 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.54% hydro: 38.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Malaysia, US

Imports—commodities: cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles

Imports—partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Thailand

Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1—3,772.0 (January 1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995), 2,545.3 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate landline and/or cellular service in
  Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little
  telephone service
  domestic: NA
  international: adequate but expensive landline and cellular service
  available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial
  cities; satellite earth station—1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Television broadcast stations: 1 government-operated station and four commercial stations broadcasting to Phnom Penh and major provincial cities via relay (1998)

Waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m;
282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m

Ports and harbors: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong
Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh

Merchant marine:
  total: 141 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 598,867 GRT/841,240 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 16, cargo 108, container 4,
  livestock carrier 2, multifunctional large-load carrier 1, oil
  tankers 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 8 countries:
  Aruba 1, Cyprus 7, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia
  5, Singapore 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 7
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)—created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies note: there are also resistance forces comprised of the Khmer Rouge (also known as the National United Army or NUA) and a separate royalist resistance movement

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,428,523 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border with Thailand are indefinite; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Illicit drugs: transshipment site for Golden Triangle heroin; possible money laundering; narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 78%
  other: 3% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
  Tropical Timber 94
  signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 3,562,553; female 3,528,778)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 3,907,946; female 3,943,035)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 231,521; female 282,259) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population; note—there
may be some migration but figures are not available

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: 0.82 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.32 years male: 49.75 years female: 52.94 years (1999 est.)

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%

Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official),
French (official)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 63.4%
  male: 75%
  female: 52.1% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
  conventional short form: Cameroon
  former: French Cameroon

Government type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
  head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19
  September 1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October
  2004); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of
  vote—Paul BIYA 93%; note—supporters of the opposition candidates
  boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares
  relatively meaningless

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve five-year terms; note—the president can either lengthen or
  shorten the term of the legislature)
  elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—CDPM
  109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note—7
  contested seats will be filled in an election at a time to be set by
  the Supreme Court
  note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the
  legislature, to be called Senate, which the government proposed to
  establish in 1998

Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic
  Movement or CPDM (government-controlled and the only party until
  major opposition parties: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC
  Frederick KODOG]; Union of Cameroonian Democratic Forces or UFOC

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  C, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UDEAC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520

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—overview: Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The government, however, has failed to press forward vigorously with these programs. The latest enhanced structural adjustment agreement was signed in October 1997; the parties hope this will prove more successful, yet government mismanagement and corruption remain problems. Inflation has been brought back under control. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry may support economic growth in 1999-2000.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 22% services: 36% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $2.23 billion
  expenditures: $2.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing,
light consumer goods, textiles, lumber

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 2.93% hydro: 97.07% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Exports—commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber,
cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Exports—partners: Italy 25%, Spain 20%, France 16%, Netherlands
7% (1997 est.)

Imports—commodities: machines and electrical equipment, transport
equipment, fuel, food

Economic aid—recipient: $606.1 million (1995); note?France signed two loan agreements totaling $55 million in September 1997, and the Paris Club agreed in October 1997 to reduce the official debt by 50% and to reschedule it on favorable terms with a consolidation of payments due through 2000

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—575 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: available only to business and government domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air
Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,716,285 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula and Lake Chad is currently before the International Court of Justice

Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, from 1867 on Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while retaining, even to the present day, certain formal ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.

Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,950 m

Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 3%
  forests and woodland: 54%
  other: 38% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow

Environment—current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography—note: second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 3,105,944; female 2,960,171)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 10,587,553; female 10,461,455)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 1,652,044; female 2,239,180) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.37 years male: 76.12 years female: 82.79 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other
European 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97% (1986 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*;
  Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
  Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince
  Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Constitution: 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the
machinery of the government was set up in the British North America
Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs

Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec,
where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Romeo Le BLANC (since 8 February
  1995)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
  1993)
  cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among
  the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
  appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a
  five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the
  majority party in the House of Commons is automatically designated
  by the governor general to become prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of
  the Senate or Senat (a body whose members are appointed to serve
  until reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selected
  on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104
  senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301
  seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
  terms)
  elections: House of Commons—last held 2 June 1997 (next to be held
  by NA June 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—Liberal Party 38%, Reform
  Party 19%, Tories 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%,
  other 2%; seats by party—Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc
  Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative
  Party 20, independents 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime
minister through the governor general

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB,
  Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), CP,
  EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10,
  IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS,
  OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN
  chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
  Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
  consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN
  embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
  mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
  consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
  and Vancouver

Flag description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band

Economy—overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Real rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada can anticipate solid economic prospects in the future. The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the federation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 16%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)

Budget:
  revenues: $121.3 billion
  expenditures: $112.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7
  billion (1998)

Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 20.34% hydro: 63.59% nuclear: 16.05% other: 0.02% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish

Exports—commodities: motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment

Exports—partners: US 81%, Japan 4%, UK, Germany, South Korea,
Netherlands, China (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, crude oil,
chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods

Imports—partners: US 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico,
Taiwan, South Korea (1997)

Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1—1.5192 (January 1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 334, FM 35, shortwave 7 (one of the shortwave stations, Radio Canada International, has six transmitters, 48 frequencies, and broadcasts in seven languages; the transmissions are relayed by repeaters in Europe and Asia) (1998)

Television broadcast stations: 80 (in addition, there are many repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 67,773 km; note—there are two major transcontinental freight
  railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and
  Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by
  government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own
  standard gauge: 67,773 km 1.435-m gauge (183 km electrified) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 912,200 km
  paved: 246,400 km (including 16,600 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 665,800 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax,
  Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint
  John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney,
  Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor

Merchant marine:
  total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,489,110
  GRT/2,205,274 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 56, cargo 11, chemical tanker
  5, combination bulk 2, oil tanker 16, passenger 3, passenger-cargo
  1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger
  4, specialized tanker 1
  note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 515 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 154 914 to 1,523 m: 238 under 914 m: 91 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 880 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 353 under 914 m: 454 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces
  Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC,
  Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal
  Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,061,937 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: maritime boundary disputes with the US
(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market

Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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, pozzuolana (a siliceous
volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin,
fish

Land use:
  arable land: 11%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 6%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 83% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active

Environment—current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper
  land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to
  soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in
  deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened
  several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
  Test Ban
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of
Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications
station; important sea and air refueling site

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 92,721; female 91,083)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 92,658; female 104,264)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 9,936; female 15,086) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.96 years male: 67.66 years female: 74.36 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs);
Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of creole Portuguese and
West African words)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 71.6%
  male: 81.4%
  female: 63.8% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos,
  singular—concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto
  Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau,
  Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
  note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts
  (Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira
  Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau,
  Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22
  March 1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho
  VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the
  National Assembly
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
  2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and
  appointed by the president
  election results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro elected president;
  percent of vote—Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
  Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD
  6%; seats by party—MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1

Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy or MPD
Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
  NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES
  chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT
  embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
  mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia

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—overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1995 was only 8%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. About 90% 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 constitute a supplement to GDP of more than 20%. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 1999 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 18% services: 74% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $188 million
  expenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116
  million (1996)

Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and
garments, salt mining, ship repair,

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1—96.400 (November 1998), 99.41 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog
  and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine
  fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998
  international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to
  Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat
  (Atlantic Ocean)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,620 GRT/13,920 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Armed Forces (AF) (includes all armed force
elements, both ground and naval)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 47,672 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe

Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 8%
  forests and woodland: 23%
  other: 69% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 98% (1970 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,
South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
  John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
  cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
  four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is
  appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats,
  three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November
  2000)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—National Team coalition
  9, independents 6

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk 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—overview: With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. 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—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

Budget:
  revenues: $265.2 million
  expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997)

Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance,
construction, construction materials, furniture

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1—0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station—1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4 (the four stations have a
total of six frequencies), shortwave 0 (1998)

Merchant marine:
  total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,264,113 GRT/1,970,959
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 11, container 4,
  liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 22,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
  countries among which are: Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark
  2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)

Background: In 1996, the country experienced three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces, which demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms. Subsequent violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the government, destroyed many businesses in the capital, reduced tax revenues, and exacerbated the government's problems in meeting expenses. African peacekeepers restored order in 1997; in April 1998 the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) assumed responsibility for peacekeeping operations.

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 75%
  other: 17% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Environment—current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 757,422; female 749,289)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 885,087; female 927,282)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 56,309; female 69,562) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.19 years male: 45.35 years female: 49.09 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)

Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national
language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 60%
  male: 68.5%
  female: 52.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Central African Republic
  conventional short form: none
  local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
  local short form: none
  former: Central African Empire
  abbreviation: CAR

Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular—prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular—prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga

National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation
of the republic)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since
  January 1999)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
  prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE elected president; percent of
  vote—PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms; note—there were 85 seats in the National Assembly
  before the 1998 election)
  elections: last held 22-23 November and NA December 1998 (next to be
  held NA 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD
  9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,
  independents 6%; seats by party—MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 10, FPP 7, PSD
  5, ADP 4, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7;
  note—results of election are being contested
  note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
  Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together
  they are called the Congress or Congres

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Movement for Democracy and

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC
  (observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui

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—overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and reduced tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 21% services: 26% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $638 million
  expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888
  million (1994 est.)

Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles,
footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 20% hydro: 80% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

Exports—partners: Belgium-Luxembourg 36%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Spain 4%, Egypt 3%, France

Imports—commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products

Imports—partners: France 30%, Cote d'Ivoire 18%, Cameroon 11%,
Germany 4%, Japan

Economic aid—recipient: $172.2 million (1995); note?traditional
budget subsidies from France

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: fair system domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3 (including Africa No. 1 and R. France Internationale stations located in Bangui), shortwave 1 (1998)

Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river

Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 49 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Central African Armed Forces (includes
Republican Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, National
Gendarmerie, Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 409,044 (1999 est.)

Background: In 1960, Chad gained full independence from France. In December 1990, after Chad had endured three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya, former northern guerrilla leader Idriss DEBY seized control of the government. His transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled the territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution which was ratified by popular referendum in 1996, held multiparty national presidential elections in 1996 (DEBY won with 69% of the vote), and held multiparty elections for the National Assembly in 1997 (DEBY's Patriotic Salvation Movement won a majority of the seats). But by the end of 1998, DEBY was beset with numerous problems including heavy casualties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where Chadian troops had been deployed to support embattled President KABILA, a new rebellion in northern Chad, and further delays in the Doba Basin oil project in the south.

Area:
  total: 1.284 million sq km
  land: 1,259,200 sq km
  water: 24,800 sq km

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

Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under
way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 36%
  forests and woodland: 26%
  other: 35% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

Environment—current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography—note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 1,675,394; female 1,667,717)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 1,953,251; female 2,034,883)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 99,783; female 126,408) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 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 (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.56 years male: 46.13 years female: 51.09 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko,
  Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba), non-Muslims (Sara,
  Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa), nonindigenous
  150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French)

Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango
(in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
  total population: 48.1%
  male: 62.1%
  female: 34.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Chad
  conventional short form: Chad
  local long form: Republique du Tchad
  local short form: Tchad

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

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December
  1990)
  head of government: Prime Minister Nassour Guelengdouksia OUAIDOU
  (since 16 May 1997)
  cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year
  terms; 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 2 June and 11 July 1996 (next to be held
  NA 2001); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: in the first round of voting none of the 15
  candidates received the required 50% of the total vote; percent of
  vote, first round—Lt. Gen. Idress DEBY 47.8%; percent of vote,
  second round—Lt. Gen. DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); replaces
  the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de
  Transition
  elections: National Assembly—last held in two rounds on 5 January
  and 23 February 1997, (next to be held NA 2001); in the first round
  of voting some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or
  more of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoring
  candidates stood for a second round of voting
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—MPS
  65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;
Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement or
  the party in power and the party of the president); National Union
  mid-1996 Chad had about 60 political parties, of which these are the
  most prominent in the new National Assembly

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, NAM,
  OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David C. HALSTED embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Economy—overview: Landlocked Chad's economic development suffers from it's geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including the herding of livestock. Of Africa's Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is directed largely at the improvement of agriculture, especially livestock production. Lack of financing and low oil prices, however, are stalling the development of an oil field in the Doba Basin and the construction of a proposed oil pipeline through Cameroon.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 39% industry: 15% services: 46% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

Budget:
  revenues: $198 million
  expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146
  million (1998 est.)

Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron
(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Exports—partners: Portugal 30%, Germany 14%, Thailand, Costa
Rica, South Africa, France (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Economic aid—recipient: $238.3 million (1995); note?$125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: primitive system domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (one of the shortwave stations has three frequencies) (1998)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (broadcasts 1800 to 2100 hours, four days per week) (1997)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air
Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Rapid Intervention Force,
Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 875,541 (1999 est.)

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

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

Land boundaries: total: 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious
metals, molybdenum

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 18%
  forests and woodland: 22%
  other: 55% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 2,137,255; female 2,044,605)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 4,845,523; female 4,885,328)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 440,010; female 621,122) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.46 years male: 72.33 years female: 78.75 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 95.2%
  male: 95.4%
  female: 95% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Chile
  conventional short form: Chile
  local long form: Republica de Chile
  local short form: Chile

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, Tarapaca, Valparaiso
  note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March
  1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11
  March 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and head
  of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December
  1999)
  election results: Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle elected president; percent
  of vote—Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%,
  other 17.6%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso
  Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 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 1997 (next to be held NA
  December 2001); Chamber of Deputies—last held 11 December 1997 (next
  to be held NA December 2001)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA%; seats by
  party—CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), UPP 17 (RN 7, UDI 10), Chile 2000
  (UCCP) 1, independent 10; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by
  party—CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%),
  UPP 36.23% (RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%); seats by party—CPD 70 (PDC 39,
  PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), UPP 46 (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South
  1), right-wing independents 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court

Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC Javier ERRAZURIZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
  G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
  OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP,
  UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Genaro Luis ARRIAGADA Herrera chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY
  embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago
  mailing address: APO AA 34033

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; design was based on the US flag

Economy—overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy. Civilian governments—which took over from the military in March 1990—have continued to reduce the government's role in the economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 7.0% in 1991-1997 but fell to about half of that average in 1998 because of spillover from the global financial crisis. Inflation has been on a downward trend and hit a 60-year low in 1998. Chile's currency and foreign reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital inflows—including significant direct investment—have more than offset current account deficits and public debt buy-backs. President FREI, who took office in March 1994, has placed improving Chile's education system and developing foreign export markets at the top of his economic agenda. The Chilean economy remains largely dependent on a few sectors—particularly copper mining, fishing, and forestry. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends largely on world prices for these commodities, continued foreign investor confidence, and the government's ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance. In 1996, Chile became an associate member of Mercosur and concluded a free trade agreement with Canada.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 46.1% (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $17 billion
  expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 41.89% hydro: 58.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; fish

Exports—commodities: copper 37%, other metals and minerals 8.2%,
wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1994)

Imports—commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw
materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% (1994)

Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1—475.68 (January 1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994)

Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)

Railways:
  total: 6,782 km
  broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km
  electrified) (1995)

Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo,
Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente,
Talcahuano, Valparaiso

Merchant marine:
  total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,201 GRT/787,719 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, container 2,
  liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 58
  over 3,047 m: 5
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
  914 to 1,523 m: 19
  under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 320
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
  914 to 1,523 m: 73
  under 914 m: 229 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes
Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation,
Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,943,206 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $2.12 billion (1998); note—includes earnings from CODELCO Company and costs of pensions; does not include funding for the National Police (Carabineros) and Investigations Police

Disputes—international: short section of the southwestern boundary with Argentina is indefinite—process to resolve boundary issues is underway; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims

Illicit drugs: a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe; economic prosperity has made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits; imported precursors pass on to Bolivia

Background: For most of its 3,500 years of history, China led the world in agriculture, crafts, and science, then fell behind in the 19th century when the Industrial Revolution gave the West clear superiority in military and economic affairs. In the first half of the 20th century, China continued to suffer from major famines, civil unrest, military defeat, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's autonomy, imposed strict controls over all aspects of life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping decentralized economic decision making; output quadrupled in the next 20 years. Political controls remain tight at the same time economic controls have been weakening. Present issues are: incorporating Hong Kong into the Chinese system; closing down inefficient state-owned enterprises; modernizing the military; fighting corruption; and providing support to tens of millions of displaced workers.

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,
Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Land boundaries:
  total: 22,143.34 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,
  Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea
  1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia
  4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605
  km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km

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

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 8,848 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: 10%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 43%
  forests and woodland: 14%
  other: 33% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts

Environment—current issues: air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal, produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
  Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
  Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 169,206,275; female 149,115,216)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 435,047,915; female 408,663,265)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 39,824,361; female 45,014,919) (1999
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.92 years male: 68.57 years female: 71.48 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi,
Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities
8.1%

Religions: Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1%
(est.)
note: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic

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 divisions entry)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 81.5%
  male: 89.9%
  female: 72.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: People's Republic of China
  conventional short form: China
  local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
  local short form: Zhong Guo
  abbreviation: PRC

Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and
  plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4
  municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**,
  Chongqing**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan,
  Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,
  Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong,
  Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet),
  Yunnan, Zhejiang
  note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entry
  for the special administrative region of Hong Kong

Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty
221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12
February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)

Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice
  President HU Jintao (since 16 March 1998)
  head of government: Premier ZHU Rongji (since 18 March 1998); Vice
  Premiers QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March
  1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and WEN Jiabao (since 18
  March 1998)
  cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress
  (NPC)
  elections: president and vice president elected by the National
  People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 16-18
  March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); premier nominated by the
  president, confirmed by the National People's Congress
  election results: JIANG Zemin reelected president by the Ninth
  National People's Congress with a total of 2,882 votes (36 delegates
  voted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not vote); HU Jintao
  elected vice president by the Ninth National People's Congress with
  a total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him, 39
  abstained, and 32 did not vote)

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress or
  Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected by
  municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held NA December-NA February 1998 (next to be held
  late 2002-NA March 2003)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—NA

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the
National People's Congress

Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCP
registered small parties controlled by CCP

Political pressure groups and leaders: no meaningful political
opposition groups exist

International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS,
  CCC, CDB (non-regional), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM
  (observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMSIL, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador LI Zhaoxing
  chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
  San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James R. SASSER
  embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
  mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
  consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang

Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy—overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented economy but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the financial system; state enterprises would continue to dominate many key industries in what was now termed "a socialist market economy". In 1995-97 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting tighter monetary policies and stronger measures to control food prices. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the vigorous expansion of the economy and many of which had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 60 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to continued rapid economic 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. The next few years may witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system. Economic growth probably will slow to more moderate levels in 1999-2000.

GDP—real growth rate: 7.8% (1998 est.) (official figures may substantially overstate growth)

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 49% services: 32% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.9% (1995)

Unemployment rate: officially 3% in urban areas; probably 8%-10%;
substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas (1998
est.)

Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, footwear, toys, food processing, autos, consumer electronics, telecommunications

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 93% hydro: 6% nuclear: 1% other: 0% (1996 est.)

Agriculture—products: rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish

Exports—commodities: electrical machinery and equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances, woven apparel, knit apparel, footwear, toys and sporting goods (1998)

Exports—partners: Hong Kong 21%, US 21%, Japan 14%, Germany,
South Korea, Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Taiwan (1997)

Imports—commodities: electrical machinery and equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances, plastics, iron and steel, scientific and photograph equipment, paper and paper board (1998)

Imports—partners: Japan 20%, US 12%, Taiwan 12%, South Korea 11%,
Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia (1997)

Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1—8.28 (February 1999), 8.2779
  (December 1998), 8.2790 (1998), 8.2898 (1997), 8.3142 (1996), 8.3514
  (1995), 8.6187 (1994)
  note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes
  the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's
  prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market

Telephone system: domestic and international services are
  increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
  domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and all
  townships
  domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular
  telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system
  with 55 earth stations is in place
  international: satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and 1
  Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); several international
  fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and
  Germany

Television broadcast stations: 209 (China Central Television, government-owned; in addition there are 31 provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 city TV stations) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 64,900 km (including 5,400 km of provincial "local" rails)
  standard gauge: 61,300 km 1.435-m gauge (12,000 km electrified;
  20,000 km double track)
  narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.750-m gauge local industrial lines (1998
  est.)
  note: a new total of 68,000 km has been estimated for early 1999

Highways:
  total: 1.21 million km
  paved: 271,300 km (with at least 24,474 km of motorways)
  unpaved: 938,700 km (1998 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 9,070 km; petroleum products 560 km; natural
gas 9,383 km (1998)

Ports and harbors: Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Huangpu,
Lianyungang, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao,
Shanghai, Shantou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xingang, Yantai, Zhanjiang

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,759 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,828,349
  GRT/24,801,291 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 330, cargo 855, chemical tanker
  21, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 121,
  liquefied gas tanker 20, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil
  tanker 245, passenger 8, passenger-cargo 47, refrigerated cargo 25,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 43, vehicle carrier 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 192 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 65 1,524 to 2,437 m: 90 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in wartime)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 198,398,601 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 10,273,696 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $12.608 billion (FY99); note-Western analysts believe that China's real defense spending is several times higher than the official figure because several significant items are funded elsewhere

Disputes—international: boundary with India in dispute; dispute over at least two small sections of the boundary with Russia remain to be settled, despite 1997 boundary agreement; most of the boundary with Tajikistan in dispute; 33-km section of boundary with North Korea in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does Taiwan; sections of land border with Vietnam are indefinite

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 100% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Ethnic groups: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no
indigenous population

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and
Territories

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 (acting) Graham NICHOLLS (since NA)
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
  by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
  Australia

Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9
  seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
  elections: last held NA December 1998 (next to be held NA December
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 9

Economy—overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1990, the mine was reopened by private operators. Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $45 million casino on Christmas Island.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: NA
  note: external telephone and telex services are provided by Intelsat
  satellite

Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico

Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C,
rains May-October

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all coral)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

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

Economy—overview: Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka

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

Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 100% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: fresh water resources are limited to
rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (July 1998 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and
Territories

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by the Australian governor general
  head of government: Administrator (acting) Maureen ELLIS (since NA)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
  by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
  Australia

Economy—overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society
Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage worker
operations; tourism employs others

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with
  Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of
  NA type

Background: Colombia gained its independence from Spain in 1819. Earlier than most countries in the area, it established traditions of civilian government with regular, free elections. In recent years, however, assassinations, widespread guerrilla activities, and drug trafficking have severely disrupted normal public and private activities.

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Area:
  total: 1,138,910 sq km
  land: 1,038,700 sq km
  water: 100,210 sq km
  note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and
  Serranilla Bank

Land boundaries:
  total: 7,408 km
  border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
  Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
nickel, gold, copper, emeralds

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 39%
  forests and woodland: 48%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
  Tropical Timber 94
  signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
  Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography—note: only South American country with coastlines on
both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 6,556,566; female 6,402,115)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 11,966,306; female 12,593,685)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 807,282; female 983,468) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.48 years male: 66.54 years female: 74.54 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 91.3%
  male: 91.2%
  female: 91.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
  conventional short form: Colombia
  local long form: Republica de Colombia
  local short form: Colombia

Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos,
  singular—departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);
  Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, 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, Distrito Capital de Santa Fe de Bogota*, Santander,
  Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
  Vice President Gustavo BELL (since 7 August 1998); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
  Vice President Gustavo BELL (since 7 August 1998); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); vice
  president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new
  procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice
  presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held 31 May
  1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)
  election results: no candidate received more than 50% of the total
  vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the
  two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA
  elected president; percent of vote—NA; Gustavo BELL elected vice
  president; percent of vote—NA

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 (161 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
  serve four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March
  2002); House of Representatives—last held NA March 1998 (next to be
  held NA March 2002)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—PL 50%, PC 24%,
  smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%; seats by
  party—PL 51, PC 24, smaller parties 27; House of
  Representatives—percent of vote by party—PL 52%, PC 17%, other 31%;
  seats by party—NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms; Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms; Constitutional Court, guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PL [Horaero
AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident
legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of

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, Caricom
  (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
  (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
  chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
  New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
  Washington, DC
  consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN
  embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
  mailing address: APO AA 34038

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—overview: Colombia ended 1998 in recession with 0.2% GDP growth due to a combination of low world oil prices, reduced export demand, guerrilla violence, and diminished investment flows. The Central Bank resorted to interest rate hikes and tight monetary policy to defend the peso against pressure from Colombia's worsening trade and fiscal deficits. President PASTRANA'S well-respected financial team is working to deal with the myriad economic problems the country faces, including the highest unemployment level in decades and a fiscal deficit of close to 5% of GDP in 1998. The government implemented austerity measures, declared emergency measures to guard against a potential banking crisis resulting from the country's economic slowdown, and is seeking international assistance to fund a peace plan with the guerrillas. Guerrilla violence and low world oil prices will likely continue to undermine the economy in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 26% services: 55% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 46.9% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $26 billion (1996 est.)
  expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and
footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 19.26% hydro: 80.74% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp

Imports—commodities: industrial equipment, transportation
equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels

Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1—1,562.0 (February 1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83 (1995), 844.84 (1994)

Telephone system: modern system in many respects domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 3,380 km
  standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines
  to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)
  narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km;
natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km

Ports and harbors: Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura,
Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco,
Turbo

Merchant marine:
  total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,7575 GRT/84,518 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multifunction
  large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 89 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 1,031 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 339 under 914 m: 628 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada
Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,980,700 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; cultivation of coca in 1997—79,500 hectares, an 18% increase over 1996; potential production of cocaine in 1997—125 metric tons, a 14% increase over 1996; cultivation of opium in 1997—6,600 hectares, a 5% increase over 1996; potential production of opium in 1997—66 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca and opium crops

Background: Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from France in 1975. Most recently, in August 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. An attempt in September 1997 by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation.

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m

Land use:
  arable land: 35%
  permanent crops: 10%
  permanent pastures: 7%
  forests and woodland: 18%
  other: 30% (1993 est.)

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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 120,397; female 119,945)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 150,851; female 154,990)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 7,878; female 8,662) (1999 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.85 years male: 58.39 years female: 63.38 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend
of Swahili and Arabic)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 57.3%
  male: 64.2%
  female: 50.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
  conventional short form: Comoros
  local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
  local short form: Comores

Administrative divisions: three islands; Grande Comore
  (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
  note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
  Moroni, and Moutsamoudou

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Interim President TADJIDDINE Ben Said Massounde
  (since 6 November 1998); note—President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim died
  in office 6 November 1998 and was succeeded by Interim President
  MASSOUNDE
  head of government: Prime Minister Abbas DJOUSSOUF (since 22
  November 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
  election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent
  of vote—64%
  note: the Comoran constitution stipulates that upon the death of the
  president, a new president is to be elected within 90 days; however,
  Interim President TADJIDDINE has stated that a new election cannot
  be held until Anjouan is reunited with the rest of the country

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
  (15 seats; members selected by regional councils for six-year terms)
  and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members
  elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Federal Assembly—last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to
  be held NA)
  election results: Federal Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—RND 39, RND candidate running as independent 1, FNJ 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members are
  appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal
  Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents
  of the republic

Political parties and leaders: Rassemblement National pour le
  NA]
  note: under a new constitution ratified in October 1996, a two-party
  system was established; former President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim
  called for all parties to dissolve and join him in creating the RND;
  the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in
  the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in
  opposition, but if no party accomplishes that the second most
  successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December
  1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN) chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros

Flag description: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago—Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992

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, is the leading sector of the economy. It 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 is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be maintained.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 14% services: 46% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $48 million
  expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997)

Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture,
jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Imports—commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment

Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1—420.01 (December 1998), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994)

Telephone system: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 79,224 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: claims French-administered Mayotte; the islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede from Comoros

@Congo, Democratic Republic of the ————————————————-

Land boundaries:
  total: 10,271 km
  border countries: Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African
  Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km,
  Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator—wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator—wet season November to March, dry season April to October

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110
  m

Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial
  and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium,
  uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential,
  timber

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 7%
  forests and woodland: 77%
  other: 13% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: poaching threatens wildlife
  populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in
  mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil
  erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country
  (most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December
  1996)

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
  Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography—note: straddles Equator; 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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 12,200,532; female 12,136,372)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 12,135,901; female 12,692,057)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 564,084; female 752,359) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: in 1994, about a million refugees fled into Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC), to escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi; the outbreak of widespread fighting in the DROC between rebels and government forces in October 1996 spurred about 875,000 refugees to return to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997; additionally,the DROC is host to 200,000 Angolan, 110,000 Burundi, 100,000 Sudanese, and 15,000 Ugandan refugees; renewed fighting in the DROC in August 1998 resulted in more internal displacement and refugee outflows

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: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.44 years male: 47.28 years female: 51.67 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic groups: over 200 African ethnic groups of which the
  majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes—Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all
  Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the
  population

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%,
Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional 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: 77.3%
  male: 86.6%
  female: 67.7% (1995 est.)

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: Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
  abbreviation: DROC

Government type: dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provinces,
  singular—province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo,
  Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*,
  Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu

Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; following successful rebellion the new government announced on 29 May 1997 a program of constitutional reform and, in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by President KABILA and awaits ratification by national referendum

Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note—the
  president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997);
  note—the president is both chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
  elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president
  was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last
  held 29 July 1984 (next was to be held in May 1997); formerly, the
  prime minister was elected by the High Council of the Republic;
  note—the term of the former government expired in 1991, elections
  were not held, and former president MOBUTU continued in office until
  his government was militarily defeated by KABILA on 17 May 1997
  election results: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga
  reelected president in 1984 without opposition
  note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was
  president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May
  1997 when his government was overturned militarily by Laurent Desire
  KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; in his 29 May
  1997 inaugural address, President KABILA announced a two-year time
  table for political reform leading to elections by April 1999;
  subsequently, in December 1998, President KABILA announced that
  elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces
  attempting his overthrow had withdrawn from the country

Legislative branch: legislative activity has been suspended
  pending the establishment of KABILA's promised constitutional
  reforms and the elections to be held by April 1999 (now postponed
  indefinitely)
  elections: the country's first multi-party presidential and
  legislative elections had been scheduled for May 1997 but were not
  held; instead KABILA overthrew the MOBUTU government and seized
  control of the country

Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January
  parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
  note: President KABILA, who has banned political party activity
  indefinitely, currently leads the Alliance of Democratic Forces for
  the Liberation of Congo-Zaire or AFDL

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828

Flag description: light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side

Economy—overview: The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—a nation endowed with vast potential wealth—has declined significantly since the mid-1980s. The new government instituted a tight fiscal policy that initially curbed inflation and currency depreciation, but these small gains were quickly reversed when the foreign-backed rebellion in the eastern part of the country began in August 1998. The war has dramatically reduced government revenue, and increased external debt. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict and because of increased government harassment and restrictions. Poor infrastructure, an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and lack of transparency in government economic policy remain a brake on investment and growth. A number of IMF and World Bank missions have met with the new government to help it develop a coherent economic plan but associated reforms are on hold.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 59% industry: 15% services: 26% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $269 million
  expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, diamonds

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 6.25% hydro: 93.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Exports—partners: Benelux 43%, US 22%, South Africa 8%, France,
Germany, Italy, UK, Japan (1997)

Imports—commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other
machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Imports—partners: South Africa 21%, Benelux 14%, China 8%,
Netherlands, US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK (1997)

Exchange rates: Congolese francs (CF) per US$1—2.5 (January 1999); new zaires (Z) per US$1—115,000 (January 1998), 83,764 (October 1996), 7,024 (1995), 1,194 (1994) note: on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc (CF) was introduced, replacing the new zaire; 1 Congolese franc (CF)=100,000 new zaires

Telephone system:
  domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in
  and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth
  stations
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 5,138 km (1995); note—severely reduced route-distance in use
  because of damage to facilities by civil strife
  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

Waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes

Ports and harbors: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie,
Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Airports—with paved runways: total: 23 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 210 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 95 under 914 m: 94 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Security
Group, Gendarmerie

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,536,277 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the rebel movement which occupies much of the eastern portion of the state; most of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)

Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

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

Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc,
uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 29%
  forests and woodland: 62%
  other: 9% (1993 est.)

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, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville,
Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 579,940; female 573,847)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 718,820; female 751,911)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 36,987; female 55,309) (1999 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.14 years male: 45.42 years female: 48.92 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic groups: Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans NA%; note—Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half of that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997

Languages: French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua
franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which
Kikongo has the most users)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 74.9%
  male: 83.1%
  female: 67.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
  conventional short form: none
  local long form: Republique du Congo
  local short form: none
  former: Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular—region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992 but is now being redrafted by President SASSOU-NGUESSO

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: normally the prime minister, appointed from the
  majority party by the president; however, since his inauguration,
  President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO has been both chief of state and head
  of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997
  but will be delayed for several years pending the drafting of a new
  constitution)
  election results: Pascal LISSOUBA elected president in 1992; percent
  of vote—Pascal LISSOUBA 61%, Bernard KOLELAS 39%; note—LISSOUBA was
  deposed in 1997, replaced by Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO

Legislative branch: unicameral National Transitional Council (75
  seats, members elected by reconciliation forum of 1,420 delegates;
  note—the National Transitioanl Council replaced the bicameral
  Paarliament in mid-1997
  elections: National Transitional Council—last held NA January 1998
  (next to be held NA 2001); note—at that election the National
  Transitional Council is to be replaced by a bicameral assembly
  election results: National Transitional Council—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—NA

Political parties and leaders: the most important of the many
  SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Association for Democracy and
  TCHICAYA, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral
  BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Union of Congolese
  Socialist Youth or UJSC; Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC;
  Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; General Union of
  Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MONUA, NAM,
  OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Serge
  MOMBOULI
  chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador J. Aubrey HOOKS embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville 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—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. Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover, the government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994 but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices in 1998, which worsened the Republic of the Congo's budget deficit. A second blow was the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 59% services: 31% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $870 million
  expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering,
brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette making

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.68% hydro: 99.32% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Exports—commodities: petroleum 50%, lumber, plywood, sugar,
cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Imports—commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—550 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: services barely adequate for government use;
  key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
  inter-city lines frequently out-of-order
  domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
  coaxial cable
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
total: 795 km (includes 285 km private track)
narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (1995 est.)

Waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 326,834 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley Pool/Pool Malebo area)

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. Residents chose self-government with free association with New Zealand in 1965. The emigration of Cook Islanders to New Zealand in large numbers and resulting loss of skilled labor and government deficits are continuing problems.

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 13%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 78% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and
European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%,
other 0.9%

Religions: Christian (majority of populace are members of the
Cook Islands Christian Church)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook 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, in consultation
  with the Cook Islands

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)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High
  Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of
  New Zealand
  head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1
  February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1
  February 1989)
  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 party that wins the most seats usually
  becomes prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held by June 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Democratic Alliance Party 2 note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing in
free association with New Zealand)

Flag description: blue, 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—overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In 1996, the government declared bankruptcy, citing a $120 million public debt. Efforts to exploit tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries have not been enough to adequately deal with the financial crisis. In an effort to stem further erosion of the economy, the government slashed public service salaries by 50%, condensed the number of government ministries from 52 to 22, reduced the number of civil servants by more than half, began selling government assets, and closed all overseas diplomatic posts except for the one in New Zealand.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 6% services: 77% (FY90/91)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee

Exports—commodities: copra, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Economic aid—recipient: $13.1 million (1995); note?New Zealand furnishes the greater part

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of
  satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
  radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
  exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and
  fiber-optic cable
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, eight low-power repeaters provide good coverage on the island of Rarotonga) (1997)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

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 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most
  important

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station

Country name:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories

Executive branch: administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories

Communications—note: there are automatic weather relay stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

Background: Costa Rica declared its independence from Spain in 1821. After a turbulent beginning it inaugurated an era of peaceful democracy in 1889, subsequently interrupted only twice, by a dictatorial interlude in 1917-19 and an armed uprising in 1948. Increasing the role of the private sector while maintaining the government's social safety net and keeping under control the budget deficit, unemployment, and inflation are key current issues.

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Area:
  total: 51,100 sq km
  land: 50,660 sq km
  water: 440 sq km
  note: includes Isla del Coco

Land boundaries: total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season
(May to November)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 31%
  other: 12% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes

Environment—current issues: deforestation, largely a result of
the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
  Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 622,260; female 593,720)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 1,150,900; female 1,121,970)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 85,526; female 100,114) (1999 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.04 years male: 73.6 years female: 78.61 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%,
Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 94.8%
  male: 94.7%
  female: 95% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998);
  First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second
  Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);
  note—president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May
  1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998),
  Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);
  note—president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
  elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February
  1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)
  election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent
  of vote—Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES
  (PLN) 44.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
  Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February
  2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PUSC 41%, PLN 35%,
  minority parties 24%; seats by party—PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority
  parties 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are
elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Social Christian Unity Party or
  NA]
  note: mainly a two-party system—PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties
  share less than 25% of population's support

Political pressure groups and leaders: Costa Rican Confederation
  of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate);
  Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate);
  Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist
  Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association
  for Economic Development or ANFE; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL
  (rightwing militants); National Association of Educators or ANDE;
  Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN
  Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM
  chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham,
  Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
  San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
  Tampa
  consulate(s): Austin

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020

Flag description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band

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. Economic growth has rebounded from -0.9% in 1996 to 3% in 1997 and an estimated 5.5% in 1998. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, and reached an estimated 12% in 1998. Unemployment appears moderate at 5.6%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, large government deficits—fueled by interest payments on the massive internal debt—have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the government. President RODRIGUEZ has called for an increased economic role for the private sector, but political resistance to privatization has stalled much of his economic program.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 24% services: 61% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)

Labor force—by occupation: industry and commerce 23.3%, government and services 55.1%, agriculture 21.6% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.1 billion
  expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110
  million (1991 est.)

Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction
materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 14.11% hydro: 75.44% nuclear: 0% other: 10.45% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber

Exports—commodities: manufactured products, coffee, bananas,
textiles, sugar (1997)

Exports—partners: US, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El
Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France (1997)

Imports—commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital
equipment, petroleum (1997)

Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1—272.58 (January 1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994)

Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service
  domestic: NA
  international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
  satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto
Quepos, Puntarenas

Airports—with paved runways: total: 28 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 128 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica); note—during 1996, the Ministry of Public Security reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities; they are now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis performing ground security, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and national security (border patrol) functions; the constitution prohibits armed forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 662,827 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,110 km
  border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
  Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons—warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 41%
  forests and woodland: 22%
  other: 25% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Environment—current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests—once the largest in West Africa—have been cleared by the timber industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 3,702,051; female 3,664,672)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 4,154,440; female 3,952,999)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 174,065; female 169,841) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000 refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire and, by September 1998, according to the UNHCR, about 85,000 remain

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.05 years male: 44.48 years female: 47.67 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,
  Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians,
  about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and
  Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some of
these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)

Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the
most widely spoken

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 48.5%
  male: 57%
  female: 40%

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

Capital: Yamoussoukro
  note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan
  remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries,
  maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements, singular—departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam, Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda

Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time July 1998

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993);
  note—succeeded to the presidency following the death of President
  Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November
  1960
  head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10
  December 1993)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000);
  prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of
  vote—Henri Konan BEDIE 96%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held NA
  November 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PDCI
  150, RDR 13, FPI 12
  note: a Senate will be created in 2000

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George MU embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan

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—overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the government to diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to the devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. The 50% devaluation of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump in the inflation rate to 26% in 1994, but the rate fell sharply in 1996-98. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 6% annually in 1996-98. Growth may slow in 1999-2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors and continued low prices of key exports.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 20% services: 49% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 28.5% (1988)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.3 billion
  expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $640
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 22% hydro: 47% nuclear: 0% other: 31% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber

Exports—commodities: cocoa 36%, coffee, tropical woods,
petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish

Exports—partners: Netherlands 17%, France 15%, Germany 7%, US 6%,
Italy 5% (1997)

Imports—commodities: food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel,
transport equipment

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: well-developed by African standards but operating well below capacity domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables

Railways:
  total: 660 km
  narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995
  est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 7
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 29
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
  914 to 1,523 m: 12
  under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary
Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard),
Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,917,433 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local
  consumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast
  Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin
  American cocaine destined for Europe

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,197 km
  border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with
  Montenegro), Slovenia 670 km

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

Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate
predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry
summers along coast

Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian
border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline,
and islands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore,
calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 38%
  other: 19% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil strife

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
  Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
  Desertification

Geography—note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to
Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 404,761; female 383,088)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 1,591,831; female 1,591,106)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 272,219; female 433,860) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 70.69 years female: 77.52 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%,
Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)

Religions: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%,
Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%

Languages: Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian,
Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 99%
  female: 95% (1991 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
  conventional short form: Croatia
  local long form: Republika Hrvatska
  local short form: Hrvatska

Administrative divisions: 21 counties (zupanije, zupanija—singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Pozega-Slavonia, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varazdin, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb note: there are two special self-governing districts (kotari, kotar—singular) under local Serb control: Glina, Knin

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990)
  head of government: Prime Minister Zlatko MATESA (since 7 November
  1995); Deputy Prime Ministers Mate GRANIC (since 8 September 1992),
  Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993), Jure RADIC (since NA October
  1994), Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993), and Ljerka MINTAS-HODAK
  (since November 1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 15 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime
  minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
  election results: President Franjo TUDJMAN reelected; percent of
  vote—Franjo TUDJMAN 61%, Zdravko TOMAC 21%, Vlado GOTOVAC 18%

Legislative branch: bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the
  House of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats—63 directly elected by
  popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year
  terms) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (127
  seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: House of Counties—last held 13 April 1997 (next to be
  held NA 2001); House of Representatives—last held 29 October 1995
  (next to be held NA 1999)
  election results: House of Counties—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—HDZ 42, HDZ/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2,
  SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note—in some districts certain
  parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of
  Representatives—percent of vote by party—HDZ 45.23%,
  HSS/IDS/HNS/HKDU/SBHS 18.26%, HSLS 11.55%, SDP 8.93%, HSP 5.01%;
  seats by party—HDZ 75, HSLS 12, HSS 10, SDP 10, IDS 4, HSP 4, HNS 2,
  SNS 2, HND 1, ASH 1, HKDU 1, SBHS 1, independents 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives

International organization participation: BIS (pending member),
  CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW,
  OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZUL
  chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
  embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
  mailing address: use street address

Flag description: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with
Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

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. Croatia faces considerable economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties. Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would help restore the economy. The government has been successful in some reform efforts—partially macroeconomic stabilization policies—and it has normalized relations with its creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of large state enterprises and with bank reform. In 1998, Croatia made progress in reducing its current account deficit to about 8% of GDP from 12% the previous year. Economic growth continues to lag, however, and growing levels of inter-enterprise debt plague the domestic economy. Four commercial banks were put under government control and a major conglomerate is teetering on collapse.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 24% services: 64% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture 4.3%, government 19.1% (including education and health), other 45.5% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.3 billion
  expenditures: $6.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $78.5
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 29.25% hydro: 70.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, vegetables; livestock, dairy products

Exports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 13.6%, miscellaneous manufactures 27.6%, chemicals 14.2%, food and live animals 12.2%, raw materials 6.1%, fuels and lubricants 9.4%, beverages and tobacco 2.7% (1993)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 23.1%, fuels and lubricants 8.8%, food and live animals 9.0%, chemicals 14.2%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 16.0%, raw materials 3.5%, beverages and tobacco 1.4% (1993)

Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US$1—6.317 (January 1999), 6.362 (1998), 6.157 (1997), 5.434 (1996), 5.230 (1995), 5.996 (1994)

Railways:
  total: 2,296 km
  standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (796 km electrified)
  note: some lines remain inoperative or not in use; disrupted by
  territorial dispute (1997)

Highways:
  total: 27,840 km
  paved: 22,690 km (including 330 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,150 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 785 km perennially navigable; large sections of Sava
blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris

Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural
gas 310 km (1992); note—under repair following territorial dispute

Ports and harbors: Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula,
Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube),
Zadar

Merchant marine:
  total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 810,226 GRT/1,227,468
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination
  bulk 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, multifunction large-load
  carrier 3, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
  short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 21 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: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Home Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 943,719 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, was returned to Croatian control by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia on 15 January 1998; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights; significant progress has been made with Slovenia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP)

Illicit drugs: transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe

Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959, and his guiding vision has defined Cuba's Communist revolution while his iron will has held the country together for more than four decades. CASTRO brought Cuba onto the world stage by inviting Soviet support in the 1960s, inciting revolutionary movements throughout Latin America and Africa in the 1970s, and sending his army to fight in Angola in the 1980s. At home, Havana provided Cubans with high levels of healthcare, education, and social security while suppressing the Roman Catholic Church and arresting political dissidents. Cuba is slowly recovering from severe economic recession following the withdrawal of former-Soviet subsidies, worth $4billion-$6 billion per year, in 1990.

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida

Land boundaries:
  total: 29 km
  border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
  note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
  part of Cuba

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November
to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and
mountains in the southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese,
salt, timber, silica, petroleum

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 7%
  permanent pastures: 27%
  forests and woodland: 24%
  other: 18% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment—current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation

Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 1,236,899; female 1,172,560)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 3,820,255; female 3,801,768)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 496,772; female 568,141) (1999 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.78 years male: 73.41 years female: 78.3 years (1999 est.)

Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 95.7%
  male: 96.2%
  female: 95.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
  conventional short form: Cuba
  local long form: Republica de Cuba
  local short form: Cuba

Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898;
administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)

National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day,
1 January (1959)

Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
  the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
  February 1959 until 24 February 1976, when office was abolished;
  president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
  Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
  Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President of the Council of State and President
  of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
  February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
  president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
  Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
  Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
  Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly
  note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by
  the National Assembly
  elections: president and vice president elected by the National
  Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election
  unscheduled)
  election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
  legislative vote—100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
  percent of legislative vote—100%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: percent of vote—PCC 94.39%; seats—PCC 601

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
  IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
  OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Cuba has an
  Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
  Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss
  (202) 797-8518

Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note—the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Economy—overview: The state plays the primary role in the economy and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink the money supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the Cuban peso to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 21 to the dollar by yearend 1998. New taxes introduced in 1996 helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996 to 155,000 by July 1998. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994, when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Export earnings declined 22% in 1998, to $1.4 billion, the result of lower sugar export volume and lower world prices for nickel and sugar. Import expenditures also fell 15% to $3.0 billion, in part due to lower world oil prices. Tourism and remittances play a key role in foreign currency earnings. Living standards for the average Cuban remain at a depressed level compared with 1990.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.5% services: 56.1% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 4.5 million economically active population (1996
est.)
note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: services and government 30%, industry
22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation
and communications 7% (June 1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $12.3 billion
  expenditures: $13 billion , including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 98.96% hydro: 1.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Exports—commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Debt—external: $10.1 billion (convertible currency, 1997); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1997)

Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1—1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)

Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephone
  systems
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
  Ocean region)

Railways:
  total: 4,807 km
  standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)
  note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations

Highways:
  total: 60,858 km
  paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
  unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel,
Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba

Merchant marine:
  total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,091 GRT/125,463 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
  2, refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 77 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 36 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 93 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 61 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes
  ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force
  (DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army
  (EJT); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry

Military manpower—availability:
males age 15-49: 3,068,140
females age 15-49: 3,014,686 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,900,893
females age 15-49: 1,862,411 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 76,328
females: 72,551 (1999 est.)

Military—note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Disputes—international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Illicit drugs: territory serves as transshipment zone for cocaine bound for the US and Europe

Area:
  total: 9,250 sq km (note—of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish
  Cypriot area)
  land: 9,240 sq km
  water: 10 sq km

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

Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south;
scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Olympus 1,952 m

Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber,
salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 13%
  other: 70% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer; increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 92,626; female 88,127)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 249,083; female 244,750)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 34,612; female 44,866) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.1 years male: 74.91 years female: 79.39 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)

Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 94%
  male: 98%
  female: 91% (1987 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
  conventional short form: Cyprus
  note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
  Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Government type: republic
  note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
  island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
  separation was further solidified following the Turkish intervention
  in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, which 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 has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides
  publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and
  creation of a new federal system of government

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
  Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note—Turkish Cypriot area's
  administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of
  Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
from Republic of Cyprus

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October; note—Turkish
Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day

Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
  1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
  head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February
  1993); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government; 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 five-year terms;
  election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February
  2003)
  election results: Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of
  vote—Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
  note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
  area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for
  a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to
  be held NA April 2000); results—Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis
  EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish
  Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers
  (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area

Legislative branch: unicameral—Greek Cypriot area: House of
  Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the
  Greek Cypriots. 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note—only those assigned to
  Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to
  serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
  Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by
  popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May
  2001); Turkish area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held
  December 2003)
  election results: Greek area: House of Representatives—percent of
  vote by party—DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK
  8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party—DISY 20, AKEL
  (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish area: Assembly of
  the Republic—percent of vote by party—UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP
  15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party—UBP
  24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Supreme Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area

Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Restorative
PERDHIKIS]; Turkish Cypriot area: National Unity Party or UBP

Political pressure groups and leaders: Pan-Cyprian Labor
  Federation or PEO (Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot
  Workers or SEK (pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor
  Unions or Turk-Sen; Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or
  Dev-Is

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
  EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet (202) 887-6198

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836

Flag description: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field

Economy—overview: Economic affairs are dominated by the division of the country into the southern (Greek) area controlled by the Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered area. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy in the south is focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector, water shortage is a growing problem, and several desalination plants are planned. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector, e.g. tourism, education, and industry.

GDP—composition by sector: Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.4%; industry 22.4%; services 73.2% (1996); Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 10%; industry 24.6%; services 65.4% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): Greek Cypriot area: 2.3% (1998
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 87.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: Greek Cypriot area: services 62%,
industry 25%, agriculture 13% (1995); Turkish Cypriot area: services
66%, industry 11%, agriculture 23% (1995)

Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1998 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 6.4% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: Greek Cypriot area—$2.9 billion, Turkish Cypriot area—$171
  million
  expenditures: Greek Cypriot area—$3.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $345 million, Turkish Cypriot area—$306 million,
  including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
tourism, wood products

Industrial production growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: -4%
(1996); Turkish Cypriot area: 5.1% (1995)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley,
grapes, olives, vegetables

Exports: Greek Cypriot area: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: $70.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports—commodities: Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,
grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes (1996); Turkish Cypriot
area: citrus, potatoes, textiles (1996)

Exports—partners: Greek Cypriot area: Russia 19.1%, Bulgaria
16.4%, UK 11.3%, Greece 6.3%, Germany 4.8%; Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkey 48.2%, UK 21.3%, other EU 13.7% (1997)

Imports: Greek Cypriot area: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: $318.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Imports—commodities: Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods,
petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery (1996);
Turkish Cypriot area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery (1996)

Imports—partners: Greek Cypriot area: US 17.8%, UK 11.9%, Italy
9.7%, Germany 7.5%, Greece 7.6% (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey
55.3%, UK 13.8%, other EU 11.6% (1997)

Economic aid—recipient: Greek Cypriot area?$187 million in grants (1990-94); Turkish Cypriot area— $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97) that are usually forgiven

Currency: Greek Cypriot area: 1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents;
Turkish Cypriot area: 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US1$—0.5013 (January 1999), 0.5170 (1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1—331,400 (January 1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994)

Telephones: Greek Cypriot area: 367,000 (1996 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 80,000 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
  Cypriot areas
  domestic: open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
  international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
  submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
  Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: AM 4, FM 36,
shortwave 1, Turkish Cypriot area: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: Greek Cypriot area: 500,000 (1996 est.); Turkish Cypriot
area: 130,000 (1996 est.)

Television broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: 7 (in
addition, there are 35 low-power repeaters) (1997); Turkish Cypriot
area: 3 (in addition, there are 4 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: Greek Cypriot area: 300,000 (1996 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 90,000 (1996 est.)

Highways:
  total: Greek Cypriot area: 10,415 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km
  paved: Greek Cypriot area: 5,947 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km
  unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,468 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km
  (1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,469 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,362,067
  GRT/36,945,331 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 430, cargo 530, chemical tanker
  23, combination bulk 42, combination ore/oil 11, container 141,
  liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 152, passenger 7, refrigerated
  cargo 58, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea passenger 14,
  specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 37
  countries among which are Greece 611, Germany 129, Russia 49, Latvia
  278, Netherlands 20, Japan 28, Cuba 16, China 15, Hong Kong 13, and
  Poland 15 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish Forces Regiment on Cyprus (KTKA), Turkish mainland army units

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 133,559 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island

Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well

Background: Once part of the Holy Roman Empire and, later, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Czechoslovakia became an independent nation at the end of World War I. Independence ended with the German takeover in 1939. After World War II, Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence, and in 1968 an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops snuffed out anti-communist demonstrations and riots. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1991, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom. On 1 January 1993, the country peacefully split into its two ethnic components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic, largely by aspiring to become a NATO and EU member, has moved toward integration in world markets, a development that poses both opportunities and risks. But Prague has had a difficult time convincing the public that membership in NATO is crucial to Czech security. At the same time, support for eventual EU membership is waning. Coupled with the country's worsening economic situation, Prague's political scene, troubled for the past three years, will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,881 km
  border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
  Slovakia 215 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 41%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 11%
  forests and woodland: 34%
  other: 12% (1993 est.)

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

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol

Geography—note: landlocked; strategically located 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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 888,292; female 845,662)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 3,569,677; female 3,558,844)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 545,305; female 872,733) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.35 years male: 71.01 years female: 77.88 years (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994

Ethnic groups: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,
Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%

Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%,
Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Czech Republic
  conventional short form: Czech Republic
  local long form: Ceska Republika
  local short form: Ceska Republika

Administrative divisions: 73 districts (okresi, singular—okres)
  and 4 municipalities* (mesta, singular—mesto); Benesov, Beroun,
  Blansko, Breclav, Brno*, Brno-Venkov, Bruntal, Ceske Budejovice,
  Ceska Lipa, Cesky Krumlov, Cheb, Chomutov, Chrudim, Decin,
  Domazlice, Frydek-Mistek, Havlickuv Brod, Hodonin, Hradec Kralove,
  Jablonec nad Nisou, Jesenik, Jicin, Jihlava, Jindrichuv Hradec,
  Karlovy Vary, Karvina, Kladno, Klatovy, Kolin, Kromeriz, Kutna Hora,
  Liberec, Litomerice, Louny, Melnik, Mlada Boleslav, Most, Nachod,
  Novy Jicin, Nymburk, Olomouc, Opava, Ostrava*, Pardubice, Pelhrimov,
  Pisek, Plzen*, Plzen-Jih, Plzen-Sever, Prachatice, Praha*,
  Praha-Vychod, Praha Zapad, Prerov, Pribram, Prostejov, Rakovnik,
  Rokycany, Rychnov nad Kneznou, Semily, Sokolov, Strakonice, Sumperk,
  Svitavy, Tabor, Tachov, Teplice, Trebic, Trutnov, Uherske Hradiste,
  Usti nad Labem, Usti nad Orlici, Vsetin, Vyskov, Zdar nad Sazavou,
  Zlin, Znojmo

National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the
Republic, 28 October

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 2 February 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since 17 July 1998);
  Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since 17 July 1998), Pavel
  RYCHETSKY since 17 July 1998), Egon LANSKY (since 17 July 1998),
  Pavel MERTLIK (since 17 July 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
  the prime minister
  elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
  election last held 20 January 1998 (next to be held NA January
  2003); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVEL
  received 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in the
  Chamber of Deputies (second round of voting)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of
  the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote
  to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) and the Chamber
  of Deputies or Snemovna Poslancu (200 seats; members are elected by
  popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 13-14 and 20-21 November 1998 (next to
  be held NA November 2000—to replace/reelect 20 senators serving
  two-year terms); Chamber of Deputies—last held 19-20 June 1998
  (early elections to be held NA June 2000)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—governing coalition (CSSD 23), opposition (ODS 26, KDU-CSL 16,
  KCSM 4, ODA 7, US 4, DEU 1); Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—governing coalition (CSSD 74), opposition
  (ODS 63, KDU-CSL 20, US 19, KCSM 24)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are
appointed by the president for life; Constitutional Court, chairman
and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for life

Political parties and leaders: Civic Democratic Party or ODS
KROUPA, chairman]; Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party

Political pressure groups and leaders: Czech-Moravian Chamber of
Trade Unions; Civic Movement

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksandr VONDRA
  chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John SHATTUCK
  embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

Economy—overview: Political and financial crises in 1997 shattered the Czech Republic's image as one of the most stable and prosperous of post-Communist states. Delays in enterprise restructuring and failure to develop a well-functioning capital market played major roles in Czech economic troubles, which culminated in a currency crisis in May. The currency was forced out of its fluctuation band as investors worried that the current account deficit, which reached nearly 8% of GDP in 1996, would become unsustainable. After expending $3 billion in vain to support the currency, the central bank let it float. The growing current account imbalance reflected a surge in domestic demand and poor export performance, as wage increases outpaced productivity. The government was forced to introduce two austerity packages later in the spring which cut government spending by 2.5% of GDP. A tough 1998 budget continued the painful medicine. These problems were compounded in the summer of 1997 by unprecedented flooding which inundated much of the eastern part of the country. Czech difficulties contrast with earlier achievements of strong GDP growth, a balanced budget, and inflation and unemployment that were among the lowest in the region. The Czech economy's transition problems continue to be too much direct and indirect government influence on the privatized economy, the sometimes ineffective management of privatized firms, and a shortage of experienced financial analysts for the banking system. The country slipped into a mild recession in 1998, but hopes to rebound with 1% growth in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 33.8% services: 61.2% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.6% highest 10%: 23.5% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 33.1%, agriculture 6.9%, construction 9.1%, transport and communications 7.2%, services 43.7% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $16.1 billion
  expenditures: $16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997)

Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment,
coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 76.69% hydro: 3.04% nuclear: 20.27% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Exports—commodities: manufactured goods 40.5%, machinery and transport equipment 37.7%, chemicals 8.8%, raw materials and fuel 7.8% (1997)

Exports—partners: Germany 35.7%, Slovakia 12.9%, Austria 6.4%,
Poland 5.7%, Russia 3.4%, Italy 3.3%, France 2.5% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38.1%, manufactured goods 19.3%, raw materials and fuels 12.4%, chemicals 12.2%, and food 5.2% (1997)

Imports—partners: Germany 26.6%, Slovakia 8.4%, Italy 5.3%,
Austria 4.4%, FSU 3.4%, UK 3.4%, Poland 3.2% (1997)

Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1—30.214 (December 1998), 32.294 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996), 26.541 (1995), 28.785 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and
  Indian Ocean regions)

Television broadcast stations: 67 (in addition, there are 35 low-power stations and about 51 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 9,440 km
  standard gauge: 9,344 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2,743 km
  electrified at three voltages; 1,885 km double track)
  narrow gauge: 96 km 0.760-m narrow gauge (1996)

Highways:
  total: 55,489 km
  paved: 55,489 km (including 423 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 35 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil
Defense, Railroad Units

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,046,079 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of property in the Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power; individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; domestic consumption—especially of locally produced synthetic drugs—on the rise

Background: Once the seat of rapacious Viking raiders and later a major power in northwestern Europe, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the political and economic integration of Europe. So far, however, they have opted out of some aspects of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty including the new monetary system launched on 1 January 1999.

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany

Area:
  total: 43,094 sq km
  land: 42,394 sq km
  water: 700 sq km
  note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
  of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 4 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 3 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone,
stone, gravel and sand

Land use:
  arable land: 60%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 10%
  other: 25% (1993 est.)

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
  Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 504,182; female 478,547)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,811,445; female 1,765,038)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 331,207; female 466,426) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.51 years male: 73.83 years female: 79.33 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)

Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect),
German (small minority)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1980 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
  conventional short form: Denmark
  local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
  local short form: Danmark

Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark—14 counties (amter, singular—amt) and 2 kommunes*; Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing administrative divisions

Independence: first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy

Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25
  January 1993)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
  by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179
  seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of
  proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 11 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—progovernment parties: Social Democrats 65, Socialist People's
  Party 13, Radical Liberal Party 7, Unity Party 5; opposition:
  Liberal Party 43, Conservative Party 17, Danish People's Party 13,
  Center Democrats 8, Christian People's Party 4, Progress Party 4

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO,
  G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT,
  UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO,
  ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN
  chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
  embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
  mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716

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—overview: This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food. The center-left coalition government will concentrate on reducing the persistently high unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. The coalition also vows to maintain a stable currency. The coalition has lowered marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boosted industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improved welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Denmark chose not to join the 11 other EU members who launched the euro on 1 January 1999. Because of the global slowdown, GDP growth may fall to 1% in 1999.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 20.5% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: private services 40%, government services 30%, manufacturing and mining 19%, construction 6%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $62.1 billion
  expenditures: $66.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 97.6% hydro: 0.05% nuclear: 0% other: 2.35% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; beef, dairy products; fish

Exports—commodities: machinery and instruments, meat and meat
products, fuels, dairy products, ships, fish, chemicals

Exports—partners: Germany 21.4%, Sweden 11.6%, UK 9.6%, Norway
6.2%, France 5.3%, US 4.6%, Netherlands 4.5% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum,
chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper

Imports—partners: Germany 21.7%, Sweden 12.7%, Netherlands 7.8%,
UK 7.6%, France 5.6%, Norway 5.2%, US 5.0%, Japan (1997)

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1—6.408 (January 1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, four cellular radio communications systems international: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations—6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note—the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for world-wide Inmarsat access

Television broadcast stations: 78 (of which 35 are low-power stations; in addition, there are 51 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 3,323 km (458 km privately owned and operated)
  standard gauge: 3,323 km 1.435-m gauge (440 km electrified; 760 km
  double track) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 71,600 km
  paved: 71,600 km (including 880 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg,
Fredericia, Grena, Koge, Odense, Struer

Merchant marine:
  total: 337 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,130,643
  GRT/6,880,248 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 130, chemical tanker 19, container 73,
  liquefied gas tanker 26, livestock carrier 6, oil tanker 20, railcar
  carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21,
  short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 3
  note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called the
  Danish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to
  meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of
  convenience within the Danish register (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 90 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 82 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal
Danish Air Force, Home Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,129,870 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red
Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Land boundaries: total: 508 km border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: 9%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 91% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic
disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Environment—current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 96,222; female 96,023)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 128,506; female 114,767)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 6,155; female 5,766) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.54 years male: 49.48 years female: 53.67 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 46.2%
  male: 60.3%
  female: 32.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
  conventional short form: Djibouti
  former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular—cercle);
'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura

Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional
practices, and Islamic law

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June
  1977); note—President HASSAN GOULED announced early in the year that
  he would resign in April 1999
  head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30
  September 1978)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held 9 April 1999); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: President HASSAN GOULED reelected; percent of
  vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des
  Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year
  terms)
  elections: last held 19 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—RPP 65; note—RPP (the
  ruling party) dominated

Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Restoration
of Unity and Democracy or FRUD, and affiliates; Movement for Unity
and Democracy or MUD

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
  AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lange SCHERMERHORN embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti

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—overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% continues to be a major problem. 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). Also, renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea has disturbed normal external channels of commerce. 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—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 20% services: 77% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $156 million
  expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as
dairy products and mineral-water bottling

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment,
chemicals, petroleum products (1995)

Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1—177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)

Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country domestic: microwave radio relay network international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 5 low-power repeaters) (1998)

Railways:
  total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
  narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to
  revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 9
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 61,712 (1999 est.)

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

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 13%
  permanent pastures: 3%
  forests and woodland: 67%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 8,680; female 8,530)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 21,090; female 20,294)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 2,570; female 3,717) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.01 years male: 75.15 years female: 81.01 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 94%
  male: 94%
  female: 94% (1970 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998)
  head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June
  1995)
  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 7 October 1998 (next to be held
  NA October 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Vernon Lorden SHAW elected president; percent of
  legislative vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000); byelections held 13 August 1996 election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UWP 12, DLP 5, DFP 4

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political pressure groups and leaders: Dominica Liberation
Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom,
  CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS,
  OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (resident in
  Dominica)
  chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in
Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently 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—overview: The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 20% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The economy began to recover in mid-1998, fueled by increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals. The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%

Budget:
  revenues: $72 million
  expenditures: $79.9 million, including capital expenditures of $11.5
  million (FY97/98)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 50% hydro: 50% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Exports—commodities: bananas 50%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Telephone system:
  domestic: fully automatic network
  international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to
  Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint
  Lucia

Military branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; banking industry is vulnerable to money laundering

Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 6 nm

Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature
variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 9%
  permanent pastures: 43%
  forests and woodland: 12%
  other: 15% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into
the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography—note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern
two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 1,447,435; female 1,393,122)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 2,501,206; female 2,426,564)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 171,049; female 190,358) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.07 years male: 67.86 years female: 72.4 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 82.1%
  male: 82%
  female: 82.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Dominican Republic
  conventional short form: none
  local long form: Republica Dominicana
  local short form: none

Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias,
  singular—provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco,
  Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo,
  Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La
  Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte
  Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez
  Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago,
  Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August
  1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August
  1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16
  August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16
  August 1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head
  of government
  cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996;
  runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000)
  election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna elected president; percent
  of vote—Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA
  Gomez (PRD) 48.75%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso
  Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of
  Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by
  popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May
  2002); Chamber of Deputies—last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA
  May 2002)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PRD 24, PLD 4, PRSC 2; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding)

Political parties and leaders: Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures

Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of Popular
Organizations or COP

International organization participation: ACP, Caricom
  (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest),
  OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500

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, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

Economy—overview: In December 1996, incoming President FERNANDEZ presented a bold reform package for this Caribbean economy—including the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices—in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though most reforms are stalled in the legislature, the economy grew vigorously in 1997-98, with tourism and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth, but the privatization of the state electricity company has met numerous delays. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $1.3 billion in damages, largely to agriculture and infrastructure.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 25% services: 56% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.6% (1989)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.3 billion
  expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867
  million (1999 est.)

Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold
mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 70.15% hydro: 29.85% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics,
chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports—partners: US 44%, EU 16%, Venezuela 11%, Netherlands
Antilles, Mexico, Japan (1995)

Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1—15.949 (January 1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995), 13.160 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave
  radio relay network
  international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station—1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 757 km
  standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)
  narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway);
  240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m,
  0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)

Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro
de Macoris, Santo Domingo

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,355,342 (1999 est.)

Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Area:
  total: 283,560 sq km
  land: 276,840 sq km
  water: 6,720 sq km
  note: includes Galapagos Islands

Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and
  Galapagos Islands
  territorial sea: 200 nm

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

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 18%
  forests and woodland: 56%
  other: 15% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes

Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 2,250,690; female 2,172,302)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 3,745,390; female 3,833,841)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 261,090; female 299,183) (1999 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.16 years male: 69.54 years female: 74.9 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 55%,
Amerindian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 90.1%
  male: 92%
  female: 88.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
  conventional short form: Ecuador
  local long form: Republica del Ecuador
  local short form: Ecuador

Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe note: a new province, Orellana, was reported to have been formed in 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 Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998); Vice
  President Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note—the president
  is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998);
  Vice President Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 31 May 1998;
  runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote—51%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (121 seats; 79 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 42 members are popularly elected by province—two per province—for four-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1; note—defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), new justices are
elected by the full Supreme Court

International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI
  chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
  Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER
  embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
  mailing address: APO AA 34039
  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 that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Economy—overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. In recent years, growth has been uneven due to ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with BUCARAM'S austerity measures and rampant official corruption led to his replacement by National Congress with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON adopted a minimalist economic program that put off necessary reforms until August 1998 when President Jamil MAHUAD was elected. MAHAUD inherited an economy in crisis due to mismanagement, El Nino damage to key export sectors such as agriculture, and low world commodity prices in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. MAHAUD announced a fiscal austerity package and expressed interest in an IMF agreement but faces major difficulties in promoting economic growth, including possible political objections to further reform.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 37% services: 51% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.6% (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%,
commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: planned $5.1 billion not including revenue from potential
  privatizations
  expenditures: $5.1 billion (1999)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work,
paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 17.16% hydro: 82.84% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Exports—commodities: petroleum 30%, bananas 26%, shrimp 16%, cut
flowers 2%, fish 1.9%

Imports—commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals

Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1—7,133.1 (January 1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994)

Telephone system:
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 15 (including one station on the
Galapagos Islands) (1997)

Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta,
Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 99,078 GRT/162,423 DWT
  ships by type: chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
  17, passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 56 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 127 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 90 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada
Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Ecuatoriana), National Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,199,704 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: on October 26, 1998, Peru and Ecuador concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the long-standing boundary dispute between them; demarcation of the agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999

Illicit drugs: significant transit country for derivatives of coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub

Background: One of the four great ancient civilizations, Egypt, ruled by powerful pharaohs, bequeathed to Western civilization numerous advances in technology, science, and the arts. For the last two millennia, however, Egypt has served a series of foreign masters—Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, and the British. Formal independence came in 1922, and the remnants of British control ended after World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1981 altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population will stress Egyptian society and resources as it enters the new millenium.

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,689 km
  border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km,
  Sudan 1,273 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

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%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 98% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; 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 natural resources

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 12,260,845; female 11,712,752)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 20,604,620; female 20,211,012)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 1,099,517; female 1,385,160) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.39 years male: 60.39 years female: 64.49 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and
Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily
Italian and French) 1%

Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic
Christian and other 6% (official estimate)

Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely
understood by educated classes

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 51.4%
  male: 63.6%
  female: 38.8% (1995 est.)

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)

Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat,
  singular—muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah,
  Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah,
  Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid,
  Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id,
  Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina',
  Suhaj

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
  1981)
  head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4
  January 1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a
  six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,
  popular referendum; national referendum last held 4 October 1993
  (next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the
  president
  election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's
  nomination by the People's Assembly to a third term

Legislative branch: bicameral system consists of the People's
  Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote,
  10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and
  the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura—which functions only in a
  consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88
  appointed by the president; members serve NA-year terms)
  elections: People's Assembly—last held 29 November 1995 (next to be
  held NA 2000); Advisory Council—last held 7 June 1995 (next to be
  held NA)
  election results: People's Assembly—percent of vote by party—NDP
  72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party—NDP 317,
  independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1,
  Liberals 1; Advisory Council—percent of vote by party—NDP 99%,
  independents 1%; seats by party—NA

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party or NDP legal opposition parties are as follows: New Wafd Party or NWP note: formation of political parties must be approved by government

Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in the past two years to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT
  (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD,
  ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MONUA,
  NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL,
  UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed MAHER al-Sayed
  chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER
  embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City,
  Cairo
  mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band

Economy—overview: At the end of the 1980s, Egypt faced problems of low productivity and poor economic management, compounded by the adverse social effects of excessive population growth, high inflation, and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these pressures, in 1991 Egypt undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform measures. This reform effort has been supported by three IMF arrangements, the last of which expired in September 1998. Egypt's reform efforts—and its participation in the Gulf war coalition—also led to massive debt relief under the Paris Club arrangements. Substantial progress has been made in improving macroeconomic performance. Cairo tamed inflation, slashed budget deficits, and built up foreign reserves to an all-time high. Although the pace of structural reforms—such as privatization and new business legislation—has been slower than envisioned under the IMF program, Egypt's steps toward a more market-oriented economy have prompted increased foreign investment. The November 1997 massacre of foreign tourists in Luxor affected tourism enough to slow the GDP growth rate for 1998 compared to earlier projections. Tourism's slow recovery, coupled with low world oil prices, caused a downturn in foreign exchange earnings in 1998, but external payments are not in crisis.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 16% industry: 31% services: 53% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 26.7% (1991)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 40%, services, including government 38%, industry 22% (1990 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $20 billion
  expenditures: $20.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.4
  billion (FY97/98)

Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals,
petroleum, construction, cement, metals

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 76.09% hydro: 23.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; fish

Exports—commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods

Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (LE) per US$1—3.4 (November 1994); market rate—3.3880 (January 1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994)

Telephones: 3.168 million (1996); 70,000 digital cellular telephone subscribers (1998); 7,400 analog cellular telephone subscribers (1997)

Telephone system: large system by Third World standards but
  inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive
  upgrading
  domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,
  Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and
  microwave radio relay
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
  and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine
  cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to
  Israel; participant in Medarabtel

Television broadcast stations: 42 (in addition, there are nine channels received from Europe by satellite) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 4,751 km
  standard gauge: 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km
  double track)

Highways:
  total: 64,000 km
  paved: 49,984 km
  unpaved: 14,016 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser,
  Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the
  delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by
  oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water

Ports and harbors: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur
Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez

Merchant marine:
  total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,334,406
  GRT/2,022,785 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 63, container 1, liquefied gas tanker
  1, oil tanker 14, passenger 56, refrigerated cargo 1,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 16, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 37 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,507,058 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899

Illicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers

Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season
(November to April)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 8%
  permanent pastures: 29%
  forests and woodland: 5%
  other: 31% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes;
Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography—note: smallest Central American country and only one
without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37% (male 1,091,500; female 1,044,658)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 1,612,847; female 1,786,318)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 138,052; female 165,704) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.02 years male: 66.7 years female: 73.5 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 75% 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

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 71.5%
  male: 73.5%
  female: 69.8% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos,
  singular—departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango,
  Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San
  Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan

Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994);
  Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June
  1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 20 March
  1994, with a run-off election held 24 April 1994 (next to be held 7
  March 1999)
  election results: Armando CALDERON Sol elected president; percent of
  vote—Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas
  (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%;
  because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election was
  held and the results were as follows—Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA)
  68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
  note: in the election held 7 March 1999, Francisco FLORES elected
  president, Carlos QUINTANILLA elected vice president (will take
  office 1 June 1999); percent of vote—Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%,
  Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN/USC) 29%, Ruben ZAMORA (CD) 8%, other parties
  11%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
  Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve three-year terms)
  elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%,
  PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%,
  other 0.8%; seats by party—ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3,
  CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are
selected by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance or
  MARTINEZ, president]
  note: the Social Christian Union or USC is formed by the union of
  the Social Christian Renovation Party or PRSC, the Unity Movement or
  MU, and the MSN

Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations: National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL business organizations: Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
  ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,
  OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Rene A. LEON
  chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
  New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
  consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023

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—overview: In recent years inflation has fallen to unprecedented levels, and exports have grown substantially. Even so, El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its trade and its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and from external aid. El Salvador sustained damage from Hurricane Mitch, but not as much as other Central American countries. Inflation and the trade deficit are expected to rise somewhat as a result.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 24% services: 61% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.3% (1995)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.75 billion
  expenditures: $1.82 billion, including capital expenditures of $317
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals,
fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 22.38% hydro: 61.54% nuclear: 0% other: 16.08% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp

Economic aid—recipient: $391.7 million (1995); note?US has committed $280 million in economic assistance to El Salvador for 1995-97 (excludes military aid)

Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of period)—8.755 (January 1999-1995), 8.750 (1994) note: as of 1 June 1990, the rate is based on the average of the buying and selling rates, set on a weekly basis, for official receipts and payments, imports of petroleum, and coffee exports; prior to that date, a system of floating was in effect

Telephone system:
  domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  connected to Central American Microwave System

Railways:
  total: 602 km (single track; note—some sections abandoned, unusable,
  or operating at reduced capacity)
  narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 10,029 km
  paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 8,043 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La
Union, Puerto El Triunfo

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 65 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 884,093 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: demarcation of boundary with Honduras defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for local consumption

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Cameroon and Gabon

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Natural resources: petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits
of gold, manganese, uranium

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 46%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 100,334; female 99,826)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 118,248; female 129,777)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 7,801; female 9,760) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: migration to Spain is a traditional and continuing factor; between 80% and 90% of Equatorial Guinean nationals going to Spain do not return

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.39 years male: 52.03 years female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic groups: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni
(primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish

Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic,
pagan practices

Languages: Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English,
Fang, Bubi, Ibo

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 78.5%
  male: 89.6%
  female: 68.1% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
  conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
  local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
  local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
  former: Spanish Guinea

Government type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy (the transition appears to have halted)

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
  MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
  head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA
  April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel
  OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for
  Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since NA January 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term;
  election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
  2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the
  president
  election results: President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98%
  of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud

Legislative branch: unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PDGE 68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1

Political parties and leaders:
  ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE
  opposition parties: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS
  BOKESA, president]; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD
  mayor of Malabo]; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence or CSDP

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer),
  OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO,
  WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE chancery: 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20005

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon; the US State Department is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Economy—overview: The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Several large oil companies are expected to bid on oil licenses by May 1999. 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 deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement. 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. The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 33% services: 21% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $47 million
  expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 89.47% hydro: 10.53% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc (tapioca); livestock; timber

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: poor system with adequate government services
  domestic: NA
  international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to
  African and European countries; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat
  (Indian Ocean)

Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,370 GRT/25,194 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention
Force, National Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 51,979 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea

Background: On 29 May 1991, ISAIAS Afworki, secretary general of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence from Ethiopia. The referendum resulted in a landslide vote for independence, which became effective on 24 May 1993.

Land boundaries: total: 1,630 km border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Coastline: 2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km

Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and
  wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually);
  semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during
  June-September except on coastal desert

Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending
  highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the
  northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling
  plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m

Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil
and natural gas (currently under exploration), fish

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 48%
  forests and woodland: 20%
  other: 19% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil
erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic geopolitical position along world's
  busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of
  Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia
  on 27 April 1993

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 859,899; female 852,329)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 1,061,921; female 1,078,102)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 67,969; female 64,503) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 8.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: it is estimated that approximately 315,000 Eritrean refugees were still living in Sudan by the end of 1997 according to the UNHCR

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.74 years male: 53.61 years female: 57.95 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%

Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, minor ethnic group languages

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

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular—awraja); Akale Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye note: in May 1995 the National Assembly adopted a resolution stating that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by former colonial powers, would consist of only six provinces when the new constitution, then being drafted, became effective in 1997; the new provinces, the names of which had not been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition by the US Government, pending acceptable definition of the boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka, Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri; more recently, it has been reported that these provinces have been redesignated regions and renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka, Southern, and Central

Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)

Constitution: the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution that was promulgated in May 1997

Suffrage: NA; note—it seems likely that the final version of the constitution would follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 and extend suffrage to all persons 18 years of age or older

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
  head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
  note: the president is head of the State Council and National
  Assembly
  elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last
  held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA)
  election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of
  National Assembly vote—ISAIAS Afworki 95%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; 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 which 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 country-wide elections
  to a National Assembly are held; only 75 members will be elected to
  the National Assembly—the other 75 will be members of the Central
  Committee of the PFDJ

Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Afworki, PETROS Solomon]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or
NAWUD]; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador SEMERE Russom chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William CLARK
  embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara
  mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara

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—overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea faced the bitter economic problem of a small, desperately poor African country. The economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with over 70% of the population involved in farming and herding. The small industrial sector consists mainly of light industries with outmoded technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and taxes on income and sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Eritrea has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic problems, e.g., overcoming illiteracy, promoting job creation, expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining the bureaucracy. The most immediate threat to the economy, however, is the possible expansion of the armed conflict with Ethiopia.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 20% services: 62% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $226 million
  expenditures: $453 million, including capital expenditures of $88
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Exports—partners: Ethiopia 67%, Sudan 10%, US 8%, Italy 4%, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen (1996)

Exchange rates: nakfa per US$1 = 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March
  1998 est.)
  note: following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use
  Ethiopian currency until November 1997 when Eritrea issued its own
  currency, the nakfa, at approximately the same rate as the birr,
  i.e., 7.2 nakfa per US$1

Telephone system:
  domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most
  of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders
  to improve the system
  international: NA

Railways:
  total: 307 km
  narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)
  note: nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that
  was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and
  of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and Asmara
  (formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,947 GRT/5,747 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Disputes—international: dispute over alignment of boundary with Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved despite arbitration efforts; Hanish Islands dispute with Yemen resolved by arbitral tribunal in October 1998

Background: In and out of Swedish and Russian control over the centuries, this little Baltic state was re-incorporated into the USSR after German occupation in World War II. Independence came with the collapse of the USSR in 1991; the last Russian troops left in 1994. Estonia thus became free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. The position of ethnic Russians (29% of the population) remains an issue of concern to Moscow. European Union (EU) membership negotiations, which began in 1998, remain a domestic issue.

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia

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

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite,
amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 11%
  forests and woodland: 44%
  other: 20% (1996 est.)

Environment—current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many locations

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 130,883; female 126,112)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 455,112; female 491,819)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 66,700; female 137,897) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.65 years male: 62.61 years female: 75 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian
  Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist,
  Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Seventh Day Baptist,
  Judaism

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100% (1998 est.)

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

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 (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992)
  head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
  approved by Parliament
  elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if
  he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds
  of balloting, 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 August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime
  minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
  election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral
  assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between
  MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote—Lennart MERI
  61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held 7 March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party—KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5

Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union or
  SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League
  ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United People's Party and the
  Russian Party of Estonia; note—Our Home is Estonia split when two
  Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United People's Party
  parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or
  VEIDEMANN, chairwoman] (created by defectors from Center Party in
  late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
  EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
  ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
  (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kaleu STOICESCU
  chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS
  embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May
1990—three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Economy—overview: Estonia's continued adherence to market reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal free trade regime resulted in GDP growth in 1998 of 5.5% and a decrease in inflation to 6.5% from 11.2% in 1997. A high but slightly decreased current account deficit was estimated at 8.6%. The fall in GDP growth is largely due to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. Like other small emerging markets, Estonia will face difficulties in 1999 as a result of continuing fallout from Asia. Key events of 1998 were the start of official EU accession talks, banking sector consolidation—nine banks were reduced to five—and the important role that Swedish capital played in the large banks (Swedbank's acquisition of a majority stake in Hansapank has accounted for the large increase in foreign direct investment). The IMF urged Estonia to maintain a stable economy and good reputation in international markets and to avoid populist policies in the run-up to March 1999 parliamentary elections. The government completed restructuring of state-controlled Estonian Telecom, the sale of 49% of which will be the flagship privatization in 1999 and the largest public equity transaction in the Baltics. Estonia expects to join the World Trade Organization in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2% industry: 24.3% services: 69.5% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 42%, agriculture and forestry 11%, services 47% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.37 billion
  expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.96% hydro: 0.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment 17%, textiles 16%, food products 8%, transport equipment 8%, mineral products 8%, chemical products 8% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 21%, transport equipment 12%, foodstuffs 10%, minerals 9%, textiles 8%, metals 8%, chemical products 8% (1997)

Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1—13.473 (January 1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994); note—krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

Telephone system: the Ministry of Transportation and
  Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system;
  Internet services available throughout most of the country; about
  150,000 unfilled subscriber requests
  domestic: local—cellular phones services are growing and expanding
  to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC;
  intercity—Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone
  (double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities
  (1998)
  international: foreign investment in the form of joint business
  ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service; fiber-optic
  cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide
  packet switched service

Radio broadcast stations: 27 commercial broadcast stations, 1 government broadcast station (1997); note—by law 51% of shows must be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections by public and private stations

Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997); note—Ministry of Culture administers television licensing; mainly Estonian, European, and Russian programming; by law 51% of shows must be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections by public and private stations

Railways:
  total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include
  dedicated industrial lines
  broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 16,437 km
  paved: 8,343 km (including 65 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 8,094 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 337,163 GRT/348,749 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 5,
  oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 6 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air
  Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard,
  Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and
  border troops)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 274,276 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been ratified

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
  Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, and cocaine from Latin
  America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; possible precursor
  manufacturing and/or trafficking

Background: On 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa. A new constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995.

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,311 km
  border countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km,
  Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m

Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper,
potash, natural gas

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 40%
  forests and woodland: 25%
  other: 22% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley
susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Environment—current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography—note: landlocked?entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 13,787,810; female 13,703,546)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 15,398,123; female 15,141,892)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 745,737; female 903,275) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
  note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan, Kenya, and
  Somalia for refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected
  to continue slowly in 1998; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali
  refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting in their own
  countries, began returning to their homes in 1998

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 40.46 years male: 39.22 years female: 41.73 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%

Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,
Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 35.5%
  male: 45.5%
  female: 25.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
  conventional short form: Ethiopia
  local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
  local short form: YeItyop'iya
  abbreviation: FDRE

Administrative divisions: 9 states and 2 chartered cities*: Addis
  Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumuz (Benishangul-Gumaz); Dire
  Dawa*; Gambela (Gambella); Harari (Harar); Oromia (Oromiya); Somalia
  (Somali); Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP);
  Tigray (Tigre)

Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
oldest in the world—at least 2,000 years

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995)
  head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994
  constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
  approved by the House of People's Representatives
  elections: president elected by the House of People's
  Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995
  (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in
  power following legislative elections
  election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote
  by the House of People's Representatives—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
  Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state
  assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
  Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly
  elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May
  and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—NA; note—EPRDF won
  nearly all seats

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 candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the House of People's Representatives for appointment

Political pressure groups and leaders: Oromo Liberation Front or
  OLF; All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's
  Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnically-based groups have
  formed since former President MENGISTU'S defeat, including several
  Islamic militant groups

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
  OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa

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 colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

Economy—overview: Ethiopia remains one of the least developed countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for more than half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads, water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected during years of civil strife. Renewed fighting with Eritrea dims economic prospects for 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 55% industry: 12% services: 33% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $1 billion
  expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415
  million (FY96/97)

Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals,
metals processing, cement

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 7.58% hydro: 87.12% nuclear: 0% other: 5.3% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes; hides, cattle, sheep, goats

Exports—partners: Germany 26%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%, UK 8%,
Djibouti, Saudi Arabia (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles and aircraft (1994)

Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period)—7.58 (January 1999), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994) note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr

Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use domestic: open wire and microwave radio relay international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
  railroad)
  narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to
  revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals

Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by
  agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa, but
  since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the
  port of Djibouti

Merchant marine:
  total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,264 GRT/94,489 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 73 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the de jure independence of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession and ships which belonged to the former Ethiopian Navy and based at Djibouti have been sold

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,052,710 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden; dispute over alignment of boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved despite arbitration efforts

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 (chat) for local use and regional export

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 24 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Europa Island
  local long form: none
  local short form: Ile Europa

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) ————————————————-

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of southern Argentina

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

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 99%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 1% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free
Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran,
Seventh-Day Adventist

Country name:
conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996;
  to be replaced in May 1999 by Donald LAMONT); Chief Executive A. M.
  GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. 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 monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
  the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats—8
  elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 8

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 in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Economy—overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. 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.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $66.1 million
  expenditures: $66.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY97/98 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates: Falkland pound (LF) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.5037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note—the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Telephone system:
  domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
  radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all
  points on both islands
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
  with links through London to other countries

Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces
Broadcasting Service) (1997)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes
Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force

Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Area:
  total: 1,399 sq km
  land: 1,399 sq km
  water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 94% (1996)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 4,819; female 4,629)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 13,600; female 11,811)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 2,786; female 3,414) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.56 years male: 75.66 years female: 81.58 years (1999 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
  1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief
  administrative officer (since NA)
  head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May
  1998)
  cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
  the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
  party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by
  the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be
  held NA 2002)
  election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent
  of parliamentary vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32
  seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis
  from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—Republicans 23.8%,
  People's Party 21.3%, Social Democrats 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union
  Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 15%; seats by party—Republicans
  8, People's Party 8, Social Democrats 7, Coalition Party 6, other
  parties 3
  note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on
  11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results—percent of vote
  by party—NA; seats by party—Social Democrats 1, Conservatives 1

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy—overview: After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless the total dependence on fishing means the economy remains extremely vulnerable. The Faroese hope to broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may lay the basis for sustained economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

Budget:
  revenues: $467 million
  expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 52.94% hydro: 47.06% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: fish and fish products 92%, animal
feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships)

Exports—partners: Denmark 22.2%, UK 25.8%, Germany 9.7%, France
8.3%, Norway 6.2%, US 2.0%

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7%

Imports—partners: Denmark 34.5%, Norway 15.9%, UK 8.4% Germany 7.8%, Sweden 5.8%, US 1.5%

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1—6.408 (January 1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994)

Telephone system: good international communications; good
  domestic facilities
  domestic: digitalization was to hve been completed in 1998
  international: satellite earth stations—1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic
  submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are 29 low-power repeaters; satellite relays of MTV Europe, BBC World, and Scansat TV3 Eurosport are also available) (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained

Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 10%
  forests and woodland: 65%
  other: 11% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertication, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 138,796; female 133,428)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 257,130; female 256,834)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 12,527; female 14,203) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.59 years male: 64.19 years female: 69.11 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Fijian 51%, Indian 44%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)

Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2% note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 91.6%
  male: 93.8%
  female: 89.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji

Government type: republic note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended 25 July 1997 to allow non-ethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multi-party government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note— the May 1999 election will be the first test of the amended constitution and will introduce open voting—not racially prescribed—for the first time at the national level

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president
  since 15 December 1993, president since 12 January 1994); Vice
  President Ratu Josefa Iloilo ULUIVUDA (since 18 January 1999)
  head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June
  1992); Deputy Prime Minister Taufa VAKATALE (since 7 August 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
  members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
  note: there is also a Presidential Council that advises the
  president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of
  Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the
  traditional chiefly system
  elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
  five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent
  of Great Council of Chiefs vote—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (34 seats; 24 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 9 for Indians and others,
  and 1 for the island of Rotuma; members appointed by the president
  to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (70
  seats; 37 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 27 reserved for ethnic
  Indians, and 6 for independents and others; members elected by
  popular vote on a communal basis to serve five-year terms)
  elections: House of Representatives—last held 18-25 February 1994
  (next to be held 11 May 1999)
  election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FAP 5, GVP 4,
  independents 2, ANC 1; note—results are for the last election before
  the new constitution came into force
  note: when the new constitution is applied to the upcoming May
  elections, the composition of the legislative branch will change to
  the following: Senate—32 seats (14 appointed by the Great Council of
  Chiefs, nine appointed by the prime minister, eight appointed by the
  leader of the opposition, and one appointed by the council of
  Rotuma) and House of Representatives—71 seats (23 reserved for
  ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for
  other ethnic groups, one reserved for the Rotuman constituency
  encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats)

Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party or SVT
  Lewenivanua Vakarisito Party or VLV or Christian Fellowship Party
  note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National
  Congress or ANC merged with the Fijian Association or FA; the
  remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General
  Electors' Association

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, CP,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
  OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
  UNIKOM, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador "Ratu" Napolioni MASIREWA
  chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry M.
  DINGER
  embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
  mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva

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—overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political uncertainty and drought, however, contribute to substantial fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar and to the emigration of skilled workers. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 because the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent disputes between farmers and landowners. Drought in 1998 further damaged the sugar industry. Overall growth in 1991-98 has averaged less than 2% per year, with long-term problems of low investment and uncertain property rights. The central bank predicts growth of 2% to 3% in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 22% services: 59% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)

Budget:
  revenues: $540.65 million
  expenditures: $742.65 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing,
lumber, small cottage industries

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 21.1% hydro: 78.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum
products, food, chemicals

Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1—1.9556 (January 1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997), 1.4033 (1996), 1.4063 (1995), 1.4641 (1994)

Telephone system: modern local, interisland, and international
  (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,
  telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications
  center
  domestic: NA
  international: access to important cable link between US and Canada
  and NZ and Australia; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific
  Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 597 km; note—belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar
  Corporation
  narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)

Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and
200-metric-ton barges

Merchant marine:
  total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,721 GRT/13,145 DWT
  ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes ground and naval forces)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 120,555 (1999 est.)

Background: Long ruled by foreign powers, including Sweden and the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, Finland finally declared independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland fought the USSR twice and then the Germans toward the end of the war. In the following half-century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy. Per capita income has risen to the West European level; Finland is a member of the European Union and is the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Land boundaries: total: 2,628 km border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 6 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland—3 nm)

Climate: cold temperate; 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

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: 76%
  other: 16% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 483,700; female 464,431)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,743,340; female 1,706,873)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 289,405; female 470,623) (1999 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.32 years male: 73.81 years female: 80.98 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official),
small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 100% (1980 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Finland
  conventional short form: Finland
  local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
  local short form: Suomi

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular—laani);
Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani,
Lappi, Oulun Laani

Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
  1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
  cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
  president, responsible to Parliament
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA
  January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed
  from the majority party by the president after parliamentary
  elections
  election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of
  vote—Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200
  seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis
  to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—Social Democratic Party
  22.9%, Center Party 22.5%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party
  21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, Swedish People's Party
  5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, Finnish Christian League 4.2%; seats by
  party—Social Democratic Party 51, Center Party 48, National
  Coalition (Conservative) Party 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20,
  Swedish People's Party 11, Green Union 11, Finnish Christian League
  10, other 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges
appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
  FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer),
  OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU,
  WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA
  chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Eric EDELMAN
  embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
  mailing address: APO AE 09723

Flag description: white with a blue cross 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—overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing—principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe—Finland was one of the 11 countries joining the euro monetary system (EMU) on 1 January 1999—will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 1999 probably will slow, perhaps to 3%, a barrier to any substantial drop in unemployment.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)

Labor force—by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%

Budget:
  revenues: $33 billion
  expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper
refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 54.73% hydro: 17.35% nuclear: 27.9% other: 0.02% (1996)

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals;
timber, paper, and pulp

Exports—partners: Germany 11%, UK 10%, Sweden 10%, US 7%, Russia
7%, France 4%, Japan (1997)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains

Imports—partners: Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 8%, Russia 8%, US 7%, Japan 5% (1997)

Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1—5.12 (January 1999),
  5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235
  (1994);
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 5.93472 Markkaa per euro; the euro will replace the local
  currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system: modern system with excellent service
  domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular
  net care for domestic needs
  international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations—access to
  Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station,
  1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Finland shares
  the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
  Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Television broadcast stations: 120 (in addition, there are 431 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 5,859 km
  broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km
  double- or more-track) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 77,796 km
  paved: 49,789 km (including 444 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 28,007 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km
suitable for steamers

Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa,
Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus

Merchant marine:
  total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,192,559
  GRT/1,161,594 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, oil tanker 11,
  passenger 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea
  passenger 12 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 68 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 89 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,050,944 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the West European market

Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France lost many men, much wealth, its extensive empire, and its rank as a dominant nation-state. France has struggled since 1958—arguably with success—to construct a presidential democracy resistant to the severe instabilities inherent in the parliamentary democracy of early 20th century France. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999.

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

Area:
  total: 547,030 sq km
  land: 545,630 sq km
  water: 1,400 sq km
  note: includes only metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas
  administrative divisions

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,892.4 km
  border countries: Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
  Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
  Switzerland 573 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild
winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean

Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and
west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps
in east

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Land use:
  arable land: 33%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 27%
  other: 18% (1993 est.)

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
  Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: largest West European nation; occasional strong,
cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 5,638,462; female 5,375,911)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 19,302,121; female 19,235,235)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 3,825,232; female 5,601,211) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.63 years male: 74.76 years female: 82.71 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North
African, Indochinese, Basque minorities

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim
(North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%

Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99% (1980 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: French Republic
  conventional short form: France
  local long form: Republique Francaise
  local short form: France

Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular—region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa
  Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,
  Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin
  Island, Wallis and Futuna
  note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993

Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
  head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  suggestion of the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  election last held 23 April and 7 May 1995 (next to be held by May
  2002); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority
  and appointed by the president
  election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote,
  second ballot—Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of
  the Senate or Senat (321 seats—296 for metropolitan France, 13 for
  overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals
  abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to
  serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the
  National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held
  September 2001); National Assembly—last held 25 May-1 June 1997
  (next to be held NA May 2002)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—RPR 99, Centrist Union 52, Republicans and independents 47, PS
  78, PCF 16, other 29; National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, Ecologists
  8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate; Council of State or Conseil d'Etat

Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, about 800,000 members (est.); independent labor union or Force Ouvriere, 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union or Confederation Generale des Cadres, 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais) or CNPF or Patronat

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
  Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN,
  EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU,
  FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH,
  MONUA, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
  SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
  UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG
  chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
  Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Felix G. ROHATYN
  embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
  mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
  consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist
  side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor);
  the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags,
  including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and
  Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas

Economy—overview: One of the four West European trillion-dollar economies, France matches a growing services sector with a diversified industrial base and substantial agricultural resources. Industry generates one-quarter of GDP and more than 80% of export earnings. The government retains considerable influence over key segments of each sector, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. The government is slowly selling off its holdings in France Telecom, in Air France, and in the insurance, banking, and defense industries. Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. A major exporter of wheat and dairy products, France is practically self-sufficient in agriculture. The economy expanded by 3% in 1998, following a 2.3% gain in 1997. Persistently high unemployment still poses a major problem for the government. France has shied away from cutting exceptionally generous social welfare benefits or the enormous state bureaucracy, preferring to pare defense spending and raise taxes to keep the deficit down. The JOSPIN administration has pledged both to lower unemployment and trim spending, pinning its hopes for new jobs on economic growth and on legislation to gradually reduce the workweek from 39 to 35 hours by 2002. France joined 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.4% industry: 28.4% services: 69.2% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.9% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $222 billion
  expenditures: $265 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 8.72% hydro: 12.92% nuclear: 78.25% other: 0.11% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish

Exports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel
products, textiles and clothing

Exports—partners: Germany 16%, UK 10%, Italy 9%, Spain 8%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, US 6.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, Japan 2%, Russia
0.9% (1997)

Imports—commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment,
agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products

Imports—partners: Germany 17%, Italy 10%, US 9%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 3%,
China 2.5% (1997)

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999),
  5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
  (1994)
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 6.55957 French francs per euro; the euro will replace the
  local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system: highly developed domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (with 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

Television broadcast stations: 310 (in addition, there are about 1,400 repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 32,027 km ( 31,940 km are operated by French National
  Railways (SNCF); 13,803 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132
  km are double- or multiple-tracked)
  standard gauge: 31,928 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: does not include 33 tourist railroads, totaling 469 km, many
  being of very narrow gauge (1996)

Highways:
  total: 892,900 km
  paved: 892,900 km (including 9,900 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km;
natural gas 24,746 km

Ports and harbors: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon,
Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes,
Paris, Rouen, Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg

Merchant marine:
  total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,826,364 GRT/2,962,338
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk
  1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load
  carrier 2, oil tanker 20, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5,
  short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1
  note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned
  ships in Iles Kerguelen (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 267 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 94 914 to 1,523 m: 73 under 914 m: 56 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 207 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 75 under 914 m: 129 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval
Air), Air Force (includes Air Defense, National Gendarmerie

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,203,675 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of South
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m

Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered),
cinnabar, kaolin, fish

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 83%
  other: 17% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 26,713; female 25,514)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 57,935; female 48,959)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 4,479; female 4,382) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.61 years male: 73.41 years female: 79.97 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese

Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian,
Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 83%
  male: 84%
  female: 82% (1982 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Department of Guiana
  conventional short form: French Guiana
  local long form: none
  local short form: Guyane

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997)
  head of government: President of the General Council Stephan PHINERA
  (since NA March 1994); President of the Regional Council Antoine
  KARAM (since NA March 1992)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
  French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional
  Councils are appointed by the members of those councils

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
  (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
  terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31
  seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
  elections: General Council—last held 20-27 March 1994 (next to be
  held NA 2000); Regional Council—last held 15 March 1998 (next to be
  held NA 2004)
  election results: General Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats
  by party—PSG 8, FDG 4, RPR 1, other left 2, other right 2, other 2;
  Regional Council—percent of vote by party—PS 28.28%, various left
  parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari 6%; seats by
  party—PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari 2
  note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998
  (next to be held NA September 2007); results—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—NA; 2 seats were elected to the French
  National Assembly on 25 May—1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
  results—percent of vote by party —NA; seats by party—RPR 1, PSG 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local
court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique,
Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)

Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party or PSG
subset of PSG); Nationalist Popular Party of Guyana (Parti
LECANTE]; Democratic and European Rally of the Senate or RDSE

Economy—overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; sugar cane is the major cash crop. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)

Budget:
  revenues: $191 million
  expenditures: $332 million, including capital expenditures of $88
  million (1996)

Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products,
rum, gold mining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugar, rice, corn, manioc (tapioca), cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry

Imports—commodities: food (grains, processed meat), machinery and
transport equipment, fuels and chemicals

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Telephone system:
domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are eight low-power repeaters) (1997)

Highways:
  total: 1,817 km (national 432 km, departmental 385 km, community
  1,000 km)
  paved: 727 km
  unpaved: 1,090 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and
river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 30,656 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Suriname claims area between Riviere
Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)

Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia

Area:
  total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
  land: 3,660 sq km
  water: 507 sq km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 6%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 31%
  other: 57% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: includes five archipelagoes; 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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 40,422; female 38,913)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 78,637; female 72,832)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 5,642; female 5,627) (1999 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 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.33 years male: 69.93 years female: 74.85 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%

Literacy:
  definition: age 14 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 98% (1977 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
  conventional short form: French Polynesia
  local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
  local short form: Polynesie Francaise

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
  there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
  US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel
  des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du
  Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
  note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
  Polynesia

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul
  RONCIERE (since NA 1994)
  head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
  French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
  the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996)
  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 seven-year
  term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
  advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
  Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly
  are elected by the members of the assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
  Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Polynesian
  Liberation Front 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4
  note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September 1989
  (next to be held NA September 1998); results—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—UC 1; two seats were elected to the French
  National Assembly on 25 May—1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—People's Rally
  for the Republic (Gaullist) 2

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: People's Rally for the Republic
Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WMO

Flag description: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

Economy—overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefited from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed principally at creating new jobs.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $652 million
  expenditures: $613 million, including capital expenditures of $155
  million (1996)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 57.14% hydro: 42.86% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products

Exports—commodities: cultured pearls 53.8%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1992)

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1—102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994); note—linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,240 GRT/7,765 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

@French Southern and Antarctic Lands —————————————————-

Location: south of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note—French Southern and Antarctic Lands includes 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"

Area:
  total: 7,781 sq km
  land: 7,781 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

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Ross on Ile Kerguelen 1,850 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: in 1997 there were about 100 researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and
  Antarctic Lands
  conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
  local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
  Francaises
  local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises

Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by a high commissioner of the Republic

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

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.

Budget:
revenues: $19 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,201,120 GRT/3,832,935
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 7, chemical tanker 10, container 9,
  liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 10 (1998 est.)

Disputes—international: "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the
Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,551 km
  border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,
  Equatorial Guinea 350 km

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 18%
  forests and woodland: 77%
  other: 3% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 205,076; female 205,198)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 376,181; female 370,479)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 34,078; female 34,841) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.98 years male: 53.98 years female: 60.08 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 6,000 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 63.2%
  male: 73.7%
  female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
  conventional short form: Gabon
  local long form: Republique Gabonaise
  local short form: Gabon

Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1960) (Gabon granted full independence from France)

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE
  (since 23 January 1999)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
  consultation with the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of
  vote—El Hadj Omar BONGO 66%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 17%, Fr. Paul
  M'BA-ABESSOLE 13%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
  (91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120
  seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
  five-year terms
  elections: National Assembly—last held in December 1996 (next to be
  held NA December 2001); Senate—last held 12 January 1997 (next to be
  held in January 2002)
  election results: National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—PDG 100, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 8, PUP 3, CLR 3, FAR 1,
  UPG 1, USG 2, PGP 2; Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PDG 51, RNB 17, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, others 15

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

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC,
  UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
  chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James V. LEDESMA
  embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
  mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville

Economy—overview: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12 January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95 and a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995. Those agreements mandate progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. Growth in 1999 will depend mainly on how world oil prices move.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 67% services: 25% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.5 billion
  expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $302
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 22.04% hydro: 77.96% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials

Imports—partners: France 38%, US 8%, Cameroon 5%, Netherlands 4%,
Cote d'Ivoire, Japan (1997)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—577.61 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
  tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
  domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
  international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are five low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
total: 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA)
standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)

Highways:
  total: 7,670 km
  paved: 629 km (including 30 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 7,041 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville,
Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Merchant marine:
  total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,613 GRT/22,599 DWT
  (1998 est.)
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 52 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 144,133 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 9%
  forests and woodland: 28%
  other: 45% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 305,839; female 304,905)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 341,947; female 348,163)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 18,706; female 16,760) (1999 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: 1.12 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.39 years male: 52.02 years female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%,
Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%

Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 38.6%
  male: 52.8%
  female: 24.9% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower
  River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western
  note: it has been reported but not verified that the name of the
  MacCarthy Island division has been changed to Central River

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK); note—The Gambia and
  Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the
  creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the
  agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989

Constitution: 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in
January 1997

Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic
law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October
  1996); 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); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March
  1997); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president
  elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year
  term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26
  September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
  election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent
  of vote—Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45
  elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; all for
  five-year terms)
  elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be
  held NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—APRC
  33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic
  Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS
  note—in August 1996 the government banned the following from
  participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party
  President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
  ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Crispin GREY-JOHNSON chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George W. HALEY embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Economy—overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the reexport trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in tourism after its decline in response to the military's takeover in July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 13% services: 64% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%

Budget:
  revenues: $88.6 million
  expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishery resources not fully exploited

Exports—commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton
lint, palm kernels

Exports—partners: Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France,
Switzerland, UK, US, Indonesia (1997)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials,
fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports—partners: Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany,
Netherlands, France, Belgium (1997)

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1—10.947 (December 1998), 10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire
  international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and
  Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 149,670 (1999 est.)

Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, and the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel

Maritime claims: Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement—permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 39%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 11%
  other: 26% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment

Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1998 est.)

Population: 1,112,654 (July 1999 est.)
note: in addition, there are some 6,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza
Strip (August 1998 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 52% (male 294,196; female 280,017)
  15-64 years: 46% (male 255,209; female 251,317)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 13,475; female 18,440) (1999 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: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.44 years male: 72.01 years female: 74.95 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah

Economy—overview: Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip?under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority since the Cairo Agreement of May 1994—have deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36% between 1992 and 1996 owing to the combined effect of falling aggregate incomes and robust population growth. The downturn in economic activity was largely the result of Israeli closure policies—the imposition of generalized border closures in response to security incidents in Israel—which disrupted previously established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative social effect of this downturn has been the emergence of chronic unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were generally under 5%, by the mid-1990s this level had risen to over 20%. Since 1997 Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor. These positive changes to the conduct of economic activity, combined with international donor pledges of over $3 billion made to the Palestinian Authority in November, may fuel a moderate economic recovery in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (1995 est., includes West Bank)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $816 million
  expenditures: $866 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)
  note: includes West Bank

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1—4.2260 (November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the Palestinian
Broadcasting Corp.) (1997)

Televisions: NA; note—59% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)

Railways:
total: NA km; note—one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little
trackage remains

Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
  note: includes Gaza International Airport that opened on 24 November
  1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the 23 October 1998 Wye
  River Memorandum

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

Background: Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991, Georgia began to stabilize in 1994. Political settlements for separatist conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia remain elusive. The conflict in South Ossetia has been dormant since spring 1994, but sporadic violence continues between Abkhaz forces and Georgian partisans in western Georgia. Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts, Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In 1995, Georgia adopted a new constitution and conducted generally free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. In 1996, the government focused its attention on implementing an ambitious economic reform program and professionalizing its parliament. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in 1995 and 1996, but corruption remains rife. Georgia has taken some steps to reduce its dependence on Russia, acquiring coastal patrol boats in 1997 to replace Russian border units along the Black Sea coast. In 1998, Georgia assumed control of its Black Sea coast and about half of its land border with Turkey in line with a June 1998 agreement with Russia. Since 1997, Georgia's parliament has sharpened its rhetoric against Russia's continued military presence on Georgian territory. In February 1998 an assassination attempt was made against President SHEVARDNADZE by supporters of the late former president Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA. In October 1998, a disaffected military officer led a failed mutiny in western Georgia; the armed forces continue to feel the ripple effect of the uprising. Georgia faces parliamentary elections this fall, and presidential elections next spring. After two years of robust growth, the economy, hurt by the financial crisis in Russia, slowed in 1998.

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,461 km
  border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
  Turkey 252 km

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 Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 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: 9%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: 34%
  other: 28% (1993 est.)

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, Law of the
  Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 21% (male 544,055; female 522,491)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,628,993; female 1,753,527)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 236,124; female 381,309) (1999 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: 0.62 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.63 years male: 61.13 years female: 68.32 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri
5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%

Religions: Christian Orthodox 75% (Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian
Orthodox 10%), Muslim 11%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%

Languages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%,
Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 100%
  female: 98% (1989 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular—raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular—k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular—avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis, Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*, Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
  (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
  1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
  of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
  (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
  1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
  of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of
  vote—Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—CUG 24%, NDP 8%, AGUR 7%, all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party—CUG 107, NDP 34, AGUR 32, Progress Bloc 4, SPG 4, others 9, Abkazian deputies 12, independents 29, not filled 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme
Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG
  groups: Democratic Union of Georgia or DUG, Political Association
  "Georgian Proprietors"—Electoral Association "T'bilisi", Political
  Union of Young Democrats "Our Choice", Political Union Tanadgoma)

Political pressure groups and leaders: supporters of the late
  ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition;
  separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; Georgian
  refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament)

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
  CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
  chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
  20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ
  embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Economy—overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, made substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy suffered some setbacks in late 1998, including a large budget deficit due to a failure to collect tax revenue and to the impact of the Russian economic crisis. Georgia also still suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The construction of a Caspian oil pipeline through Georgia—scheduled to open in early 1999—should spur greater Western investment in the economy. The global economic slowdown, a growing trade deficit, continuing problems with corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 16% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $364 million
  expenditures: $568 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998)

Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, foundry equipment, electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors, process control equipment, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 29.88% hydro: 70.12% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles; chemicals; fuel reexports

Exports—partners: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Armenia,
Bulgaria, Turkey, US, UK, Italy, Germany, Romania (1997)

Imports—commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and
parts, transport equipment

Imports—partners: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan (1996); note?EU and
US send humanitarian food shipments

Exchange rates: lari per US$1 (end of period)—1.82 (December 1998), 1.32 (December 1997), 1.28 (December 1996), 1.24 (December 1995)

Telephone system:
  domestic: local—T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone
  networks with about 10,000 customers total; urban areas 20
  telephones/100 people; rural areas 4 phones/100 people; intercity—a
  fiber-optic line connects T'bilisi to K'ut'aisi (Georgia's second
  largest city); nationwide pager service
  international: Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line
  between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is
  available by microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow
  switch; international electronic mail and telex service available

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note 2
national broadcast stations, 3 regional broadcast stations

Railways:
  total: 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)

Merchant marine:
  total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 86,667 GRT/121,679 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 5, short-sea passenger 1 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 14
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 14
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)

Transportation—note: transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,018,309 (1999 est.)

Military—note: a CIS peacekeeping force consisting 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

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

Background: Germany—first united in 1871?suffered defeats in successive world wars and was occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the beginning of the Cold War and increasing tension between the US and Soviet Union, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The newly democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EU and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War cleared the path for the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and German re-unification in 1990. Germany has expended considerable funds—roughly $100 billion a year—in subsequent years working to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards, with mixed results. Unemployment—which in the east is nearly double that in the west—has grown over the last several years, primarily as a result of structural problems like an inflexible labor market. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other members of the EU formed a common European currency, the euro, and the German government is now looking toward reform of the EU budget and enlargement of the Union into Central Europe.

Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Area:
  total: 356,910 sq km
  land: 349,520 sq km
  water: 7,390 sq km
  note: includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany,
  the German Democratic Republic, and Berlin, following formal
  unification on 3 October 1990

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

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and
summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m highest point: Zugspitze 2,962 m

Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite,
uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel

Land use:
  arable land: 33%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 15%
  forests and woodland: 31%
  other: 20% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result of continued use of leaded fuels) 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

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: strategic location on North European Plain and
along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 15% (male 6,495,882; female 6,172,359)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 28,687,267; female 27,526,698)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 4,990,090; female 8,215,065) (1999 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.17 years male: 74.01 years female: 80.5 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks
0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 4.6% (made up largely of people fleeing the
war in the former Yugoslavia)

Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%,
unaffiliated or other 26.3%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1977 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
  conventional short form: Germany
  local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
  local short form: Deutschland

Capital: Berlin
  note: the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of
  years, with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several
  ministries even after parliament moves in 1999

Administrative divisions: 16 states (Laender, singular—Land);
  Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
  Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
  Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,
  Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen

Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991

Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became
constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990

Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Roman HERZOG (since 1 July 1994)
  head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October
  1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the proposal of the
  chancellor
  elections: president elected for a five-year term by a Federal
  Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an
  equal number of delegates elected by the Land Parliaments; election
  last held 23 May 1994 (next to be held 23 May 1999); chancellor
  elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a
  four-year term; election last held 27 September 1998 (next to be
  held in the fall of 2002)
  election results: Roman HERZOG elected president; percent of Federal
  Convention vote—52.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor; percent
  of Federal Assembly—52.8%

Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the two chambers as a whole) consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (656 seats usually, but 669 for the 1998 term; elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block) elections: Federal Assembly—last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by the fall of 2002); note—there are no elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election election results: Federal Assembly—percent of vote by party—SPD 40.9%, Alliance 90/Greens 6.7%, CDU/CSU 35.1%, FDP 6.2%, PDS 5.1%; seats by party—SPD 298, Alliance 90/Greens 47, CDU/CSU 245, FDP 43, PDS 36; Federal Council—current composition—votes by party—SPD-led states 45, CDU-led states 24

Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court or
Bundesverfassungsgericht, half the judges are elected by the
Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat

Political pressure groups and leaders: employers' organizations,
expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC,
  EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR,
  NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John C. KORNBLUM embassy: Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn mailing address: PSC 117, APO AE 09080 branch office: Berlin; mailing address: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich

Economy—overview: Germany possesses the world's third most powerful economy, with its capitalist market system tempered by generous welfare benefits. On 1 January 1999, Germany and 10 other European Union countries launched the European Monetary Union (EMU) by permanently fixing their bilateral exchange rates and giving the new European Central Bank control over the zone's monetary policy. Germans expect to have the new European currency, the euro, in pocket by 2002. Domestic demand contributed to a moderate economic upswing in early 1998, although unemployment remains high. Job-creation measures have helped superficially, but structural rigidities—like high wages and costly benefits—make unemployment a long-term, not just a cyclical, problem. Although minimally affected by the Asian crisis in 1998, Germany revised its 1999 forecast downward at the beginning of the year to reflect anticipated effects from the global economic slowdown. Over the long term, Germany faces budgetary problems—lower tax revenues and higher pension outlays—as its population ages. Meanwhile, the German nation continues to wrestle with the integration of eastern Germany, whose adjustment may take decades to complete despite annual transfers from the west of roughly $100 billion a year.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 33.1% services: 65.8% (1998)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 33.7%, agriculture 2.7%, services 63.6% (1998)

Budget:
  revenues: $977 billion
  expenditures: $1.024 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: western: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages; eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 66.23% hydro: 3.5% nuclear: 29.81% other: 0.46% (1996)

Agriculture—products: western?potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry; eastern—wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; pork, beef, chickens, milk, hides

Exports—commodities: machinery 31%, vehicles 17%, chemicals 13%, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles (1997)

Exports—partners: EU 55.5% (France 10.7%, UK 8.5%, Italy 7.4%, Netherlands 7.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.8%), US 8.6%, Japan 2.3% (1997 est.)

Imports—commodities: machinery 22%, vehicles 10%, chemicals 9%,
foodstuffs 8%, textiles, metals (1997)

Imports—partners: EU 54.3% (France 10.5%, Netherlands 8.5%, Italy
7.8%, UK 7.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.2%), US 7.7%, Japan 4.9% (1997)

Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1—1.69 (January 1999),
  1.7597 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228
  (1994)
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 1.95583 deutsche marks per euro; the euro will replace the
  local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system: 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 has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part domestic: the region which was formerly West 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 and includes roaming service to many foreign countries; since the reunification of Germany, the telephone system of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys all of the advantages of the national system international: satellite earth stations—14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean region); 7 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers; tropospheric scatter links

Radio broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 1,621, shortwave 37, digital audio broadcasting 130

Railways:
  total: 46,300 km including 18,866 km electrified and 14,768 km
  double- or multiple-tracked (1996)
  note: since privatization in 1994, Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG) no longer
  publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the DBAG
  system there are 102 privately owned railway companies which own an
  approximate 3,000 km to 4,000 km of the total tracks

Highways:
  total: 656,074 km
  paved: 650,169 km (including 11,309 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,905 km all-weather (1997 est.)

Waterways: 7,467 km (1997); major rivers include the Rhine and
Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea
and North Sea

Ports and harbors: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven,
Cologne, Dresden, Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck,
Magdeburg, Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart

Merchant marine:
  total: 594 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,699,596
  GRT/9,629,163 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 227, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 1,
  container 306, liquefied gas tanker 5, multifunction large-load
  carrier 5, oil tanker 7, passenger 3, railcar carrier 2,
  refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger
  7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 319
  over 3,047 m: 14
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 62
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
  914 to 1,523 m: 54
  under 914 m: 121 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 299
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
  914 to 1,523 m: 58
  under 914 m: 227 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air
Force, Medical Corps, Border Police, Coast Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 17,799,070 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II

Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
  cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of
  Southwest Asian heroin and hashish, Latin American cocaine, and
  European-produced synthetic drugs

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between
Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,093 km
  border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo
  877 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast
coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
manganese, fish, rubber

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 7%
  permanent pastures: 22%
  forests and woodland: 35%
  other: 24% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Environment—current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
  Tropical Timber 94
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography—note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial
lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 4,020,493; female 3,982,816)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 5,050,736; female 5,231,951)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 284,423; female 317,207) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.14 years male: 55.08 years female: 59.27 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: black African 99.8% (major tribes—Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%

Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 64.5%
  male: 75.9%
  female: 53.5% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
  conventional short form: Ghana
  former: Gold Coast

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo,
Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West,
Volta, Western

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January
  1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January
  1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject
  to approval by the Parliament
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December
  1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent
  of vote—RAWLINGS 57%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are
  elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December
  2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDC
  133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON
  chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON
  embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
  mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra

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—overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 41% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. Power shortages also helped slow growth in 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 14% services: 45% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.3% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and fishing 61%, industry 10%, services 29% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.39 billion
  expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum
smelting, food processing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.66% hydro: 99.34% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Exports—commodities: gold 39%, cocoa 35%, timber 9.4%, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, and diamonds (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods

Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1—2,324.70 (September 1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995), 956.71 (1994)

Telephone system: poor to fair system domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are eight repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation)
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)

Highways:
  total: 39,409 km
  paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways

Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,552 GRT/14,839 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 6
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
Palace Guard, Civil Defense

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,507,954 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 100% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 3,129; female 2,749)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 10,888; female 8,247)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 1,729; female 2,423) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.32 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years male: 75.1 years female: 81.81 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England
8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)

Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes),
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who
have been residents six months or more

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable
  Sir Richard LUCE (since 24 February 1997)
  head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected
  members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation
  with the chief minister
  note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
  the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats—15 elected, on for the Speaker, and two ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party—SD 8, SL 7

Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association;
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization

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—overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism (more than 5 million visitors in 1995), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $111.6 million
  expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96)

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and repairing; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral water, beer, canned fish

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%,
manufactured goods 41%, other 8%

Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note—the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities domestic: automatic exchange facilities international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 3 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 346m951 GRT/588,765 DWT
  ships by type: chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 11,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar

Area:
  total: 5 sq km
  land: 5 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,
  and South Rock

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 12 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
  local long form: none
  local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,210 km
  border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,
  The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 6 nm

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 8%
  permanent pastures: 41%
  forests and woodland: 20%
  other: 12% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate
  Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 878,349; female 818,311)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 3,619,982; female 3,587,591)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 799,053; female 1,003,849) (1999 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years male: 75.87 years female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
Greece

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 95%
  male: 98%
  female: 93% (1991 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
  conventional short form: Greece
  local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
  local short form: Ellas or Ellada
  former: Kingdom of Greece

Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi,
  singular—nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos),
  Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki,
  Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis,
  Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa,
  Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios,
  Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi,
  Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza,
  Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala,
  Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)

Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS
  (since 10 March 1995)
  head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19
  January 1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
  the prime minister
  elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
  election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000);
  prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president;
  percent of Parliament vote—NA

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 22 September 1996 (next to be held by
  NA September 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%,
  KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%,
  Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party—PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11,
  Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9; note—seating has
  subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK,
  ND, and DIKKI; 1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition
  of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
  MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
  PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU,
  WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandre PHILON
  chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and
  San Francisco
  consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 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—overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP, although the government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises. Tourism is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 4% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government has tightened policy with the goal of qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in 2001. In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to just over 2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that inflation fell below 4% by the end of 1998—the lowest rate in 26 years. The outlook for 1999 is good with the budget deficit and inflation both expected to decline further, while GDP growth stays near 3% and the current account deficit remains below 2% of GDP.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 8.5% industry: 23.5% services: 68% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services 59.2%, agriculture 19.8%, industry 21% (1998)

Budget:
  revenues: $45 billion
  expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles;
chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 89.16% hydro: 10.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0.09% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Exports—partners: EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France 6%), US 16% (1997)

Imports—partners: EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK
7%, Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)

Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1—278.78 (January 1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable international: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Television broadcast stations: 64 (in addition, there are about 1,000 low-power repeaters and two stations in the US armed forces network) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 2,548 km
  standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type
  railway for steep grades)

Highways:
  total: 117,000 km
  paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers

Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete),
Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs
(Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos

Merchant marine:
  total: 810 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,798,431
  GRT/44,056,618 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 307, cargo 66, chemical tanker 19, combination
  bulk 9, combination ore/oil 12, container 45, liquefied gas tanker
  5, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 15,
  passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17,
  short-sea passenger 76, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 63 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air
Force, National Guard, Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,071,670 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav 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

Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Area:
  total: 2,175,600 sq km
  land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km
  ice-covered) (est.)

Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold,
platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 99% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note—Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North
America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements
along coast

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 7,789; female 7,728)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 22,248; female 18,678)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,562; female 1,822) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.1 years male: 65.98 years female: 74.24 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%

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

Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa
(Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
  1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA
  1995)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA
  September 1997)
  cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of
  the strength of parties
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
  the monarch; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually
  the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999
  (next to be held NA 2003)
  election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister;
  percent of parliamentary vote—23 out of 31 votes

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidates' League 12.3%; seats by party—Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidates' League 4, independent 1 note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of vote by party—Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party—Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut
  (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more
  distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)
  Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete
  Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors

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—overview: Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $706 million
  expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6%

Imports—partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1—6.401 (January 1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service
  provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in
  1995
  domestic: microwave radio relay
  international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station—1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some local
radio and TV stations

Television broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some local low-power stations; in addition, there are three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations which broadcast in the NTSC system (1997)

Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik,
Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut

Merchant marine:
total: 1 passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,211 GRT/162 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 4
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: 18%
  permanent pastures: 3%
  forests and woodland: 9%
  other: 55% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 21,055; female 20,365)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 27,524; female 23,766)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 2,034; female 2,264) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.6 years male: 68.97 years female: 74.29 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 98% (1970 est.)

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

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; prime minister appointed by the governor
  general from among the members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the
  leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15
  seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held on 18 January 1999 (next to be held by NA
  October 2004)
  election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—NNP 15

Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an
associate judge resides in Grenada)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
  OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE
  chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada
  embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's
  mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies

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—overview: In this island economy progress in fiscal reforms and prudent macroeconomic management have boosted annual growth to nearly 5% in 1997-98. The increase in economic activity has been led by construction and trade. Tourist facilities are being expanded; tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner. Major short-term concerns are the rising fiscal deficit and the deterioration in the external account balance. Grenada shares a common central bank and a common currency with seven other members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 9.7% industry: 15% services: 75.3% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $85.8 million
  expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28
  million (1997)

Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly
operations, tourism, construction

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Exports—commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and
vegetables, clothing, mace

Imports—commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery
20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Telephone system: automatic, islandwide telephone system domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit), Coast Guard

Illicit drugs: small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US

Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Area:
  total: 1,780 sq km
  land: 1,706 sq km
  water: 74 sq km
  note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands,
  including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade,
  Iles des Saintes, Saint Barthelemy, and part of Saint Martin

Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km

Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the
seven other islands are volcanic in origin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m

Land use:
  arable land: 14%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 14%
  forests and woodland: 39%
  other: 29% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 25% (male 53,427; female 51,234)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 138,215; female 141,243)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 15,536; female 21,288) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.01 years male: 74.98 years female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 90%
  male: 90%
  female: 90% (1982 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
  conventional short form: Guadeloupe
  local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
  local short form: Guadeloupe

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA 1996)
  head of government: President of the General Council Marcellin
  LUBETH (since NA 1998); President of the Regional Council Lucette
  MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
  French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
  Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
  election results: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
  (42 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
  terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41
  seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
  elections: General Council—last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held
  by NA 2002); Regional Council—last held 15 March 1998 (next to be
  held NA 2004)
  election results: General Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats
  by party—various left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, various right
  parties 5, PCC 3, UDF 1; Regional Council—percent of vote by
  party—RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/DVG 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, DVD 5.73%; seats by
  party—RPR 25, PS/PPDG/DVG 12, PCG 2, DVD 2
  note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;
  elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
  2004); percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1, FGPS 1;
  Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National
  Assembly; elections last held 25 May—1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
  2002); percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—FGPS 2, RPR 1,
  PPDG 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with
jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
REIETTE]; Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or
IBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Movement for Independent
  Guadeloupe or MPGI; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG;
  General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; Christian
  Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG

Flag description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy—overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 9% services: 85% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $200 million
  expenditures: $350 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and
other consumer goods, construction materials

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155(1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic facilities inadequate
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and
  Martinique

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed
to broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0

Television broadcast stations: 5 (in addition, there are several low-power repeaters) (1997)

Highways: total: 2,082 km paved: 1,742 km unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.) note: in 1996 there were a total of 3,200 km of roads

Ports and harbors: Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy),
Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre

Airports—with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising 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: 11%
  permanent crops: 11%
  permanent pastures: 15%
  forests and woodland: 18%
  other: 45% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)

Environment—current issues: extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic species

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific
Ocean

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 27,301; female 25,106)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 47,691; female 42,714)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 4,486; female 4,418) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.78 years male: 74.6 years female: 81.31 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and other 18%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99% (1990 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam

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

National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July (1944)

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not
vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
  20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
  1993)
  head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994)
  and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
  cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
  the consent of the Guam legislature
  elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
  ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor
  elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms;
  election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)
  election results: Carl GUTIERREZ reelected governor; percent of
  vote—Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 53.2%, Joseph ADA (Republican) 46.8%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
  elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
  2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—Republican 12, Democratic 3
  note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives;
  election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
  2000); results—Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent
  of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Democratic 1

Judicial branch: Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC

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—overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on tourist revenue. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry suffered a setback in 1998 because of the continuing Japanese recession; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: federal and territorial government 31%, private 69% (trade 21%, services 33%, construction 12%, other 3%) (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $524.3 million
  expenditures: $361.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products

Imports—commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Economic aid—recipient: $NA; note?although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury 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

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
  submarine cables to US and Japan

Highways:
  total: 885 km
  paved: 675 km
  unpaved: 210 km
  note: there is another 685 km of roads classified non-public,
  including roads located on federal government installations

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
El Salvador and Mexico

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,687 km
  border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256
  km, Mexico 962 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 24%
  forests and woodland: 54%
  other: 5% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 2,688,402; female 2,578,934)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 3,312,360; female 3,314,102)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 207,014; female 234,768) (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.45 years male: 63.78 years female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish—in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44%

Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 Amerindian
languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 55.6%
  male: 62.5%
  female: 48.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
  conventional short form: Guatemala
  local long form: Republica de Guatemala
  local short form: Guatemala

Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos,
  singular—departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
  Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango,
  Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu,
  Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
  Totonicapan, Zacapa

Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986 note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14
  January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14
  January 1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  head of government: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14
  January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14
  January 1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 12 November 1995; runoff held 7 January 1996
  (next to be held NA November 1999)
  election results: Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen elected president;
  percent of vote—Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (PAN) 51.2%, Jorge
  PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 48.8%

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic or
  Congreso de la Republica (80 seats; members are elected by popular
  vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held on 12 November 1995 (next to be held in
  November 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PAN
  43, FRG 21, FDNG 6, DCG 4, UCN 3, UD 2, MLN 1
  note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that
  reduced its number from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for
  a special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80
  members to serve until replaced in the November 1995 general
  election; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January
  1994 and the special election was held on 14 August 1994

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
  Justicia); additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided
  over by the president of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a
  five-year term by Congress

Political parties and leaders: National Centrist Union or UCN
ARRIAGA Martinez]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG

Political pressure groups and leaders: Coordinating Committee of
  Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or
  CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO;
  Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Alliance Against Impunity or
  AAI

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC,
  FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
  PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William STIXRUD chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. PLANTY embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024

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—overview: The agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth of GDP and two-thirds of exports and employs more than half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Manufacturing and construction account for one-fifth of GDP. Since assuming office in January 1996, President ARZU has worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and political modernization. The signing of the peace accords in December 1996, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Nevertheless, growth will be somewhat smaller due to the storm. Remaining challenges include increasing government revenues, and negotiating a program with the IMF.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 21% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 58%, services 14%, manufacturing 14%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 2.6%, utilities 0.3%, mining 0.1% (1995)

Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 29.03% hydro: 70.97% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens

Exports—partners: US 37%, El Salvador 13%, Honduras 7%, Costa
Rica 5%, Germany 5%

Imports—commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery,
grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles

Exchange rates: quetzales (Q) per US$1—6.7284 (January 1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512 (1994)

Telephone system: fairly modern network centered in the city of
  Guatemala
  domestic: NA
  international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
  satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
total: 884 km (102 km privately owned)
narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)

Highways:
  total: 13,100 km
  paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km
navigable during high-water season

Ports and harbors: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal,
San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 12
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 6
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 466
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
  914 to 1,523 m: 124
  under 914 m: 332 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,903,382 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; active eradication program of cannabis crop effectively eliminated in 1996

Area:
  total: 194 sq km
  land: 194 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other
  smaller islands

Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 6,012; female 5,875)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 21,287; female 22,165)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 4,069; female 5,978) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.72 years male: 75.78 years female: 81.77 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist

Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey

Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is
administered by the Royal Court

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Lieutenant Governor Sir John COWARD (since NA
  1994) and Bailiff Sir Graham Martyn DOREY (since NA February 1992)
  cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of
  the States
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor
  appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (60 seats—33 elected by popular vote; members serve six-year terms) elections: last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—all independents

Flag description: white with the red cross of Saint George
(patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag

Economy—overview: Financial services?banking, fund management, insurance, etc.—account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which Guernsey operates.

GDP: $NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $277.9 million
  expenditures: $248.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle

Exports—commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables

Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note—the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Land boundaries: total: 3,399 km border countries: Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season
(June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to
May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 22%
  forests and woodland: 59%
  other: 17% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Environment—current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 1,640,158; female 1,653,184)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 1,974,849; female 2,068,221)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 83,859; female 118,682) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -15.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: over the years Guinea has received up to several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, some of whom are now returning to their own countries

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.5 years male: 44.02 years female: 49.06 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 35.9%
  male: 49.9%
  female: 21.9% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 4 administrative regions (regions administrative, singular—region administrative) and 1 special zone (zone speciale)*; Conakry*, Guinee, Guinee-Forestiere, Haute-Guinee, Moyen-Guinee

Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government
  since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected
  president; election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA
  December 2003); the prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of
  vote—Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16%, Mamadou Boye BA
  (UNR-PRP) 24%

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 11 June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG 1, UNP 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1

Political parties and leaders: political parties were legalized on 1 April 1992; of the more than 40 with legal status, the following won seats in the legislature in the 11 June 1995 elections other: Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Aly THIAM chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Tibor P. NAGY, Jr.
  embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry
  mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side),
  yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
  similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R
  centered in the yellow band

Economy—overview: Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1998. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-98. Except in the mining industry, foreign investment remains minimal but is expected to pick up in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 31% services: 45% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 31.7% (1991)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 11%, services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%

Budget:
  revenues: $553 million
  expenditures: $652 million, including capital expenditures of $317
  million (1995 est.)

Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light
manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.81% hydro: 36.19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Exports—commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee,
fish, agricultural products

Imports—commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery,
transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs (1997)

Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1—1,292.5 (January 1999), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996), 991.4 (1995), 976.6 (1994) note: the official exchange rate of the Guinean franc was set and quoted weekly against the US dollar until the end of October 1993; since 1 November 1994, the exchange rate is determined in the interbank market for foreign exchange

Telephone system: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small
  radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay
  system
  domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 1,086 km
  standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common
  carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)

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 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 10
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard,
Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National
Police Force (Surete National)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 871,615 (1999 est.)

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

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

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the
  country 300 m

Natural resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited
deposits of petroleum

Land use:
  arable land: 11%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 38%
  forests and woodland: 38%
  other: 12% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce
visibility during dry season; brush fires

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
overgrazing; overfishing

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 260,821; female 259,520)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 322,607; female 356,513)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 16,233; female 18,861) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.57 years male: 47.91 years female: 51.28 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 53.9%
  male: 67.1%
  female: 40.7% (1997 est.)

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

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)

Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (initially assumed
  power 14 November 1980 in a coup d'etat)
  head of government: Prime Minister Francisco FADUL (since NA
  November 1998); note—named in an agreement between President VIEIRA
  and a military-led junta which rebelled against the President
  FADUL's administration in June 1998
  cabinet: none; an interim National Unity Government was provided for
  in the agreement between President VIEIRA and the military junta and
  was scheduled be inaugurated in February 1999
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held NA July
  1999); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation
  with party leaders in the legislature
  election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of
  vote—Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Koumba YALLA 48%

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 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held by NA)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PAIGC 46.0%, RGB-MB
  19.2%, PRS 10.3%, UM 12.8%, FLING 2.5%, PCD 5.3%, PUSD 2.9%, FCG
  0.2%, others 0.8%; seats by party—PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, UM 6,
  FLING 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica,
  consists of 9 justices who are appointed by the president and serve
  at his pleasure, final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases;
  Regional Courts, one in each of nine regions, first court of appeals
  for sectoral court decisions, hear all felony cases and civil cases
  valued at over $1,000; 24 Sectoral Courts, judges are not
  necessarily trained lawyers, hear civil cases under $1,000 and
  misdemeanor criminal cases

Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence
  secretary general]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of
  president]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP
  president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general]; United Social

International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP,
  AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique
  Adriano DA SILVA
  chancery: Suite 519, 1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to President VIEIRA and military-led junta

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—overview: One of the 20 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. 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. Inflation dropped sharply in the first quarter of 1997. Membership in the WAMU (West African Monetary Union), begun in May 1997, was expected to support 5% annual growth and contribute to fiscal discipline. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources was not a near-term prospect.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 54% industry: 11% services: 35% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish

Exports—commodities: cashews 95%, fish, peanuts, palm kernels,
sawn lumber (1994)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum
products, machinery and equipment (1994)

Imports—partners: Portugal 29.2%, Thailand 8.4%, Netherlands
8.4%, US 7.5% (1996)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes; note—on 1 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau adopted as its currency the CFA franc following its membership into the BCEAO

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
  US$1—566.65 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997);
  Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1— 26,373 (1996), 18,073 (1995),
  12,892 (1994)
  note: as of 2 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau has adopted the CFA franc as
  the national currency following its membership in BCEAO

Telephone system: small system domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular communications international: NA

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 3
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 27
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 22 (1998 est.)

Military branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP;
includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 162,485 (1999 est.)

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Land boundaries: total: 2,462 km border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
  margin
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 6%
  forests and woodland: 84%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: water pollution from sewage and
agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 109,156; female 105,017)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 230,624; female 227,677)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 14,684; female 17,998) (1999 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.82 years male: 59.15 years female: 64.61 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: East Indian 49%, black 32%, mixed 12%, Amerindian
6%, white and Chinese 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 98.1%
  male: 98.6%
  female: 97.5% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
  conventional short form: Guyana
  former: British Guiana

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

Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Janet JAGAN (since NA December 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December
  1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
  responsible to the legislature
  elections: president elected by the majority party in the National
  Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held within five
  years; legislative elections last held 15 December 1997 (next to be
  held NA 2000; this date was part of a negotiated settlement between
  the two main political parties following a dispute over the December
  elections); prime minister appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53
  popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held on 15 December 1997 (next to be held by March
  2000; this date was negotiated following a dispute over the December
  elections)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PPP 54%, PNC 41%, AFG 1%,
  TUF 1%; seats by party—PPP 36, PNC 25, AFG 2, TUF 2

Political pressure groups and leaders: Trades Union Congress or
  TUC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Civil Liberties
  Action Committee or CLAC
  note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well
  organized

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
  CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
  IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC (observer), OPANAL,
  OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
  chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MACK
  embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
  mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown

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—overview: In 1997, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its sixth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and bauxite mining and by sugar growing. Favorable growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a moderate inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. However, a severe drought and political turmoil following the 1997 elections contributed to a negative growth rate for 1998. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electricity has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and extend its privatization program.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 37% industry: 22% services: 41% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture, hunting and forestry 30.2%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 11% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $253.7 million
  expenditures: $304.1 million, including capital expenditures of
  $108.8 million (1997 est.)

Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing
(shrimp), textiles, gold mining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 98.46% hydro: 1.54% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Exports—partners: Canada 25.9%, US 20.4%, UK 22.7%, Netherlands
Antilles 8.4%, Germany 4.3% (1996)

Imports—partners: US 27.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 17.7%,
Netherlands Antilles 12.1%, UK 10.7%, Japan 4.2% (1996)

Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1—163.7 (December 1998), 150.5 (1998), 142.4 (1997), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994)

Telephone system: fair system for long-distance calling domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines international: tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 1 public station; two private stations relay US satellite services (1997)

Railways:
  total: 88 km (all dedicated to ore transport)
  standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge

Waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice,
Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels
for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively

Merchant marine:
total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,340 GRT/4,530
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 4
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 44
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 7
  under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground
Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM),
Guyana National Service (GNS), Guyana Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 152,839 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: all of the area west of the Essequibo
River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper
of the Courantyne)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South
America—primarily Venezuela—to Europe and the US; producer of
cannabis

Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 13%
  permanent pastures: 18%
  forests and woodland: 5%
  other: 44% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding
and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the
remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as
fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
  signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography—note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican
Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the
Dominican Republic)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 1,464,529; female 1,420,772)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 1,783,884; female 1,932,240)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 140,932; female 141,907) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.65 years male: 49.53 years female: 53.88 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982) note: roughly one-half of the population also practices Voodoo

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 45%
  male: 48%
  female: 42.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
  conventional short form: Haiti
  local long form: Republique d'Haiti
  local short form: Haiti

Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular—departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Constitution: approved March 1987; suspended June 1988, with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994

Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February 1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH resigned June 1997;
  currently no prime minister; ratification of a new prime minister
  held up in political gridlock stemming from controversy over the 6
  April 1997 elections
  cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
  the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December
  2000); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the
  Congress
  election results: Rene Garcia PREVAL elected president; percent of
  vote—Rene Garcia PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members serve six-year
  terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of
  Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 25 June 1995, with reruns on 13 August
  and runoffs on 17 September (election held for nine seats 6 April
  1997; results disputed and runoffs postponed indefinitely); Chamber
  of Deputies—last held 25 June 1995, with reruns on 13 August and
  runoffs on 17 September (next Senate and Chamber of Deputies
  elections due November 1998 but delayed indefinitely)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—OPL 7, FL-leaning 7, independents 3, vacant 10; Chamber of
  Deputies—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—OPL 32,
  antineoliberal bloc 24, minor parties and independents 22, vacant 5

Political parties and leaders: Lavalas Family or FL
ROUMAIN]; Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or

Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church;
  Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade
  Unions or FOS; Autonomous Haitian Workers or CATH; National Popular
  Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP; Popular
  Organizations Gathering Power or PROP

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, Caricom
  (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Louis
  Harold JOSEPH
  chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan
  (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Michael CARNEY
  embassy: 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince

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—overview: About 75% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The country has experienced little job creation since President PREVAL took office in February 1996, although the informal economy is growing. Failure to reach agreements with international sponsors have denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance. Meeting aid conditions in 1999 will be especially challenging in the face of mounting popular criticism of reforms.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 14% services: 44% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 3.6 million (1995)
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1998)

Budget:
  revenues: $323 million
  expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement,
tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 60.24% hydro: 39.76% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: light manufactures 80.5%, coffee 7.6%, other agriculture 7.2%

Imports—commodities: machines and manufactures 50%, food and beverages 39%, petroleum products 2%, chemicals 5%, fats and oils 4%

Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1—16.778 (January 1999), 16.205 (1998), 17.311 (1997), 15.093 (1996), 16.160 (1995), 12.947 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic facilities barely adequate;
  international facilities slightly better
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there is a cable
TV station) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)—closed
  in early 1990s
  narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge

Ports and harbors: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les
Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc

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 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Haitian National Police (HNP) note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until/unless constitutionally abolished

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 835,578 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA; note?mainly for police
and security activities

Military—note: the Haitian Armed Forces have been demobilized and replaced by the Haitian National Police

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en route to the US and Europe

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands ————————————————-

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Terrain: Heard Island—bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands—small and rocky

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Country name:
  conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald
  Islands
  conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories

Background: Popes in their secular role ruled much of the Italian peninsula, including Rome, for about a thousand years, until 1870. A dispute between a series of popes and Italy was settled in 1929 by treaties that recognized the Vatican City as an independent sovereignty and gave Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. The US established formal diplomatic relationships with the Vatican in 1984. Present issues in the Vatican concern the ill health of Pope John Paul II, who turns 79 on 20 May 1999, inter-religious dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid change. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Roman Catholic faith.

Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (urban area)

Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography—note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

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)

National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22
October (1978)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
  head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal
  SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
  cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
  elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
  election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death
  of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
  election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope

Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive of
influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat,
IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624

Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band

Economy—overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards,
and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican

Budget:
  revenues: $175.5 million
  expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994)

Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics
and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1—1,688.7 (January 1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994); note—the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely

Telephone system: automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system

Railways:
  total: 862 m; note—connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint
  Peter's station
  narrow gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss
Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,520 km
  border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
  922 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 14%
  forests and woodland: 54%
  other: 14% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods along 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; severe Hurricane Mitch damage

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41% (male 1,262,190; female 1,217,752)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 1,643,550; female 1,665,666)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 98,715; female 109,454) (1999 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.68 years male: 63.16 years female: 66.27 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%,
Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 72.7%
  male: 72.6%
  female: 72.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
  conventional short form: Honduras
  local long form: Republica de Honduras
  local short form: Honduras

Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
  singular—departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa);
  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

Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27
  January 1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  head of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since
  27 January 1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 30 November 1997 (next to be held NA November
  2001)
  election results: Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse elected president;
  percent of vote—Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (PLH) 53%, Nora de
  MELGAR (PNH) 42%, other 5%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
  Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held on 30 November 1997 (next to be held November
  2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PLH 50%, PNH 42%, PINU-SD
  4%, PDCH 2%, other 2%; seats by party—PLH 70, PNH 55, PINU-SD 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National
Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PLH [Raphael
MELGAR, president]; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association of
  Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
  or COHEP; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; National Union
  of Campesinos or UNC; General Workers Confederation or CGT; United
  Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH; Committee for the Defense of
  Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Coordinating Committee of Popular
  Organizations or CCOP

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
  G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
  MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa

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—overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, Honduras had been pursuing a moderate economic reform program and had posted strong annual growth numbers. The storm has dramatically changed economic forecasts for Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Central America and the hardest hit by Mitch. Honduras sustained approximately $3 billion in damages and will probably see GDP shrink by 2% in 1999 and unemployment rise. Hardest hit was the all-important agricultural sector, which is responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to $445 million. However, significant aid has helped to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and bilateral creditors have offered substantial debt relief, and Tegucigalpa is currently under consideration for inclusion in the IMF-World Bank Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). Additional financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch level.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 19% services: 61% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 42.1% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $655 million
  expenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150
  million (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 12.09% hydro: 87.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs

Imports—partners: US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%,
Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)

Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)—13.8076 (December 1998), 13.8076 (1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996), 10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994)

Telephone system: inadequate system
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  connected to Central American Microwave System

Railways:
  total: 595 km
  narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km
  0.914-m gauge

Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San
Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira

Merchant marine:
  total: 247 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 555,534 GRT/730,602 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 157, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
  livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 4,
  refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger
  5, vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 6 ships, Vietnam
  1, Singapore 3, North Korea 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 11
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 111
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 21
  under 914 m: 87 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 866,492 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: demarcation of boundary with El Salvador defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption

Background: Pursuant to the 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. Under the terms of this agreement, China has promised that under its "one country, two systems" formula its socialist economic system will not be practiced in Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and
rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 20%
  other: 72% (1997 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 644,982; female 598,188)
  15-64 years: 71% (male 2,397,277; female 2,490,745)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 323,949; female 391,984) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.91 years male: 76.15 years female: 81.85 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 92.2%
  male: 96%
  female: 88.2% (1996 est.)

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

National holiday: National Day, 1-2 October; 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"

Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member Election Commission drawn from broad regional groupings and other central government bodies

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)
  head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)
  cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and
  10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Anson
  CHAN (since 29 November 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG
  (since 7 March 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1
  July 1997)
  elections: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60
  seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20
  elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by an 800-member election
  committee; members serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 25 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—Democratic Party 13, Liberal Party 9, Democratic Alliance for
  the Betterment of Hong Kong 9, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance 5,
  Frontier Party 3, Citizens Party 1, independents 20

Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region

Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for Democracy Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional chairman]

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC,
ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative
region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002

Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center

Economy—overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed, imports and exports, including reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88 and a still strong 5% in 1989-97. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in 1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 15.9% services: 84% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31.9%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing 9.2%, financing, insurance, and real estate 13.1%, transport and communications 5.7%, construction 2.6%, other 27.6% (October 1998)

Budget:
  revenues: $30.1 billion
  expenditures: $26 billion, including capital expenditures of $289
  million (FY97/98)

Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric,
footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw
materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported

Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$—7.74 (1997-99), 7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994); note—linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$

Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
  and international services
  domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
  network
  international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
  and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5
  international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member
  nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Railways: total: 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 195 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,075,304
  GRT/10,133,186 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 117, cargo 18, chemical tanker
  2, combination bulk 2, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 1,
  multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo
  1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13
  countries among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6,
  Bermuda 2, Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of the PLA including elements of the PLA Army, the PLA Navy and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,452,110 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 5%
  other: 95%

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note—there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
  stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred
  Noonan—they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never
  seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Transportation—note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the
  middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World
  War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed
  aviatrix Amelia Earhart

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Background: After World War II Hungary became part of Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, and its government and economy were refashioned on the communist model. Increased nationalist opposition, which culminated in the government's announcement of withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact in 1956, led to massive military intervention by Moscow and the swift crushing of the revolt. In the more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and steadily moved toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Hungary has developed close political and economic relations with western Europe and is now being considered a possible future member of the European Union.

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,009 km
  border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
  Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border

Land use:
  arable land: 51%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 13%
  forests and woodland: 19%
  other: 15% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments, estimated by the Government of Hungary at $4 billion over six years; the 1997 budget allocated $9.7 million for this purpose; the 1998 budget allocated $11.3 million; the Central Environmental Fund, which collects monies from product charges, environmental fines, and mining taxes, provided approximately $76.2 million in 1997 and is expected to provide $109.5 million in 1998

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 908,434; female 865,621)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 3,406,512; female 3,524,260)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 552,337; female 929,208) (1999 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: 0.59 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.18 years male: 66.85 years female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,
Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%

Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%,
atheist and other 7.5%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 98% (1980 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
  conventional short form: Hungary
  local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
  local short form: Magyarorszag

Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular—megye),
  20 urban counties* (singular—megyei varos), and 1 capital city**
  (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*,
  Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*,
  Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
  Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*,
  Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*,
  Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*,
  Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas,
  Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*

National holiday: St. Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)

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: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
  previously interim president since 2 May 1990)
  head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on
  the recommendation of the president
  elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
  four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA
  1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the
  recommendation of the president
  election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335
  votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259;
  Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules
  (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
  proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June
  2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
  required for parliamentary representation in the first round)—MSZP
  32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%,
  MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party—MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148,
  FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note—the MDF won
  17 single-member district seats

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly for a nine-year term

Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF GICZY, president]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSZMP renounced communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP in October 1989; the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM
  (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU,
  UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270

Economy—overview: Hungary has consolidated its March 1995 stabilization program and undergone enough restructuring to become an established market economy. The country appears to have entered a period of sustainable growth, gradually falling inflation, and stable external balances. The government's main economic priorities are to complete structural reforms, particularly the implementation of the 1997 pension reform act (the first in the region), taxation reform, and planning for comprehensive health care, local government finance reform, and the reform of education at all levels. Foreign investment has totaled more than $17 billion through 1998. In recognition of Hungary's improved macroeconomic situation, all major credit-rating agencies listed the country's foreign currency debt issuances as investment grade in 1996. The current IMF stand-by arrangement expired in February 1998, and Budapest and the IMF agree that there is no need to renew it. The OECD welcomed Hungary as a member in May 1996, and in December 1997 the EU invited Hungary to begin the accession process. Forecasters expect 4%-5% growth in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 30.3% services: 66.7% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 24% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: services 65%, industry 26.7%, agriculture 8.3 (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $11.2 billion
  expenditures: $13.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 58.76% hydro: 0.62% nuclear: 40.62% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment 51.9%, other manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)

Exports—partners: Germany 37.3%, Austria 11.4%, Italy 6.1%,
Russia 5.0% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 46.5%, other manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)

Imports—partners: Germany 26.7%, Austria 10.5%, Italy 9.5%,
Russia 7.4% (1997)

Exchange rates: forints per US$1—215.960 (January 1999), 214.402 (1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994)

Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down from over 10 years in the early 1990s); note—the former state-owned telecommunications firm MATAV—now privatized and managed by a US/German consortium—has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines domestic: microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Television broadcast stations: 39 (in addition, there are low-power stations) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 7,606 km
  broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
  standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,207 km electrified; 1,236
  km double track)
  narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1996)
  note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
  standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt
  (Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasut Rt) a distance of about 101 km in
  Hungary and 65 km in Austria

Highways:
  total: 188,203 km
  paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 106,523 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,210 GRT/19,810
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,073,419 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with
Slovakia is before the International Court of Justice

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines

Background: Iceland boasts the oldest surviving parliament in the world, the Althing, established in 930. Subsequently this Nordic island, whose small population has largely depended on fishing and sheep-herding for a living, came under the rule of Norway and then Denmark. It gained home rule in 1874 and full independence in 1944. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are topnotch by world standards. Tensions continue with Norway, Russia, and other nearby countries over fishing rights in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas.

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

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

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 23%
  forests and woodland: 1%
  other: 76% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: water pollution from fertilizer
runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
  Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography—note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 32,608; female 31,061)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 89,258; female 87,449)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 14,510; female 17,626) (1999 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.96 years male: 76.85 years female: 81.19 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 100% (1976 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
  conventional short form: Iceland
  local long form: Lyoveldio Island
  local short form: Island

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular—sysla)
  and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular—kaupstadhur);
  Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
  Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla,
  Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*,
  Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,
  Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla,
  Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*,
  Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*,
  Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla,
  Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
  Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
  Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the
Republic, 17 June (1944)

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August
  1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April
  1991)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000);
  prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent
  of vote—41.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats by party—Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur, justices are appointed for life by the president

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD,
  OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WEU
  (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON
  chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Day Olin MOUNT
  embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
  mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340

Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy—overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources—except energy—Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to drops in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale-watching. Growth is likely to slow in 1999, to a still respectable 4.6%.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 24% services: 63% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: manufacturing 12.9%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5%, agriculture 5.1% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.9 billion
  expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $146
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon
production, geothermal power; tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.06% hydro: 93.43% nuclear: 0% other: 6.51%

Exports—commodities: fish and fish products 70%, animal products,
aluminum, diatomite and ferrosilicon

Exports—partners: EU 60% (UK 19%, Germany 13%, France 6%, Denmark
6%), US 14% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports—partners: EU 58% (Germany 12%, Norway 12%, UK 10%,
Denmark 9%, Sweden 7%), US 9% (1997)

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1—69.250 (January 1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996), 64.692 (1995), 69.944 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate domestic service domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0

Television broadcast stations: 14 (in addition, there are 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Ports and harbors: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik,
Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Merchant marine:
  total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,085 GRT/16,938 DWT
  ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, oil tanker 1 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 10
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 77
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 21
  under 914 m: 53 (1998 est.)

Military branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note—Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 62,570 (1999 est.)

Military—note: Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned
Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Disputes—international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

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

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 56%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 23%
  other: 16% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; 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 rapidly growing population is overstraining natural resources

Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 175,463,726; female 165,722,164)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 318,004,920; female 295,245,556)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 23,571,270; female 22,840,914) (1999
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.4 years male: 62.54 years female: 64.29 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%,
Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%

Languages: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication, Hindi the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, Bengali (official), Telugu (official), Marathi (official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati (official), Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official), Punjabi (official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi (official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani (a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India) note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually unintelligible

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 52%
  male: 65.5%
  female: 37.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India

Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*;
  Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
  Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*,
  Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
  Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
  Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab,
  Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the
Republic, 26 January (1950)

Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 25 July
  1997); Vice President Krishnan KANT (since 21 August 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Atal Behari VAJPAYEE (since 19
  March 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister
  elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
  elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of
  the states for a five-year term; election last held 14 July 1997
  (next to be held NA July 2002); vice president elected by both
  houses of Parliament; election last held 16 August 1997 (next to be
  held NA August 2002); prime minister elected by parliamentary
  members of the majority party following legislative elections;
  election last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003)
  election results: Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN elected president;
  percent of electoral college vote—NA; Krishnan KANT elected vice
  president; percent of Parliament vote—NA; Atal Behari VAJPAYEE
  elected prime minister; percent of vote—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 of which are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: People's Assembly—last held 16 February through 7 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: People's Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—BJP 178, Congress (I) Party 141, CPI/M 32, SP 20, ADMK 18, RJD 17, Telugu Desam 12, SAP 12, CPI 9, BJD 9, Akali Dal factions 8, Trinamool Congress 7, SHS 6, DMK 6, Janata Dal Party 6, BSP 5, RSP 5, independents and others 44, vacant 8, appointed by the president 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president and remain in office until they reach the age of 65

Political parties and leaders: Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP
  PALIWAL (chairman), Chitta BASU (general secretary)]; Muslim League
  factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;
  National Conference or NC (a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir)
  NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: various separatist groups
  seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy; numerous
  religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam
  Sena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak
  Sangh

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, BIS, C,
  CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
  ITU, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNOMIL,
  UNOMSIL, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Naresh CHANDRA
  chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008;
  note—Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
  20008
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard F. CELESTE embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi mailing address: use embassy street address consulate(s) general: Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Mumbai (Bombay)

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

Economy—overview: India's economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. 67% of India's labor force work in agriculture, which contributes 25% of the country's GDP. Production, trade, and investment reforms since 1991 have provided new opportunities for Indian businesspersons and an estimated 300 million middle class consumers. New Delhi has avoided debt rescheduling, attracted foreign investment, and revived confidence in India's economic prospects since 1991. Many of the country's fundamentals—including savings rates (26% of GDP) and reserves (now about $30 billion)—are healthy. Even so, the Indian Government needs to restore the early momentum of reform, especially by continuing reductions in the extensive remaining government regulations. India's exports, currency, and foreign institutional investment were affected by the East Asian crisis in late 1997 and 1998; but capital account controls, a low ratio of short-term debt to reserves, and enhanced supervision of the financial sector helped insulate it from near term balance-of-payments problems. Exports fell 5% in 1998 mainly because of the fall in Asian currencies relative to the rupee. Energy, telecommunications, and transportation bottlenecks continue to constrain growth. A series of weak coalition governments have lacked the political strength to push reforms forward to address these and other problems. Indian think tanks project GDP growth of about 4.5% in 1999. Inflation will remain a worrisome problem.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 30% services: 45% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 25% (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 67%, services 18%, industry 15% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $42.12 billion
  expenditures: $63.79 billion, including capital expenditures of
  $13.8 billion (FY98/99 budget est.)

Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel,
transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 80.35% hydro: 17.8% nuclear: 1.83% other: 0.02% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish

Exports—commodities: textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering
goods, chemicals, leather manufactures

Imports—commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, machinery,
gems, fertilizer, chemicals

Imports—partners: US 10%, Belgium 7%, UK 7%, Germany 7%, Saudi
Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (1997)

Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1—42.508 (January 1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994)

Telephone system: mediocre; local and long distance service provided throughout all regions of the country, with services primarily concentrated in the urban areas; major objective is to continue to expand and modernize long-distance network in order to keep pace with rapidly growing number of local subscriber lines; steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but demand for communication services is also growing rapidly domestic: local service is provided by microwave radio relay and coaxial cable, with open wire and obsolete electromechanical and manual switchboard systems still in use in rural areas; starting in the 1980s, a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been introduced for local- and long-distance service; long-distance traffic is carried mostly by coaxial cable and low-capacity microwave radio relay; since 1985, however, significant trunk capacity has been added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite system with 254 earth stations; cellular telephone service in four metropolitan cities international: satellite earth stations—8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); four gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai, New Delhi, Calcutta, and Chennai; submarine cables to Malaysia, UAE, Singapore, and Japan

Television broadcast stations: 562 (82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480 stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 62,915 km (12,307 km electrified; 12,617 km double track)
  broad gauge: 40,620 km 1.676-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 18,501 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,794 km 0.762-m and 0.610-m
  gauge (1998 est.)

Highways: total: 3,319,644 km paved: 1,517,077 km unpaved: 1,802,567 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,005 km; petroleum products 2,687 km;
natural gas 1,700 km (1995)

Ports and harbors: Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Cochin, Jawaharal
Nehru, Kandla, Mumbai (Bombay), Vishakhapatnam

Merchant marine:
  total: 311 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,627,497
  GRT/11,038,723 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 126, cargo 63, chemical tanker 11, combination
  bulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 12, liquefied gas tanker
  10, oil tanker 76, passenger-cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1,
  specialized tanker 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 230 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 48 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 70 under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 111 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 51 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air
Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border
Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Rashtriya Rifles)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 158,141,508 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 10,661,786 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: boundary with China in dispute; status of
  Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing problems with Pakistan over the
  Indus River (Wular Barrage); a portion of the boundary with
  Bangladesh is indefinite; dispute with Bangladesh over New
  Moore/South Talpatty Island

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; major transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of hashish and methaqualone; cultivated 2,050 hectares of illicit opium in 1997, a 34% decrease from 1996, with a potential production of 30 metric tons, a 36% decrease from 1996

Area:
  total: 73.6 million sq km
  note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Great
  Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel,
  Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, and other tributary water
  bodies

Area—comparative: slightly less than eight times the size of the
US; third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean,
but larger than the Arctic Ocean)

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: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
south near Antarctica from May to October

Environment—current issues: endangered marine species include the
dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian
Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea

Environment—international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait
of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and
the Lombok Strait

Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes—see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix

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.

Telephone system:
international: submarine cables from India to UAE and Malaysia and
from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia

Ports and harbors: Calcutta (India), Chennai (Madras; India),
  Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia),
  Melbourne (Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South
  Africa)

Background: Indonesia declared its independence in 1945 from the Netherlands, a claim disputed, then recognized by the Dutch in 1949. In 1975 Indonesian troops occupied Portuguese East Timor. Current issues include implementing IMF-mandated reforms (particularly restructuring and recapitalizing the insolvent banking sector), effecting a transition to a popularly elected government, addressing longstanding grievances over the role of the ethnic Chinese business class and charges of cronyism and corruption, alleged human rights violations by the military, the role of the military and religion in politics, and growing pressures for some form of independence or autonomy by Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor.

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Land boundaries: total: 2,602 km border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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: 10%
  permanent crops: 7%
  permanent pastures: 7%
  forests and woodland: 62%
  other: 14% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes

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, Desertication, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
  Conservation

Geography—note: archipelago of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 33,367,287; female 32,411,786)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 70,541,893; female 70,866,972)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 3,936,415; female 4,983,992) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.92 years male: 60.67 years female: 65.29 years (1999 est.)

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: 83.8%
  male: 89.6%
  female: 78% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 24 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, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*

Independence: 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27
December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the
Netherlands)

Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  note: on 21 May 1998—less than three months after being selected for
  a seventh five-year term—President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO resigned
  from office; immediately following his resignation he announced that
  Vice President HABIBIE would assume the presidency for the remainder
  of the term which expires in 2003; on 28 May 1998, HABIBIE and
  legislative leaders announced an agreement to select a new president
  in 1999
  chief of state: President Bacharuddin J. HABIBIE (since 21 May
  1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Bacharuddin J. HABIBIE (since 21 May
  1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Cabinet
  election: president and vice president selected by consensus by the
  People's Consultative Assembly for five-year terms; selection last
  held 10 March 1998 (next to be held by 10 November 1999)
  election results: Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO selected president by
  consensus by the People's Consultative Assembly; Bacharuddin J.
  HABIBIE selected vice president by consensus by the People's
  Consultative Assembly; note—Vice President HABIBIE assumed the
  presidency after SOEHARTO's resignation

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives or Dewan
  Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (500 seats; 425 elected by popular vote, 75
  are appointed military representatives; members serve five-year
  terms)
  elections: last held 29 May 1997 (next to be held 7 June 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—Golkar 74.5%, PPP 22.43%,
  PDI 3.07%; seats by party—Golkar 325, PPP 89, PDI 11
  note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan
  Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 200 indirectly selected
  members; it meets every five years to elect the president and vice
  president and to approve the broad outlines of national policy

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges are
appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Golkar (de facto ruling political
Indonesia Democracy Party or PDI (federation of former Nationalist
chairman]

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
  CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
  OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT,
  UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador DORODJATUN Kuntoro-Jakti
  chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
  San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
  embassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta
  mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, APO AP 96520
  consulate(s) general: Surabaya

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red

Economy—overview: The collapse of the rupiah in late 1997 and early 1998 caused GDP to contract by an estimated 13.7% in 1998 because of Indonesian firms' reliance on short-term dollar-denominated debt and high levels of nonperforming loans in the banking sector. The Indonesian Government initially wavered on meeting the conditions it agreed to in exchange for a $42 billion IMF assistance package, contributing to further loss in investor confidence and outflows of capital. Riots that in many cases targeted ethnic Chinese business owners also set back chances that Indonesia would quickly stabilize its financial crisis and contributed to President SOEHARTO's resignation on 21 May 1998. His successor, B.J. HABIBIE, improved cooperation with the IMF. The money supply—which expanded rapidly early in the year to prop up banks hit by deposit runs—was tightened within a few months, and by October, inflation—which reached a 77% annual rate—was significantly dampened. The government also announced a bank recapitalization program in late 1998, but by early 1999 the plan faced growing challenges over its reliance on public funds. Doubts about whether the program is adequate underlie forecasts of continued—although much less severe—GDP contraction for 1999. Signs of spreading unrest and sectarian violence and concern that social instability will increase as the 7 June 1999 national election approaches also contribute to pessimism about the economy, particularly because foreign investors remain reluctant to begin to increase capital inflows again. The next government will face the challenge of establishing a macroeconomic policy framework that addresses longstanding grievances and inequities underlying much of the current unrest without hampering an economic recovery.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 18.8% industry: 40.3% services: 40.9% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 28.3% (1995)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 41%, trade, restaurant, and hotel 19.8%, manufacturing 14%, construction 4.8%, transport and communications 4.75%, other 15.65% (1997)

Budget:
  revenues: $35 billion (of which $15 billion is from international
  financial institutions)
  expenditures: $35 billion, including capital expenditures of $12
  billion (FY98/99 est.)

Industries: petroleum and natural gas; textiles, apparel, and footwear; mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood; rubber; food; tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 82.34% hydro: 14.97% nuclear: 0% other: 2.69% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs

Exports—commodities: garments 7.9%, textiles 7.3%, gas 6.4%, electrical appliances 5.9%, pulp and paper 5.3%, oil 4.7%, plywood 4.7%

Exports—partners: Japan 18%, EU 15%, US 14%, Singapore 13%, South
Korea 5%, Hong Kong 4%, China 3.9%, Taiwan 3.4% (1998 est.)

Imports—commodities: manufactures 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%,
foodstuffs 7.8%, fuels 7.7%

Imports—partners: Japan 20%, US 13%, Germany 9%, Singapore 9%,
Australia 6.4%, South Korea 5.4%, Taiwan 3.4%, China 3.1% (1998 est.)

Economic aid—recipient: $43 billion from IMF program and other official external financing (1997-2000)

Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1—8,714.3 (January 1999), 10,013.6 (1998), 2,909.4 (1997), 2,342.3 (1996), 2,248.6 (1995), 2,160.8 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic service fair, international service
  good
  domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
  domestic satellite communications system
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
  and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 41 (of which 18 are government-owned and 23 are commercial) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 6,458 km
  narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 km
  double track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 342,700 km
  paved: 158,670 km
  unpaved: 184,030 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km

Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural
gas 1,703 km (1989)

Ports and harbors: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang,
Semarang, Surabaya, Ujungpandang

Merchant marine:
  total: 587 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,707,004
  GRT/3,701,001 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 37, cargo 348, chemical tanker 8, container 20,
  liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 116,
  passenger 9, passenger-cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11,
  short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 5 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 125 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 41 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 318 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 282 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 35,804,125 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 2,268,638 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Indonesian sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province), which is not recognized by the UN, is the subject of discussions between the UN, Indonesia, and Portugal; two islands in dispute with Malaysia

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian
Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Area:
  total: 1.648 million sq km
  land: 1.636 million sq km
  water: 12,000 sq km

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

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: natural prolongation
  exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in
  the Persian Gulf
  territorial sea: 12 nm

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: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium,
copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 27%
  forests and woodland: 7%
  other: 55% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast

Environment—current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 11,963,438; female 11,447,191)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 19,549,935; female 19,276,784)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 1,561,877; female 1,380,527) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.76 years male: 68.43 years female: 71.16 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and
Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%,
other 1%

Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%

Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic
dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish
1%, other 2%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 72.1%
  male: 78.4%
  female: 65.8% (1994 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 25 provinces (ostanha, singular—ostan);
  Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar
  Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,
  Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer
  Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va
  Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
  note: there may be three new provinces named Golestan, Qom, and
  Qazvin

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali
  Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
  head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since
  3 August 1997); First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA
  August 1989)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
  legislative approval
  elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by
  the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a
  four-year term; election last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA
  May 2001)
  election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani elected president;
  percent of vote—(Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 69%

Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
  Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (270 seats; members elected by popular vote
  to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA
  March 2000)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—NA

Political parties and leaders: since President KHATAMI's election
  in May 1997, several political parties have been licensed including
  Executives of Construction, Islamic Iran Solidarity Party, and
  Islamic Partnership Front; other important political groupings are:
  MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA]; Islamic

Political pressure groups and leaders: groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran party; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; the Society for the Defense of Freedom

International organization participation: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Iran has an
  Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by Fariborz
  JAHANSUZAN; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy,
  965-4990

Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note—protecting
power in Iran is Switzerland

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in 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—overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI and has indicated that he will pursue diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy although he has made little progress toward that goal. In the early 1990s, Iran experienced a financial crisis and was forced to reschedule $15 billion in debt. The strong oil market in 1996 helped ease financial pressures on Iran and allowed for Tehran's timely debt service payments. Iran's financial situation tightened in 1997 and deteriorated further in 1998 because of lower oil prices. As a result Iran has begun to cut imports and fall into arrears on its debt payments.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $34.6 billion
  expenditures: $34.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.8
  billion (FY96/97)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 90.57% hydro: 9.43% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Imports—commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products

Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note—domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman

Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1—1,754.63 (January 1999), 1,751.86 (1998), 1,752.92 (1997), 1,750.76 (1996), 1,747.93 (1995), 1,748.75 (1994); black market rate: 7,000 rials per US$1 (December 1998); note—as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750 rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services and for oil exports, whereas the "official export rate" of 3,000 rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered by the official rate

Telephone system:
  domestic: 25 regional telecommunications authorities created in
  1996; these authorities are responsible for implementing paging
  services and cellular systems; microwave radio relay extends
  throughout the country with the system centered in Tehran; system is
  moving toward digitization and direct-dial capability; 255
  long-distance circuits (1999 est.); 366 telephone exchanges (1995
  est.); 204,400 microwave channels (1996 est.); 230,000 cellular
  telephone subscribers (1997 est.); 3,930 pager subscribers (1995
  est.)
  international: 13,985 international circuits (1999 est.) with a plan
  to reach 14,000 by March 1999; satellite earth stations—9 Intelsat
  (with 50 terminals) and 4 Inmarsat; 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; four Internet service providers
  as of 1997 with the number increasing (service limited to electronic
  mail to promote Iranian culture)

Television broadcast stations: 28 (in addition, there are 450 low-power repeaters, all government controlled) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 7,286 km
  broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
  standard gauge: 7,192 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1996
  est.)

Highways:
  total: 162,000 km
  paved: 81,000 km (including 470 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 81,000 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use

Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km;
natural gas 4,550 km

Ports and harbors: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during
  1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr,
  Bandar-e Imam Khomeyni, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e
  Torkaman, Chabahar (Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye
  Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since
  November 1992), Now Shahr

Merchant marine:
  total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,238,293
  GRT/5,658,259 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 46, cargo 35, chemical tanker 4, combination
  bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction
  large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 10, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 110
  over 3,047 m: 38
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
  914 to 1,523 m: 23
  under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 178
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
  914 to 1,523 m: 126
  under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces
  (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces),
  Revolutionary Guards (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and
  Basij-mobilization-forces), Law Enforcement Forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 10,217,269 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); it jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)—over which Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan

Illicit drugs: despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic consumption of narcotics remains a persistent problem and Iranian press reports estimate that there are at least 1.2 million drug users in the country

Background: Iraq lies in the lower part of the Tigris-Euphrates valley, the heart of one of the four great ancient civilizations. The area was overrun by Arab, Mongol, and Turkish conquerors and became a British mandate following World War I. Independence came in 1932. Iraq's pro-Western stance ended in 1958 with the overthrow of the monarchy. Its subsequent turbulent history has witnessed the dictatorship of SADDAM Husayn, civil war with the Kurds, a bloody conflict with neighboring Iran, and, in 1990, an invasion of Kuwait, swiftly turned back by a Western coalition led by the US. Noncooperation with UN Security Council resolution obligations and the UN's inspection of Iraq's nuclear, chemical, biological, and long-range missile weapons programs remain major problems.

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,631 km
  border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi
  Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km

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: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 9%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 79% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'a Muslims, who have 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 Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 4,982,510; female 4,825,129)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 6,030,417; female 5,889,543)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 326,223; female 373,328) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.52 years male: 65.54 years female: 67.56 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 58%
  male: 70.7%
  female: 45% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
  conventional short form: Iraq
  local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
  local short form: Al Iraq

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat,
  singular—muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah,
  An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk,
  Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate
under British administration)

Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970
(provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not
adopted

Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,
civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice
  President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice
  President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since 29 May
  1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979);
  Deputy Prime Minister Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since NA May 1994); Deputy
  Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since NA May 1994)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  note: there is also a Revolutionary Command Council; Chairman SADDAM
  Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
  elections: president and vice presidents elected by a two-thirds
  majority of the Revolutionary Command Council; election last held 17
  October 1995 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: SADDAM Husayn reelected president; percent of
  vote—99%; Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF and Taha Yasin RAMADAN elected
  vice presidents; percent of vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (250 seats; 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent the three northern provinces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah; 220 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 24 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA

Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party [SADDAM Husayn, central party leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders: any formal political activity must be sanctioned by the government; opposition to regime from Kurdish groups and southern Shi'a dissidents

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Iraq has an
Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy headed by Dr. Khairi AL
ZUBAYDI; address: Iraqi Interests Section, Algerian Embassy, 2118

Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note—the US has an
Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad; address: P. O.

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 that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

Economy—overview: Iraq's economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses of at least $100 billion from the war. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity and increased prices. The Iraqi Government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo could be removed. The government's policies of supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. The implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program in December 1996 has helped improve economic conditions. For the first three six-month phases of the program, Iraq was allowed to export $2 billion worth of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods. The UN allowed Iraq to export $5.2 billion of oil beginning with the fourth phase of the program in May 1998. At an average volume of 1.9 million barrels per day during the last half of 1998, oil exports are about three-quarters their prewar level. Per capita food imports have increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services are steadily improving. Per capita output and living standards are still well below the prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 97.83% hydro: 2.17% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep

Debt—external: very heavy relative to GDP but the exact amount is unknown (1998)

Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1—0.3109 (fixed official rate since 1982); black market rate—Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1—1,810 (December 1998), 1,530 (December 1997), 3,000 (December 1995); subject to wide fluctuations

Telephone system: reconstitution of damaged telecommunication
  facilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged facilities have
  been rebuilt
  domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio
  relay links
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1
  Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to
  Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably
  nonoperational

Waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war

Ports and harbors: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have
limited functionality

Merchant marine:
  total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 456,845 GRT/780,318 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, passenger-cargo
  1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 77
  over 3,047 m: 20
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
  914 to 1,523 m: 7
  under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 32
  over 3,047 m: 3
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 10
  under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican
Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force,
Internal Security Forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,058,098 (1999 est.)

Background: Growing Irish nationalism resulted in independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, with six largely Protestant northern counties remaining within the UK. After World War II bloody strife between Catholics and Protestants over the status of Northern Ireland cost thousands of lives. In 1998, substantial steps toward peace were agreed to by the British and Irish governments and the Roman Catholics and Protestants of Northern Ireland.

Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohill 1,041 m

Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper,
gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 68%
  forests and woodland: 5%
  other: 14% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes,
from agricultural runoff

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species,
  Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geography—note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 21% (male 399,379; female 377,366)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,232,072; female 1,213,364)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 174,519; female 236,244) (1999 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.39 years male: 73.64 years female: 79.32 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish

Religions: Roman Catholic 92%, Anglican 3%, Islamic 0.11%,
Jehovah's Witness 0.1%, Jewish 0.04%, other 4.75% (1991)

Languages: English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic)
spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98% (1981 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

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

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
  by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  election last held 31 October 1997 (next to be held NA November
  2004); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and
  appointed by the president
  election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of
  vote—Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%

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 NA August 1997 (next to be held NA
  2002); House of Representatives—last held 6 June 1997 (next to be
  held NA 2002)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—NA; House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—Fianna Fail 76, Fine Gael 53, Labor Party 19,
  Progressive Democrats 4, Democratic Left 4, Greens 2, Sinn Fein 1,
  independents 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders: Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Labor
  note: Prime Minister AHERN heads a two-party coalition consisting of
  Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats; Democratic Left merged
  into the Labor Party on 1 February 1999

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG,
  OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
  UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer),
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Sean O'HUIGINN
  chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Michael SULLIVAN
  embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
  mailing address: use embassy street address

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—overview: Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging 9.5% in 1995-98. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 39% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Over the past decade, the Irish government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb inflation, reduce government spending, and promote foreign investment. Although the unemployment rate has been halved, it remains high, and job creation is a primary concern of government policy. Recent efforts have concentrated on improving workers qualifications and the education system. Ireland joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU nations.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 27.4% (1987)

Labor force—by occupation: services 62.1%, manufacturing and construction 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, utilities 0.9% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $23.5 billion
  expenditures: $20.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998)

Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 95.83% hydro: 3.99% nuclear: 0% other: 0.18% (1996)

Agriculture—products: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Exports—commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment,
industrial machinery, live animals, animal products (1997)

Imports—commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing (1997)

Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1—0.6815 (January
  1999), 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997), 0.6248 (1996), 0.6235 (1995),
  0.6676 (1994)
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 0.78764 Irish pounds per euro; the euro will replace the
  local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwave
  radio relay
  domestic: microwave radio relay
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are 36 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 1,947 km
  broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 km
  double track) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 92,500 km
  paved: 87,042 km (including 80 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,458 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes,
Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford

Merchant marine:
total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 79,284 GRT/117,652 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 28, container 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps),
National Police (Garda Siochana)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 790,155 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Northern Ireland issue with the UK
  (historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); Rockall continental
  shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and
  the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of hashish
  from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced
  synthetic drugs; transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined
  for Western Europe

Background: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below, unless otherwise noted. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, and Israel and Syria, to achieve a permanent settlement between them. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Lebanon

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,006 km
  border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
  Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay,
sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and
crude oil

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 7%
  forests and woodland: 6%
  other: 66% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
  Conservation

Geography—note: there are 216 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1998 est.)

Population: 5,749,760 (July 1999 est.) note: includes about 166,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 19,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, about 6,000 in the Gaza Strip, and about 176,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1998 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 822,192; female 783,905)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 1,792,062; female 1,783,755)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 244,438; female 323,408) (1999 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.61 years male: 76.71 years female: 80.61 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%,
Israel-born 20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish
19.9% (mostly Arab) (1996 est.)

Religions: Judaism 80.1%, Islam 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim),
Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)

Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab
minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 95%
  male: 97%
  female: 93% (1992 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: State of Israel
  conventional short form: Israel
  local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
  local short form: Yisra'el

Capital: Jerusalem
  note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the
  US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel
  Aviv

Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular—mehoz);
Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948; note—Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
  constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948),
  the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli
  citizenship law

Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate
  regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
  legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat
  that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 18 June
  1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet selected from and approved by the Knesset
  elections: president elected by the Knesset for a five-year term;
  election last held 4 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003);
  prime minister elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 29 May 1996 (early elections are scheduled for 17
  May 1999); note—in March 1992, the Knesset approved legislation,
  effective in 1996, which allowed for the direct election of the
  prime minister; under the new law, each voter casts two ballots—one
  for the direct election of the prime minister and one for the party
  in the Knesset; the candidate that receives the largest percentage
  of the popular vote then works to form a coalition with other
  parties to achieve a parliamentary majority of 61 seats; finally,
  the candidate must submit his or her cabinet to the Knesset for
  approval and this must be done within 45 days of the election; in
  contrast to the old system, under the new law, the prime minister's
  party need not be the single-largest party in the Knesset
  election results: Ezer WEIZMAN reelected president by the Knesset
  with a total of 63 votes, other candidate, Shaul AMOR, received 49
  votes (there were seven abstentions and one absence); Binyamin
  NETANYAHU elected prime minister; percent of vote—Binyamin NETANYAHU
  50.4%, Shimon PERES 49.5%

Legislative branch: unicameral Knesset or parliament (120 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 29 May 1996 (early elections are scheduled for
  17 May 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Labor
  Party 34, Likud Party 32, SHAS 10, MERETZ 9, National Religious
  Party 9, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya 7, Hadash-Balad 5, Third Way 4, United
  Arab List 4, United Jewish Torah 4, Moledet 2; note—Likud, Tzomet,
  and Gesher candidates ran on a joint list

Political pressure groups and leaders: Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is critical of government's Lebanon policy

International organization participation: BSEC (observer), CCC,
  CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner),
  PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Zalman SHOVAL chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr. embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv mailing address: PSC 98, Unit 7228, APO AE 09830 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—overview: Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Manufacturing and construction employ about 28% of Israeli workers; agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6%; and services the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and military aid. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR topped 750,000 during the period 1989-98, bringing the population of Israel from the former Soviet Union to one million, one-sixth of the total population and adding scientific and professional expertise of substantial value for the economy's future. The influx, coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early 1990s. But growth began slowing in 1996 when the government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration bonus petered out.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 17% services: 81% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.9% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: public services 31.2%, manufacturing 20.2%, finance and business 13.1%, commerce 12.8%, construction 7.5%, personal and other services 6.4%, transport, storage, and communications 6.2%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $55 billion
  expenditures: $58 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing,
  textiles and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment,
  transport equipment, electrical equipment, potash mining,
  high-technology electronics, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.88% hydro: 0.12% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds,
chemicals, textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metals

Imports—commodities: raw materials, military equipment,
investment goods, rough diamonds, oil, consumer goods

Imports—partners: US 19%, Benelux 12%, Germany 9%, UK 8%, Italy
7%, Switzerland 6% (1997)

Economic aid—recipient: $1.241 billion (1994); note?$1.2 billion from the US (1997)

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1—4.2269 (November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994)

Telephone system: most highly developed system in the Middle East
  although not the largest
  domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
  international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3
  Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 24 (in addition, there are 31 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Highways:
  total: 15,464 km
  paved: 15,464 km (including 56 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 736,419 GRT/855,497 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 1, container 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 31 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen (women); note—historically there have been no separate Israeli military services

Military manpower—availability:
males age 15-49: 1,474,046
females age 15-49: 1,439,569 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,206,320
females age 15-49: 1,173,818 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 50,737
females: 48,546 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin
abuse; drugs primarily arrive in country from Lebanon

Background: Italy failed to secure political unification until the 1860s, thus lacking the military and imperial power of Spain, Britain, and France. The fascist dictatorship of MUSSOLINI after World War I, led to the disastrous alliance with HITLER's Germany and defeat in World War II. Italy was a founding member of the European Economic Community (EEC) and joined in the growing political and economic unification of Western Europe, including the introduction of the euro in January 1999. On-going problems include illegal immigration, the ravages of organized crime, high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of Southern Italy compared with the North.

Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Area:
  total: 301,230 sq km
  land: 294,020 sq km
  water: 7,210 sq km
  note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

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

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) 4,807 m

Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling
natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal

Land use:
  arable land: 31%
  permanent crops: 10%
  permanent pastures: 15%
  forests and woodland: 23%
  other: 21% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

Environment—current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: strategic location dominating central
Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western
Europe

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14% (male 4,161,841; female 3,925,413)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 19,205,293; female 19,285,848)
  65 years and over: 18% (male 4,169,098; female 5,987,637) (1999 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.51 years male: 75.4 years female: 81.82 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-,
French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and
Greek-Italians in the south)

Languages: Italian, 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: 97%
  male: 98%
  female: 96% (1990 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Italian Republic
  conventional short form: Italy
  local long form: Repubblica Italiana
  local short form: Italia
  former: Kingdom of Italy

Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular—regione);
  Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna,
  Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise,
  Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige,
  Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto

Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; 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 Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992)
  head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the
  president of the Council of Ministers) Massimo D'ALEMA (since 27
  October 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
  approved by the president
  elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
  both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a
  seven-year term; election last held 25 May 1992 (next to be held NA
  June 1999); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed
  by parliament
  election results: Oscar Luigi SCALFARO elected president; percent of
  electoral college vote—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists
  of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (326 seats—315 elected by
  popular vote of which 232 are directly elected and 83 are elected by
  regional proportional representation, 11 are appointed
  senators-for-life; members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of
  Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 475 are directly
  elected, 155 by regional proportional representation; members serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 21 April 1996 (next to be held by NA
  April 2001); Chamber of Deputies—last held 21 April 1996 (next to be
  held by NA April 2001)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—Olive Tree 157, Freedom Alliance 116, Northern League 27,
  Refounded Communists 10, regional lists 3, Social Movement-Tricolor
  Flames 1, Panella Reformers 1; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote
  by party—NA; seats by party—Olive Tree 284, Freedom Alliance 246,
  Northern League 59, Refounded Communists 35, Southern Tyrol List 3,
  Autonomous List 2, other 1

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale,
  composed of 15 judges (one-third appointed by the president,
  one-third elected by Parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary
  and administrative supreme courts)

Political pressure groups and leaders: the Roman Catholic Church;
  three major trade union confederations (Confederazione Generale
  D'ANTONI] which is Catholic centrist, and Unione Italiana del Lavoro
  manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria,
  Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori,
  Confagricoltura)

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN,
  EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, G-10, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinando SALLEO chancery: 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 and 2700 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M. FOGLIETTA
  embassy: Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome
  mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
  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

Economy—overview: Since World War II, the Italian economy has changed from one based on agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This basically capitalistic economy is still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed agricultural south, with large public enterprises and more than 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed by industry and over 75% of energy requirements must be imported. In the second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying to participate in EU plans for economic and monetary union later in the decade; thus, it finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Subsequently, the government has adopted fairly stringent budgets, abandoned its inflationary wage indexation system, and started to scale back its generous social welfare programs, including pension and health care benefits. In December 1998, Italy adopted a budget compliant with the requirements of the European Monetary Union (EMU); representatives of government, labor, and employers agreed to an update of the 1993 "social pact," which has been widely credited with having brought Italy's inflation into conformity with EMU requirements. In 1999, Italy must adjust to the loss of an independent monetary policy, which it has used quite liberally in the past to help cope with external shocks. Italy also must work to stimulate employment, promote wage flexibility, and tackle the informal economy.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 33% services: 63.7% (1994)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 23.7% (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $559 billion
  expenditures: $589 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food
processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 80.02% hydro: 18.25% nuclear: 0% other: 1.73%

Agriculture—products: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish

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 16.4%, France 12.2%, US 7.9%, UK 7.1%,
Spain 5.2%, Netherlands 2.8% (1997)

Imports—commodities: engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages and tobacco

Imports—partners: Germany 18.0%, France 13.2%, UK 6.7%,
Netherlands 6.2%, US 5.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 4.7% (1997)

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1—1,688.7 (January
  1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9
  (1995), 1,612.4 (1994)
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 1,936.27 lire per euro; the euro will replace the local
  currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system: modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas—3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarine cables

Television broadcast stations: 6,317 (consisting of 117 public stations with two kW of power or more, about 5,300 low-power public stations, and about 900 low-power private stations, mostly in local service) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 19,272 km
  standard gauge: 17,983 km 1.435-m gauge; Italian Railways (FS)
  operates 15,942 km of the total standard gauge routes (10,889 km
  electrified)
  narrow gauge: 112 km 1.000-m gauge (112 km electrified); 1,177 km
  0.950-m gauge (19 km electrified) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 317,000 km
  paved: 317,000 km (including 9,500 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic,
although of limited overall value

Pipelines: crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km;
natural gas 19,400 km

Ports and harbors: Augusta (Sicily), Bagnoli, Bari, Brindisi,
Gela, Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Milazzo, Naples, Porto Foxi, Porto
Torres (Sardinia), Salerno, Savona, Taranto, Trieste, Venice

Merchant marine:
  total: 393 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,982,870
  GRT/8,413,850 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 46, chemical tanker 60, combination
  ore/oil 2, container 16, liquefied gas tanker 35, livestock carrier
  1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 84, passenger 6,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 53, short-sea passenger 28, specialized
  tanker 12, vehicle carrier 11 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 97 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,200,780 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Italy and Slovenia made progress in resolving bilateral issues; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights

Illicit drugs: important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Land use:
  arable land: 14%
  permanent crops: 6%
  permanent pastures: 24%
  forests and woodland: 17%
  other: 39% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: 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, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and
Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 421,127; female 402,593)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 819,956; female 828,176)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 79,747; female 100,844) (1999 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.62 years male: 73.22 years female: 78.13 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: black 90.4%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.6%

Religions: Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other, including some spiritual cults 34.7%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 85%
  male: 80.8%
  female: 89.1% (1995 est.)

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

Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1
  August 1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since
  30 March 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA
  1993)
  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; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the
  governor general

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 13 seats, opposition eight seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held by March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PNP 50, JLP 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)

Political pressure groups and leaders: Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement or NBM

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
  CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
  OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL
  chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley Louis MCLELLAND
  embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,
  Kingston
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles—green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Economy—overview: Key sectors in this island economy are bauxite (alumina and bauxite account for more than half of exports) and tourism. Since assuming office in 1992, Prime Minister PATTERSON has eliminated most price controls, streamlined tax schedules, and privatized government enterprises. Continued tight monetary and fiscal policies have helped slow inflation—although inflationary pressures are mounting—and stabilize the exchange rate, but have resulted in the slowdown of economic growth (moving from 1.5% in 1992 to 0.5% in 1995). In 1996, GDP showed negative growth (-1.4%) and remained negative through 1998. Serious problems include: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; the weak financial condition of business in general resulting in receiverships or closures and downsizings of companies; the shift in investment portfolios to non-productive, short-term high yield instruments; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a growing internal debt for government bailouts to various ailing sectors of the economy, particularly the financial sector. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend upon encouraging investment in the productive sectors, maintaining a competitive exchange rate, stabilizing the labor environment, selling off reacquired firms, and implementing proper fiscal and monetary policies.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 42.1% services: 50.5% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 31.9% (1991)

Labor force—by occupation: services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.27 billion
  expenditures: $3.66 billion, including capital expenditures of
  $1.265 billion (FY98/99 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 97.96% hydro: 2.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk

Exports—partners: US 33.3%, EU (excluding UK and Norway) 17.1%,
Canada 14.1%, UK 13.4%, Norway 6.1%, Caricom 3.4%

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
construction materials, fuel, food, chemicals

Imports—partners: US 47.7%, EU (excluding UK) 12.8%, Caricom
10.2%, Latin America 6.7%, UK 3.7% (1997)

Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1—35.57 (December 1998), 35.404 (1997), 37.120 (1996), 35.142 (1995), 33.086 (1994)

Telephone system: fully automatic domestic telephone network
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  3 coaxial submarine cables

Railways:
  total: 370 km
  standard gauge: 370 km 1.435-m gauge; note—207 km belong to the
  Jamaica Railway Corporation in common carrier service, but are no
  longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned and used
  to transport bauxite

Ports and harbors: Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston,
Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel
(Longswharf)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,478 GRT/5,878 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 23 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 503,667 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine from Central and South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 10 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 4 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Haakon VII
Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are personnel who operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran) C base and the weather and coastal services radio station

Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered from Oslo through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard); however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service

Economy—overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on the island.

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: radio and meteorological station

Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific
Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

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)

Maritime claims:
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international
  straits—La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western
  Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m

Land use:
  arable land: 11%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 2%
  forests and woodland: 67%
  other: 19% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis

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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 15% (male 9,697,851; female 9,242,027)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 43,405,024; female 43,023,885)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 8,686,347; female 12,126,943) (1999
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.11 years male: 77.02 years female: 83.35 years (1999 est.)

Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1970 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori,
  Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima,
  Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima,
  Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano,
  Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga,
  Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo,
  Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
  head of government: Prime Minister Keizo OBUCHI (since 30 July 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the Diet designates the
  prime minister; the constitution requires that the prime minister
  must command a parliamentary majority, therefore, following
  legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of
  a majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes
  prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (252 seats; one-half of the members elected every three years—76 seats of which are elected from the 47 multi-seat prefectural districts and 50 of which are elected from a single nationwide list with voters casting ballots by party; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (500 seats—200 of which are elected from 11 regional blocks on a proportional representation basis and 300 of which are elected from 300 single-seat districts; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Councillors—last held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA July 2001); House of Representatives—last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2000) election results: House of Councillors—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—LDP 102, DPJ 47, JCP 23, Komeito 22, SDP 13, Liberal Party 12, independents 26, others 7; note—the distribution of seats as of January 1999 is as follows—LDP 104, DPJ 56, Komeito 24, JCP 23, SDP 14, Liberal Party 12, independents 5, others 14; House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—LDP 240, NFP 142, DPJ 52, JCP 26, SDP 15, Sun Party 10, others 15; note—the distribution of seats as of January 1999 is as follows—LDP 266, DPJ 94, Komeito/Reform Club 52, Liberal Party 39, JCP 26, SDP 14, independents 5, others 4

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: Liberal Democratic Party or LDP president, Hirohisa FUJII, secretary general]; Japan Communist Party Katsuyuki ISHIDA, secretary general] note: subsequent to the last legislative elections, the New Frontier Party or NFP and the Sun Party disbanded; the DPJ was formed by former members of the SDP and Sakigake and, in April 1998, was joined by three additional parties which had formed after the NFP disbanded; New Peace Party and Komei merged to form Komeito in November 1998

International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB,
  Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EBRD,
  ESCAP, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UN Security Council
  (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA,
  UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kunihiko SAITO
  chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Hagatna (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
  Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los
  Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San
  Francisco, and Seattle
  consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas S. FOLEY embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004 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—overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) have helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in the world. One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force; this guarantee is eroding. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in 1992-95 largely because of the aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. Growth picked up to 3.9% in 1996, largely a reflection of stimulative fiscal and monetary policies as well as low rates of inflation. But in 1997-98 Japan experienced a wrenching recession, centered about financial difficulties in the banking system and real estate markets and exacerbated by rigidities in corporate structures and labor markets. In early 1999 output has started to stabilize as emergency government spending begins to take hold. The crowding of habitable land area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: trade and services 50%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%, utilities and communication 7%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6%, government 3% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $407 billion
  expenditures: $711 billion, including capital expenditures (public
  works only) of about $86 billion (FY99/00 est.)

Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of steel and nonferrous metallurgy, heavy electrical equipment, construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and parts, electronic and telecommunication equipment, machine tools, automated production systems, locomotives and railroad rolling stock, ships, chemicals; textiles, processed foods

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.47% hydro: 8.34% nuclear: 29.83% other: 0.36% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish

Exports—commodities: manufactures 96% (including machinery 50%, motor vehicles 19%, consumer electronics 3%)

Imports—commodities: manufactures 54%, foodstuffs and raw materials 28%, fossil fuels 16%

Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1—113.18 (January 1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1
  Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); submarine cables to
  China, Philippines, Russia, and US (via Guam)

Television broadcast stations: 7,549 (consisting of 6,995 non-government and non-commercial stations, of which 95 are main stations of 1 kW or greater power and 6,900 are low-power stations, and 554 commercial stations of which 113 are main stations and 441 are repeaters); note—in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable stations (1997)

Railways:
  total: 23,670.7 km
  standard gauge: 2,893.1 km 1.435-m gauge (entirely electrified)
  narrow gauge: 89.8 km 1.372-m gauge (89.8 km electrified); 20,656.8
  km 1.067-m gauge (10,383.6 km electrified); 31 km 0.762-m gauge (3.6
  km electrified) (1994)

Highways:
  total: 1.16 million km
  paved: 859,560 km (including 6,070 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 300,440 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Akita, Amagasaki, Chiba, Hachinohe, Hakodate,
  Higashi-Harima, Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kinuura, Kobe, Kushiro,
  Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Sakaide, Shimizu, Tokyo,
  Tomakomai

Merchant marine:
  total: 713 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,753,027
  GRT/19,311,312 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 54, chemical tanker 13, combination
  bulk 16, combination ore/oil 4, container 27, liquefied gas tanker
  40, oil tanker 232, passenger 10, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated
  cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 48, short-sea passenger 13, vehicle
  carrier 68 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 140 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 28 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan
Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force
(Air Force)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 26,438,961 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and
low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging
habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

Population: uninhabited
  note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally
  used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was
  abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical
  Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use
  permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally
  restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish
  and Wildlife Service

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note—there is one boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Land use:
  arable land: 66%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 34%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 8,308; female 7,663)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 30,168; female 30,754)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 5,348; female 7,480) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.83 years male: 76.08 years female: 81.87 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts

Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir
  Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE
  (since NA 1995)
  cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and
  bailiff appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (57
  seats—53 elected including 12 senators popularly elected for
  six-year terms, half retiring every third year, 12 constables
  popularly elected triennially, and 29 deputies popularly elected
  triennially)
  elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 52

Judicial branch: Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral
college and the bailiff

Flag description: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint
Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the
flag

Economy—overview: The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light tax and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $666.9 million
  expenditures: $618.5 million, including capital expenditures of
  $128.4 million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exports—commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands

Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Summit Peak 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed to the public; former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are 1,200 US military and civilian contractor personnel (January 1999 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
  administered from Washington, DC, by the US Defense Threat Reduction
  Agency (DTRA) and managed cooperatively by DTRA and the Fish and
  Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
  National Wildlife Refuge system

Economy—overview: Economic activity is limited to providing
services to US military personnel and contractors located on the
island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity—production: NAkWh
note: there are six 25,000 kWh generators supplied by the base
operating support contractor

Telephone system: 13 outgoing and 10 incoming commercial lines;
  adequate telecommunications
  domestic: 60-channel submarine cable, 22 DSN circuits by satellite,
  Autodin with standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch,
  Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), UHF/VHF air-ground
  radio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network
  (PCTN) satellite
  international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 5 channels; also 1 local
volunteer FM radio station;, shortwave NA;

Television broadcast stations: commercial satellite television
system, with 16 channels (1997)

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,619 km
  border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km,
  Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

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 1,754 m

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 9%
  forests and woodland: 1%
  other: 85% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 1,005,211; female 954,968)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 1,265,116; female 1,200,372)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 67,852; female 67,628) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.06 years male: 71.15 years female: 75.08 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood among
upper and middle classes

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 86.6%
  male: 93.4%
  female: 79.4% (1995 est.)

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

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)

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King ABDULLAH II (since 7 February 1999)
  head of government: Prime Minister Fayez TARAWNEH (since 20 August
  1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
  with the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
  by the monarch

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Majlis
  al-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the
  monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve
  four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members
  elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
  to serve four-year terms)
  elections: House of Representatives—last held 4 November 1997 (next
  to be held NA November 2001)
  election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land
  Party 1, independents 75, other 2
  note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved
  by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first
  parliamentary elections in 22 years were held

Political parties and leaders: Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party [Dr.
  Ahmad ZO'BI, secretary general]; Arab Ba'th Progressive Party
  Ishaq al-FARHAN, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab Constitutional
  MAJALI, secretary general]; National Democratic Public Movement
  HNEIDI, secretary general]

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OIC,
  OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
  UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHIR chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William BURNS
  embassy: Jabel Amman, Amman
  mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top),
  white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist
  side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on
  the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran

Economy—overview: Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil and coal. Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual real GNP growth averaged more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed real economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports—mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food—outstripped exports, with the difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling negotiations and agreed to implement an IMF-supported program designed to gradually reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed structural reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990, however, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf, but recovery was uneven. A preliminary agreement with the IMF in early 1999 will provide new loans over the next three years. Sluggish growth, along with debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental ongoing economic problems.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 30% services: 64% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 34.7% (1991)

Labor force: 1.15 million note: in addition, there are 300,000 foreign workers (1997 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.8 billion
  expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $672
  million (1999 est.)

Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,
light manufacturing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.64% hydro: 0.36% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry

Exports—commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash,
agricultural products, manufactures

Exports—partners: Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE,
Syria, Ethiopia

Imports—commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment,
food, live animals, manufactured goods

Economic aid—recipient: $1.097 billion (1995); note?received $320 million from ODA in 1998 (est.)

Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1—0.7090 (January 1999-1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993) note: since May 1989, the dinar has been pegged to a basket of currencies

Telephone system:
  domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial and fiber-optic cable, and
  cellular; Jordan has two cellular telephone providers (with
  approximately 50,000 subscribers in 1998), ten data service
  providers, and four Internet service providers (with approximately
  8,000 subscribers in 1998)
  international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and
  29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (1996); coaxial cable,
  fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Saudi Arabia,
  Syria, and Israel; building a Red Sea Fiber-Optic Link Around the
  Globe (FLAG) fiber-optic submarine cable link and planning to update
  links with Saudi Arabia and Israel to fiber-optic cable; 4,000
  international circuits (1998 est.); participant in Medarabtel

Television broadcast stations: 8 (in addition, there are approximately 42 repeaters and 1 TV receive-only satellite link) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 677 km
  narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge; note—an additional 110 km
  stretch of the old Hejaz railroad is out of use (1998 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,746 GRT/59,100 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 2, container 1, livestock carrier 1,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal
  Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air
  Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interior's
  Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis
  situations)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 793,002 (1999 est.)

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 12 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth the of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 10 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 90%
  other: 10%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
  local long form: none
  local short form: Ile Juan de Nova

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Background: As a republic within the USSR (1920-91), Kazakhstan suffered greatly from Stalinist purges, from environmental damage, and saw the ethnic Russian portion of its population rise to 37% while other non-Kazakhs made up almost 20%. Current issues include the pace of market reform and privatization; fair and free elections and democratic reform; ethnic differences between Russians and Kazakhs; environmental problems; and how to convert the country's abundant energy resources into a better standard of living.

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)

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: Zhengis Shingy (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: 12%
  permanent crops: 11%
  permanent pastures: 57%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 16% (1996 est.)

Environment—current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and 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 faulty irrigation practices

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 2,432,519; female 2,359,375)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 5,279,877; female 5,580,271)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 392,934; female 779,849) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.39 years male: 57.92 years female: 69.13 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 46%, Russian 34.7%, Ukrainian 4.9%,
German 3.1%, Uzbek 2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, other 7.1% (1996)

Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq) (state language) 40%, Russian
(official, used in everyday business) 66%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 96% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
  conventional short form: Kazakhstan
  local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
  local short form: none
  former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Capital: Astana note: the government moved from Almaty to Astana in December 1998

Administrative divisions: 14 oblystar (singular—oblysy) and 3 cities (qala, singular—qalasy)*; Almaty, Almaty*, Aqmola (Astana), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau; formerly Gur'yev), Ongtustik Qazaqstan (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan (Petropavl), Zhambyl (Taraz; formerly Dzhambul) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (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 Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (formerly Leninsk)

National holiday: Day of the Republic, 25 October (1990) (date on
which Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty)

Constitution: adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995;
first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the
  Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990-91, president since 1 December
  1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister Nurlan BALGIMBAYEV (since 10
  October 1997) and First Deputy Prime Minister Uraz ZHANDOSOV (since
  20 February 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously
  scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note—President NAZARBAYEV's
  previous term had been extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum
  held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister
  appointed by the president
  election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president; percent
  of vote—Nursultan NAZARBAYEV 82%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 12%
  note: President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers by
  decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and
  dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his
  discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members
  are popularly elected, two from each oblast and Almaty, to serve
  four-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; members are popularly
  elected to serve four-year terms); note—with the oblasts being
  reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37
  elections: Senate—(indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be
  held NA 1999); Majilis—last held 9 December and 23 December 1995
  (next to be held NA 1999)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—party members 13, no party affiliation 34, of which
  "independent" state officials 25, nominated by the president 7,
  elected by popular vote 15; Majilis—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—PUP 24, December National Democratic Party 12,
  Kazakhstan Agrarian Union 5, Confederation of Kazakh Trade Unions 5,
  KPK 2, independents and others 19

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,
  EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer),
  OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Bolat K. NURGALIYEV
  chancery: 1401 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
  consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
  embassy: 99/97A Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
  480091
  mailing address: American Embassy Almaty, Department of State,
  Washington, DC 20521-7030

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 yellow

Economy—overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a relatively large machine building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the collapse of demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since 1991, 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. The December 1996 signing of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium agreement to build a new pipeline from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field to the Black Sea increases prospects for substantially larger oil exports in several years. Kazakhstan's economy turned downward in 1998 with a 2.5% decline in GDP growth due to slumping oil prices and the August financial crisis in Russia. 1999 will also be a difficult year.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 11.5% industry: 32.6% services: 55.9% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 24.9% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 27%, agriculture and forestry 23%, other 50% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.9 billion
  expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials; much of industrial capacity is shut down and/or is in need of repair

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 86.3% hydro: 13.6% nuclear: 0.1% other: 0% (1997)

Exports—commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal

Exports—partners: Russia, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Netherlands,
China, Italy, Germany (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials,
oil and gas, consumer goods

Imports—partners: Russia, Ukraine, US, Uzbekistan, Turkey, UK,
Germany, South Korea (1997)

Exchange rates: tenges per US$1—85.2 (February 1999), 78.30 (1998), 75.44 (1997), 67.30 (1996), 60.95 (1995), 35.54 (1994)

Telephone system: service is poor domestic: landline and microwave radio relay; AMPS standard cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan international: international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat and a new digital satellite earth station established at Almaty; a third satellite earth station at Atyrau provides teleconnectivity to the AT&T network via Intelsat; cable connected by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

Radios: 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program diffusion 6.082 million)

Television broadcast stations: 20 (of which at least eight are government stations and at least 12 are private stations—seven of those are satellite TV relay stations) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 14,400 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 14,400 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1997)

Highways:
  total: 141,000 km
  paved: 104,200 km
  unpaved: 36,800 km (1997 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural
gas 3,480 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen
(Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Military branches: General Purpose Forces (Army), Air Force,
Border Guards, Navy, Republican Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,550,645 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome

Illicit drugs: significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrone); limited government eradication program; cannabis consumed largely in the CIS; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia, North America, and Western Europe from Southwest Asia

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Somalia and Tanzania

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,446 km
  border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
  Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great
Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites,
rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 37%
  forests and woodland: 30%
  other: 25% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; 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; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
  Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 6,244,321; female 6,104,181)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 7,845,083; female 7,826,442)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 343,449; female 445,182) (1999 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.02 years male: 46.56 years female: 47.49 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%,
Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian,
European, and Arab) 1%

Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs
26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%

Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous
indigenous languages

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 78.1%
  male: 86.3%
  female: 70% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
  conventional short form: Kenya
  former: British East Africa

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central,
Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley,
Western

Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997

Legal system: based on 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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14
  October 1978); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14
  October 1978); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote from among the members
  of the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29
  December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president
  appointed by the president
  election results: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of
  vote—Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.12%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.09%,
  Raila ODINGA (NDP) 10.2%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-Kenya) 8.29%,
  Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.71%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held between 1 December 2002 and 30 April 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—KANU 107, FORD-A 1, FORD-K 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president—KANU 6, FORD-Kenya 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by
the president; High Court

Political parties and leaders:
  Toroitich arap MOI]
  SHIKUKU, chairman]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or
  MWANDAWIRO, secretary general]

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Convention
  Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political
  Catholic and other Christian churches; human rights groups; labor
  unions; Muslim organizations; Protestant National Council of

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
  EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP,
  UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel K. CHEMAI
  chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL
  embassy: USAID Building, The Crescent, Parklands, Nairobi (temporary
  location)
  mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831

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—overview: Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997-98. Political violence damaged the tourist industry, and the IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover, El Nino rains destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in 1997 and 1998. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 17% services: 54% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 47.7% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.6 billion
  expenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 10.5% hydro: 81.63% nuclear: 0% other: 7.87% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31%,
consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995)

Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1—61.802 (January 1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations—4 Intelsat

Television broadcast stations: 8 (of which six are government-controlled and two are commercial) (1997)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 21
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 14 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 211
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
  914 to 1,523 m: 113
  under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General
Service Unit of the Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,397,008 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary

Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa

Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the US Navy; however, it is awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and is uninhabited

Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note—on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands and make it the same day throughout the country

Area:
  total: 717 sq km
  land: 717 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes three island groups—Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
  Phoenix Islands

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: 51%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: 3%
  other: 46% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually
November to March; occasional tornadoes

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, Desertication, Endangered
  Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean
  Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands
  in the Pacific Ocean—the others are Makatea in French Polynesia and
  Nauru

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.88 years male: 61.02 years female: 64.98 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
  conventional short form: Kiribati
  note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss
  former: Gilbert Islands

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)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1
  October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka
  TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note—the president is both the chief
  of state and head of government
  head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1
  October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka
  TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); 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 House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president,
  attorney general, and up to eight other ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  note—the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from
  among their members and then those candidates compete in a general
  election; election last held 27 November 1998 (next to be held by NA
  November 2002); vice president appointed by the president
  election results: Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent of
  vote—Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA
  1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni
  Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio
  member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 23 September 1998 (next to be held by NA
  September 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National Progressive Party 11,
  independents 14

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates' courts, judges at all levels are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party [Teatao 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

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU,
  WHO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Kiribati does not have an
embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is
accredited to Kiribati

Flag description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate
bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue
with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Economy—overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national 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. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 7% services: 79% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $33.3 million
  expenditures: $47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
  note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative
  Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service

Merchant marine:
total: 1 passenger-cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291
GRT/1,295 DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)

Military—note: Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ

Background: At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. The North's heavy investment in military forces has produced an army of 1 million troops equipped with thousands of tanks and artillery pieces. Despite growing economic hardships, North Korea continues to devote a significant portion of its scarce resources to the military.

Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Land boundaries: total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 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

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite,
magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar,
hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 14%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 61%
  other: 23% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

Environment—current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 2,800,748; female 2,666,207)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 7,143,969; female 7,447,147)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 412,161; female 915,877) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.07 years male: 67.41 years female: 72.86 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese
community and a few ethnic Japanese

Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and
  syncretic Chondogyo
  note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
  government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
  religious freedom

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99% (1990 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  conventional short form: North Korea
  local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
  local short form: none
  note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to
  their country
  abbreviation: DPRK

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural)
  and 3 special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang
  Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo
  (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province),
  Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong
  City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),
  P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South
  P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do
  (Yanggang Province)

Independence: 9 September 1948, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day

Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998

Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: KIM Chong-il; note—in September 1998, KIM Chong-il
  was reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a
  position accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority";
  KIM Young-nam was named President of the Supreme People's Assembly
  Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the state and
  receiving diplomatic credentials
  head of government: Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998)
  cabinet: renamed DPRK Cabinet (naegak) on 5 September 1998; was
  previously called the State Administrative Council; Cabinet members,
  except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by
  the Supreme People's Assembly
  elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
  election results: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or
  Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—the
  KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without
  opposition; minor parties hold a few seats

Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly

International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICRM,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—North Korea has a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol

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—overview: North Korea is the world's most centrally planned economy. Agricultural land is collectivized, state-owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods, and heavy and military industries have long been developed at the expense of light and consumer industries. Open-air markets since 1995 have gained increasing importance in the distribution of food and consumer goods but private production remains extremely limited. Total economic output has fallen steadily since 1991—perhaps by as much as one-half—when the country's economic ties to the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc collapsed. The slide has also been fueled by serious energy shortages, aging industrial facilities, and a lack of maintenance and new investment. The leadership has tried to maintain a high level of military spending but the armed forces have nonetheless been affected by the general economic decline. Although North Korea has long depended on imports to meet food needs, serious fertilizer shortages in recent years have combined with structural constraints—such as a shortage of arable land and a short growing season—to reduce staple grain output to more than 1 million tons below what the country needs to meet even minimal demand. Widespread famine and disease have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of North Koreans in 1994-98. The US, China, the international community, and nongovernmental organizations have sent aid but the problems remain extremely serious.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 60% services: 15% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $19.3 billion
  expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992 est.)

Industries: military products; machine building, electric power,
  chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper,
  zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food
  processing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 35.29% hydro: 64.71% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs

Exports—commodities: minerals, metallurgical products,
agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)

Exports—partners: Japan 28%, South Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany
4%, Russia 1% (1995)

Imports—commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and
equipment, consumer goods

Imports—partners: China 33%, Japan 17%, Russia 5%, South Korea
4%, Germany 3% (1995)

Economic aid—recipient: $NA; note?an estimated $200 million to $300 million in humanitarian aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 1997

Exchange rates: official: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1—2.15
  (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January
  1990), 2.3 (December 1989); market: North Korean won (Wn) per
  US$1—200

Telephone system:
  domestic: system is being expanded with installation of fiber-optic
  cable nationwide; access traditionally reserved for official and
  business subscribers; public access is expected to increase
  international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
  and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international
  connections through Moscow and Beijing

Railways:
  broad gauge: NA km
  total: 5,000 km
  standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge
  dual gauge: 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1996
  est.)

Ports and harbors: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung),
Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong
(formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan

Merchant marine:
  total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 691,802 GRT/992,789 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multifunction
  large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1,
  short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Civil Security Forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,483,188 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: 33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea

Background: At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved amazing economic growth, with per capita output rising to 13 times the level in the North. Since late 1997, however, the nation has suffered widespread financial and organizational difficulties. Continuing tensions between North and South have raised concerns of provocative military actions by the North.

Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 65%
  other: 13% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest

Environment—current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; driftnet fishing

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
  Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 5,504,333; female 4,874,974)
  15-64 years: 71% (male 16,949,807; female 16,432,951)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 1,192,688; female 1,930,047) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.3 years male: 70.75 years female: 78.32 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Christianity 49%, Buddhism 47%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 99.3%
  female: 96.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Korea
  conventional short form: South Korea
  local long form: Taehan-min'guk
  local short form: none
  note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han-guk" to refer to
  their country
  abbreviation: ROK

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural)
  and 6 special cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,
  Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo,
  Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do,
  Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*,
  Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*

Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President KIM Dae-jung (since 25 February 1998)
  head of government: Prime Minister KIM Chong-p'il (since 3 March
  1998)
  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 18 December 1997 (next to be held by 18
  December 2002); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy
  prime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's
  recommendation
  election results: KIM Dae-jung elected president; percent of
  vote—KIM Dae-jung (NCNP) 40.3%, YI Hoe-chang (GNP) 38.7%, YI In-che
  (NPP) 19.2%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NKP 139, NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16; note—the distribution of seats as of February 1999 was GNP 137, NCNP 105, ULD 53, independents 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the
president subject to the consent of the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Grand National Party or GNP [CHO
  president]
  note: subsequent to the legislative election of April 1996 the
  following parties disbanded—New Korea Party or NKP and Democratic
  Party or DP; New People's Party or NPP merged with the NCNP in
  August 1998

Political pressure groups and leaders: Korean National Council of
  Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation
  of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers'
  Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean
  Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean
  Industries; Korean Traders Association; Korean Confederation of
  Trade Unions

International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS,
  CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador YI Hong-ku
  chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
  Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
  Francisco, and Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen W. BOSWORTH embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001

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—overview: As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago its GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is seven times India's, 13 times North Korea's, and already near the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed certain longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. By the end of 1998 it had recovered financial stability, rebuilding foreign exchange reserves to record levels by running a current account surplus of $40 billion. As of December 1998, the first tentative signs of a rebound in the economy emerged, and most forecasters expect GDP growth to turn positive at least in the second half of 1999. Seoul has also made a positive start on a program to get the country's largest business groups to swap subsidiaries to promote specialization, and the administration has directed many of the mid-sized conglomerates into debt-workout programs with creditor banks. Challenges for the future include cutting redundant staff, which reaches 20%-30% at most firms and maintaining the impetus for structural reform.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 43% services: 51% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $100.4 billion
  expenditures: $100.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.18% hydro: 2.65% nuclear: 36.17% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Exports—commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish

Imports—commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains

Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1—1,174.00 (January 1999), 1,401.44 (1998), 951.29 (1997), 804.45 (1996), 771.27 (1995), 803.45 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
  domestic: NA
  international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth
  stations—3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1
  Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

Television broadcast stations: 121 (in addition, there are 850 relay stations and eight-channel American Forces Korea Network) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 6,240 km
  standard gauge: 6,240 km 1.435-m gauge (525 km electrified) (1998
  est.)

Highways:
  total: 63,500 km
  paved: 46,800 km (including 1,720 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 16,700 km (1998 est.)

Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km; note—additionally, there is a parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being completed

Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o,
P'ohang, Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu

Merchant marine:
  total: 442 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,212,089
  GRT/8,161,845 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 133, chemical tanker 36, combination
  bulk 5, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 13, multifunction
  large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 56, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo
  22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized
  tanker 3, vehicle carrier 9 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 68 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National
Maritime Police (Coast Guard)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,890,144 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Demarcation Line with North Korea;
Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) claimed by Japan

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Land boundaries: total: 464 km border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 8%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 92% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to
  April; they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads
  and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year,
  but are most common between March and August

Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water
  resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated
  desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water
  pollution; desertification

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine
  Dumping

Population: 1,991,115 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 1,220,935 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 343,461; female 285,129)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 850,689; female 468,618)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 26,593; female 16,625) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.88% (1999 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of expatriates

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.6 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.58 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.15 years male: 75.11 years female: 79.3 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%,
Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu,
Parsi, and other 15%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 78.6%
  male: 82.2%
  female: 74.9% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: State of Kuwait
  conventional short form: Kuwait
  local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
  local short form: Al Kuwayt

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli

Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in
personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or
  more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male
  descendants at age 21
  note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
  naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but
  have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the
  first time

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
  December 1977)
  head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah
  al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime
  Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992);
  Second Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim Al Sabah (since
  7 October 1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
  approved by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
  deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis
  al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 7 October 1996 (next to be held approximately
  October 2000)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 50;
  note—all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the
  National Assembly

Political pressure groups and leaders: several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James A. LAROCCO embassy: Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City mailing address: P.O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait; Unit 69000, APO AE 09880-9000

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

Economy—overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels—10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait lacks water and has practically no arable land, thus preventing development of agriculture. With the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. The economy improved moderately in 1994-97, but in 1998 suffered from the large decline in world oil prices. The Kuwaiti cabinet approved a reform package in January 1999, including reducing subsidies and increasing taxes on large consumer goods. Nevertheless, Kuwait anticipates continuing budget deficits for the next few years. Kuwait is attracting foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 1.1 million (1996 est.) note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: government and social services 50%, services 40%, industry and agriculture 10% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $8.1 billion
  expenditures: $14.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY98/99 budget est.)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food
processing, construction materials, salt, construction

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: Japan 24%, India 16%, US 13%, South Korea 11%,
Singapore 8% (1997)

Imports—commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and
parts, clothing

Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1—0.3018 (January 1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984 (1995), 0.2976 (1994)

Telephone system: the civil network suffered some damage as a result of the Gulf war, but most of the telephone exchanges were left intact and, by the end of 1994, domestic and international telecommunications had been restored to normal operation; 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, open wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait (with approximately 150,000 subscribers in 1996) and the country is well supplied with pay telephones; approximately 15,000 Internet subscribers in 1996 international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Arabsat

Television broadcast stations: 13 (in addition, there are several satellite channels) (1997)

Ports and harbors: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina'
'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud

Merchant marine:
  total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,509,061 GRT/4,046,739
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 10, container 6, liquefied gas tanker
  7, livestock carrier 3, oil tanker 22 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 4
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
National Guard, Coast Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 425,126 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands disputed by Saudi Arabia

Background: A country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan became part of the Russian empire in 1864. In the Czarist and Soviet periods, Russian managers and technicians were sent to Kyrgyzstan and have recently made up more than one-fifth of the population. Many Russians have been returning home since Kyrgyzstan gained its independence in 1991 when the USSR collapsed. Privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy and political freedoms, and inter-ethnic relations are current issues.

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,878 km
  border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870
  km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

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-Darya 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Natural resources: abundant hydroelectric potential; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 44%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 45% (1993 est.)
  note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 804,502; female 788,076)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 1,308,145; female 1,362,140)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 105,442; female 177,750) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.57 years male: 59.25 years female: 68.1 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8%

Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz)—official language, Russian?official
  language
  note: in March 1996, the Kyrgyzstani legislature amended the
  constitution to make Russian an official language, along with
  Kirghiz, in territories and work places where Russian-speaking
  citizens predominate

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 99%
  female: 96% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
  conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
  local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
  local short form: none
  former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 6 oblasttar (singular—oblast) and 1
  city* (singular—shaar); 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)

Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993 note: amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jumabek IBRAIMOV (since NA
  December 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000);
  prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of
  vote—Askar AKAYEV 75%; note—elections were held early which gave the
  two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have
  orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of
  whom was a major rival

Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Assembly of People's Representatives—last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Legislative Assembly—last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Assembly of People's Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA; note—not all of the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly; Legislative Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA; note—not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for 10-year
terms by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president;
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD
JEKSHEYEV, chairman]; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE
MASALIYEV, chairman]; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Unity Democratic
Movement; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs;

International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
  ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne M. SIGMUND embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz 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 Kirghiz yurt

Economy—overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization program, which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 15% for 1997, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production have been severe since the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salary arrears continue to suffer. Foreign assistance played a substantial role in the country's economic turnaround in 1996-97. The government has adopted a series of measures to combat some of the severe economic problems such as excessive debt and inadequate revenue collection, encountered in 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 47% industry: 12% services: 41% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.2% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 40%, industry and construction 19%, other 41% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $225 million
  expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $11
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals

Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1998 est.) note: the gold industry spurted in 1998 giving industry as a whole a boost on a small base while the rest of the economy, including agriculture, lagged

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 9.56% hydro: 90.44% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool

Exports—commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Imports—commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear

Exchange rates: soms (KGS) per US$1—30.25 (February 1999), 20.838 (1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810 (1996), 10.822 (1995), 10.842 (1994)

Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider, probably only limited to Bishkek region international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations—1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—one
state-run radio broadcast station

Radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers
for program diffusion 748,000)

Television broadcast stations: NA (repeater stations throughout
the country relay programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and
Turkey) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
  lines
  broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Highways:
  total: 18,500 km
  paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 1,646 km (1996 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense note: border troops controlled by Russia

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 930,017 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia

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

Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 3%
  forests and woodland: 54%
  other: 40% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.) note: rainy season irrigation—2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation—750 sq km (1998 est.)

Environment—current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 1,235,797; female 1,203,520)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 1,360,991; female 1,434,378)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 78,195; female 94,572) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.21 years male: 52.63 years female: 55.87 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%,
Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien)
9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 60%
  male: 70%
  female: 48% (1998 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February
  1998); Vice President OUDOM Khattiya (since 26 February 1998)
  head of government: Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since 26
  February 1998); Senior Deputy Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit
  (since 20 April 1996); Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI Keoboualapha
  (since 15 August 1991), CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 26 February
  1998), SOMSAVAT Lengsavad (since 26 February 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
  by the National Assembly
  elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
  five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held
  NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president with the
  approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
  election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of
  National Assembly vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (99 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note—by
  presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats
  increased from 85 to 99)
  elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—LPRP
  or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99

Judicial branch: 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 pressure groups and leaders: noncommunist political
groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador VANG Rattanavong chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546

Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Economy—overview: The government of Laos?one of the few remaining official communist states—has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking—growth averaged 7% in 1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it fell victim to the financial crisis in the region beginning in 1997. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is glutinous rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 51% industry: 21% services: 28% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $230.2 million
  expenditures: $365.9 million, including capital expenditures of $317
  million (1996)

Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.04% hydro: 99.96% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Agriculture—products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1—4,217 (January 1999),
  3,299.21 (1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995),
  717.67 (1994)
  note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was
  adopted

Telephone system: service to general public is poor but improving, with over 28,000 telephones currently in service and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station—1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 9
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 43
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 17
  under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 648,087 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1998—26,100 hectares, a 7% decrease over 1997; estimated potential production in 1998—140 metric tons, a 33% decrease over 1997); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamines produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis

Background: Along with most of the other small nations of Europe, Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in 1994. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Estonia and Lithuania

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,150 km
  border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
  Russia 217 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 13%
  forests and woodland: 46%
  other: 14% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 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: 0.47 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.3 years male: 61.24 years female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%,
Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 99% (1989 est.)

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

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, Leipaja*,
  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

Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21
  November 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
  appointed by the Parliament
  elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
  (amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last
  held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 1999); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first
  round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote—Guntis ULMANIS
  53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms—amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997) elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%; seats by party—People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are
confirmed by Parliament

Political parties and leaders: New Party [Raimonds PAULS];
V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front
ADAMSONS]

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723

Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

Economy—overview: Developments in 1998 include an invitation to join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial troubles. Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring initially hit Latvia's exporters—Russia is among Latvia's top three trade partners—but also prompted them to seek alternative markets. Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus. Its draft 1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%. Privatization of large state utilities—especially the energy sector—was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999. EU accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold growth to around 2.5% in 1999.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.33 billion
  expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 28.12% hydro: 71.88% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish

Exports—commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and
equipment, textiles, foodstuffs

Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1—0.570 (January 1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)

Telephone system: Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to
  privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns; 50,000 people are on the
  waiting list to receive telephone service; Internet service is
  available throughout Latvia
  domestic: local—two cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
  standards provide service nationwide; over 75% of population
  covered; intercity—two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-optic
  rings form the national backbone; 11 digital switching centers, 3
  service centers
  international: Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity to
  Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to
  Sweden

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—there are 25 stations of unknown type; 75% of commercial broadcasts must be in the Latvian language; remainder mostly in Russian and European languages

Television broadcast stations: 30 (origin of TV broadcasts must
be 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)

Televisions: NA; note—almost 100% of the population have TV
access, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)

Railways:
  total: 2,412 km
  broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
  narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
  total: 55,942 km
  paved: 21,426 km
  unpaved: 34,516 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,429 GRT/44,583 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with
Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
  Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and
  Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to
  CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and
  ecstasy for export

Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which ended in 1991. Under the Ta'if Accord—the blueprint for national reconciliation—the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed six cabinets, conducted two legislative elections, and held their first municipal elections in 35 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000 troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m

Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state
in a water-deficit region

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 9%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 8%
  other: 61% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
  Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution
  signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
  Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geography—note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 535,596; female 515,776)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 1,084,121; female 1,196,678)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 105,133; female 125,395) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.93 years male: 68.34 years female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups—Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally recognized Christian groups—4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 86.4%
  male: 90.8%
  female: 82.2% (1997 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
  conventional short form: Lebanon
  local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
  local short form: Lubnan

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan

Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

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 Salim al-HUSS (since 4 December
  1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
  the president and members of the National Assembly; the current
  Cabinet was formed in 1998
  elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
  term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2004);
  prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
  in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president
  is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and
  the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
  election results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly
  vote—118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in the summer of 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA (one-half Christian and one-half Muslim)

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord) rules on constitutionality of laws; Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
  PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Farid ABBOUD chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David SATTERFIELD embassy: Antelias, Beirut mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002

Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

Economy—overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy has made impressive gains since the launch of "Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 before Israel's Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996 stunted economic activity. During 1992-98, annual inflation fell from more than 100% to 5%, and foreign exchange reserves jumped to more than $6 billion from $1.4 billion. Burgeoning capital inflows have generated foreign payments surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained relatively stable. Progress also has been made in rebuilding Lebanon's war-torn physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere, a $2-billion firm, is managing the reconstruction of Beirut's central business district; the stock market reopened in January 1996; and international banks and insurance companies are returning. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has had to fund reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange reserves and boosting borrowing. Reducing the government budget deficit is a major goal of the LAHUD government. The stalled peace process and ongoing violence in southern Lebanon could lead to wider hostilities that would disrupt vital capital inflows. Furthermore, the gap between rich and poor has widened in the 1990's, resulting in grassroots dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of the reconstruction's benefits and leading the government to shift its focus from rebuilding infrastructure to improving living conditions.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 23% services: 73% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 1 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(1996 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: services 62%, industry 31%,
agriculture 7% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $4.9 billion
  expenditures: $7.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 87.72% hydro: 12.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats

Exports—commodities: foodstuffs and tobacco 20%, textiles 12%, chemicals 11%, metal and metal products 11%, electrical equipment and products 10%, jewelry 10%, paper and paper products 8% (1997)

Exports—partners: Saudi Arabia 14%, UAE 9%, France 7%, Syria 6%,
US 6%, Kuwait 4%, Jordan 4%, Turkey 4%

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs 29%, machinery and transport equipment 28%, consumer goods 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 5%, metals 5%, fuels 3%, agricultural foods 3% (1997)

Imports—partners: Italy 13%, US 9%, France 9%, Germany 8%,
Switzerland 7%, Japan 4%, UK 4%, Syria 4% (1997)

Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1—1,508.0 (January 1999), 1,516.1 (1998), 1,539.5 (1997), 1,571.4 (1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994)

Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding well underway domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1 note: government is licensing a limited number of the more than 100 AM and FM stations operated sporadically by various factions that sprang up during the civil war

Railways: total: 222 km standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)

Ports and harbors: Al Batrun, Al Mina', An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az
Zahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre

Merchant marine:
  total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 267,562 GRT/403,252 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 41, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
  1, combination ore/oil 1, container 3, livestock carrier 6,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, vehicle carrier 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army,
Navy, and Air Force)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 573,093 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

Illicit drugs: inconsequential producer of hashish and heroin; some heroine and cocaine processing mostly in the Bekaa valley; a Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign started in the early 1990s has practically eliminated the opium and cannabis crops

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some
diamonds and other minerals

Land use:
  arable land: 11%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: 66%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 23% (1993 est.)

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, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 424,355; female 422,892)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 573,285; female 610,636)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 40,604; female 57,178) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.99 years male: 51.37 years female: 54.65 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 71.3%
  male: 81.1%
  female: 62.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
  conventional short form: Lesotho
  former: Basutoland

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,
Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek,
Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to
  the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on
  16 January 1996); note—King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne
  (November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile
  head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since NA May
  1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of
  the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993
  election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no
  executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college
  of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of
  succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the
  successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (33 members—22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by
  the ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members elected by
  popular vote for five-year terms); note—number of seats in the
  Assembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election
  elections: last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held in late 1999 or
  early 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—LCD 61%; seats by
  party—LCD 79, BCP 1
  note: results contested; LCD, with only 61% of the vote, won 79 out
  of 80 parliamentary seats based on a historical political consensus
  for a "winner take all" formula

Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice appointed by the
monarch; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or
traditional court

Political parties and leaders:
MOSISILI, leader; Shakhane MOKHEHLE, secretary general]

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
  SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON
  embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
  mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho

Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
  corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a
  large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a
  diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner

Economy—overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's only important natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has declined steadily over the past several years. In 1996 their remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of roughly 67% in 1990. A small manufacturing base depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties that will be an important source of income for Lesotho. The pace of parastatal privatization has increased in recent years. Civil disorder in September 1998 destroyed 80% of the commercial infrastructure in Maseru and two other major towns. Most firms were not covered by insurance, and the rebuilding of small and medium business will be a significant challenge in terms of both economic growth and employment levels.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 42% services: 44% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4% (1986-87)

Labor force—by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa

Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment
effecting more than half of the labor force (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $507 million
  expenditures: $487 million, including capital expenditures of $170
  million (FY96/97 est.)

Electricity—production: 0 kWh (1995) note: electricity supplied by South Africa

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exports—commodities: manufactures 65% (clothing, footwear, road
vehicles), wool and mohair 7%, food and live animals 7% (1996)

Exports—partners: South African Customs Union 66%, North America
26%, EU 4% (1996)

Imports—commodities: food; building materials, vehicles,
machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)

Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1—5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994); note—the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand

Telephone system: rudimentary system domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 2.6 km; note—owned by, operated by, and included in the
  statistics of South Africa
  narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and
Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 271,925 (1999 est.)

Background: The 1995 Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000 factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG). Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19 July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted formal economic activity. A short-lived armed clash in September 1998 between government forces and supporters of factional leader Roosevelt JOHNSON and continuing uncertainty about the security situation have slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of the war-torn country. For two centuries the US has had uniquely close ties to Liberia and today is a major aid donor.

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,585 km
  border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
  306 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 59%
  forests and woodland: 18%
  other: 19% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to March)

Environment—current issues: tropical rain forest subject to
deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of
coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94
  signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
  Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 656,101; female 649,389)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 775,429; female 738,904)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 50,126; female 53,776) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 18.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: evidence from UNHCR indicates Liberians are being repatriated

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.88 years male: 57.2 years female: 62.64 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves)

Languages: English 20% (official), about 20 tribal 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: 38.3%
  male: 53.9%
  female: 22.4% (1995 est.)
  note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school
  system

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August
  1997); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August
  1997); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
  (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
  July 2001)
  election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent
  of vote—Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF
  (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
  Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
  terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected
  by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA
  2001); House of Representatives—last held 19 July 1997 (next to be
  held in NA 2001)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives—percent of
  vote by party—NA; seats by party—NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of
  Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1; note—the Alliance of Political
  Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the LUP

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
  ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Rachel DIGGS
  chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Donald
  PETTERSON
  embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia
  mailing address: use embassy street address

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—overview: A civil war in 1989-97 has 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 returned during 1997. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depends on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government, including the encouragement of foreign investment.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Imports—commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs

Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1—1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1—40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992); market rate floats against the US dollar

Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
  radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0
note: two of the FM radio stations are limited to a small area

Radios: 675,000 (1995 est.); note—10,000 windup radios were
distributed in the country prior to the 1997 election

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are four
low-power repeaters; the station is located in Monrovia) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 480 km (328 km single track); note—three rail systems owned
  and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction
  with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad,
  closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were
  shut down by the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have
  been dismantled; approximately 60 km of railroad track was exported
  for scrap
  standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: NA km 1.067-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 10,037 km (there is major deterioration on all highways due
  to lack of maintenance since the civil war began)
  paved: 603 km
  unpaved: 9,434 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,651 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,804,012
  GRT/96,650,752 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 4, bulk 408, cargo 106, chemical tanker
  176, combination bulk 25, combination ore/oil 50, container 193,
  liquefied gas tanker 89, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil
  tanker 413, passenger 37, refrigerated cargo 69, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 19, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 12, vehicle
  carrier 45
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 54
  countries among which are Germany 186, US 161, Norway 142, Greece
  144, Japan 124, Hong Kong 100, China 53, UK 32, Singapore 39, and
  Monaco 38 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 356,825 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,383 km
  border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km,
  Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line—32 degrees 30 minutes north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 8%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 91% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment—current issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
  Sea

Population: 4,992,838 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 161,251 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 930,661; female 891,046)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 1,545,958; female 1,437,120)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 93,726; female 94,327) (1999 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.73 years male: 73.81 years female: 77.74 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in
the major cities

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 76.2%
  male: 87.9%
  female: 63% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
  conventional short form: Libya
  local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
  al Ishtirakiyah
  local short form: none

Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

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

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

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
  (Premier) Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH (since NA January 1998)
  cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
  People's Congress
  elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
  peoples' committees; head of government elected by the General
  People's Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA)
  election results: Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH elected head of
  government; percent of General People's Congress vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples' committees)

Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
  ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all
embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980

Flag description: plain green; green is the traditional color of
Islam (the state religion)

Economy—overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Low oil prices in 1998 cut back revenue sharply, and GDP growth fell by 1%. In this statist society, import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP; it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 do not have a major impact on the economy although they have increased transaction and transportation costs.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 55% services: 40% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%

Budget:
  revenues: $3.6 billion
  expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; beef, eggs

Imports—partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey,
Tunisia, Eastern Europe

Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1—0.3799 (November 1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994); official rate: 0.45 (December 1998)

Telephone system: telecommunications system is being modernized;
  cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
  domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
  tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
  stations
  international: satellite earth stations—4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and
  NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave
  radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece;
  participant in Medarabtel

Television broadcast stations: 12 (in addition, there is one low-power repeater) (1997)

Railways:
  note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all
  previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to
  construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier
  to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a
  mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made
  jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum,
  Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has
  been reported

Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km

Ports and harbors: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah,
Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah

Merchant marine:
  total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 588,928 GRT/989,662 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 3,
  oil tanker 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 60
  over 3,047 m: 24
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 83
  over 3,047 m: 5
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
  914 to 1,523 m: 42
  under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 816,186 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria

Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km

Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 16%
  forests and woodland: 35%
  other: 25% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 3,076; female 2,949)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 11,209; female 11,247)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 1,484; female 2,092) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.11 years male: 75.64 years female: 80.69 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 10 and over can read and write
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100% (1981 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
  conventional short form: Liechtenstein
  local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
  local short form: Liechtenstein

Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden,
singular—Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken,
Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of
Liechtenstein established)

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
  executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und
  zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
  head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15
  December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2
  February 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
  elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
  appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
  the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the
  deputy head of government by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members
  are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation
  to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL
  8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior
Court or Obergericht

International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have
an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in
routine diplomatic matters

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—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 the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes—the maximum tax rate is 18%—and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700 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 is a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

Labor force—by occupation: industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $455 million
  expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Exports—commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products,
stamps, hardware, pottery

Imports—commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1—1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)

Telephone system: automatic telephone system
  domestic: NA
  international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
  relay

Radio broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station in Triesen
note: linked to Swiss networks

Railways:
  total: 18.5 km; note—owned, operated, and included in statistics of
  Austrian Federal Railways
  standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

Disputes—international: claims 1,600 sq km of property in the
  Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech
  Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February
  1948, when the communists seized power

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,273 km
  border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
  Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet,
moderate winters and summers

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m

Land use:
  arable land: 35%
  permanent crops: 12%
  permanent pastures: 7%
  forests and woodland: 31%
  other: 15% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 365,149; female 350,070)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,156,161; female 1,239,145)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 160,963; female 313,478) (1999 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: 0.51 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.96 years male: 62.91 years female: 75.31 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%,
Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%

Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran,
Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam,
Judaism

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 98% (1989 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular—rajonas)
  and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,
  Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*,
  Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko
  Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu
  Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos
  Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*,
  Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa*
  Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio
  Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas,
  Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku
  Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes
  Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas,
  Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas,
  Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus
  Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)
  head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November
  1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  nomination of the premier
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be
  held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of
  the Parliament
  election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of
  vote—Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%

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 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be
  held NA October 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—TS 69,
  LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
  EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE,
  PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723

Economy—overview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 5.1%, and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997 and 4.5% in 1998. Foreign direct investment and the privatization program maintained their momentum in 1998. However, the current account deficit has hovered around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995—the result of greater demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports. Reducing this deficit is the immediate economic challenge for 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 32% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.5 billion
  expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 9.65% hydro: 3.03% nuclear: 87.32% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, mineral
products 16%, textiles 15%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs 8% (1997)

Exports—partners: Russia 24%, Germany 11%, Belarus 10%, Latvia
9%, Ukraine 9% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 30%, mineral
products 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 8%, foodstuffs (1997)

Exchange rates: litai per US$1—4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications and Informatics,
  Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs oversee
  Lithuania's telecommunications; the national operator is Lietuvos
  Telomas; Internet is available
  domestic: local—three cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
  standards provide services nationwide; 80% of customers are on the
  two GSM networks; 157,000 cellular customers; intercity—Lithuania is
  close to completing its fiber-optic backbone consisting of two small
  rings inside a larger ring
  international: Lithuania has international fiber-optic connectivity
  to Latvia, Poland, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden

Televisions: NA; note—93% of the population have TV, 30% have cable or satellite dish, and 16% own VCRs (1996)

Railways: total: 2,002 km broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Highways:
  total: 68,161 km
  paved: 60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 7,634 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 316,616 GRT/353,683 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar
  carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,
  short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 71 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
(Skat)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 713,436 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights);
1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit
drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to
Western Europe and Scandinavia

Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow
valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope
down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Burgplatz 559 m

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 21%
  other: 34%

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental
  Modification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 39,701; female 37,998)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 146,336; female 140,717)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 26,201; female 38,127) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.65 years male: 74.58 years female: 80.83 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend),
Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100% (1980 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
  conventional short form: Luxembourg
  local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
  local short form: Luxembourg

National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir
  Apparent Prince HENRI (son of the monarch, born 16 April 1955)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1
  January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July
  1984)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch, responsible
  to the Chamber of Deputies
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and vice
  prime minister appointed by the monarch but are responsible to the
  Chamber of Deputies

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 12 June 1994 (next to be held by 13 June 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—CSV
  21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension
  Rights 5, Greens 5
  note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members
  who are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose views are
  considered by the Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de
  Justice, judges are appointed for life by the monarch;
  Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges are
  appointed for life by the monarch

Political pressure groups and leaders: group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation

International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group,
  Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW,
  OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marie MURRAY embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 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)

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—overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 22% services: 77% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 226,500 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) (1998 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: services 83.2%, industry 14.3%, agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.46 billion
  expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals,
metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 90.12% hydro: 9.88% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products

Exports—commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products

Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes; note—centimes no longer in use

Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1—34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994); note—the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 40.3399 francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Railways:
  total: 275 km
  standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 km
  double track) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 5,137 km
  paved: 5,086 km (including 123 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 51 km (1996 est.)
  note: one source lists roads 2,863 km; expressways 115 km

Merchant marine:
  total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,033,045 GRT/1,480,023
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas tanker 13,
  oil tanker 6, passenger 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, vehicle carrier
  1 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 88,813 (1999 est.)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 98% (1998 est.)

Environment—international agreements:
party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges
connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on
mainland

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 54,456; female 50,912)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 142,575; female 158,132)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 12,547; female 18,690) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.88 years male: 78.79 years female: 85.13 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 90%
  male: 93%
  female: 86% (1981 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau

Dependency status: Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; note—scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular—concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's
  future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's
  National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20
  December 1999

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO of Portugal (since 9 March
  1996)
  head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA
  (since 20 March 1991)
  cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members—five
  appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five
  elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies,
  one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two
  represent economic interests), and three statutory members
  elections: Portuguese president elected by popular vote for a
  five-year term; governor general appointed by the Portuguese
  president after consultation with the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—APPEM 2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UNIPRO 2, UPD 1, ANMD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates
including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year
terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Uniao Promotora para o Progresso
note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations
are used instead

Political pressure groups and leaders: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration

International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Chinese territory
under Portuguese administration)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices in
Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in
Hong Kong

Economy—overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries—toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods. Macau is scheduled to revert to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: industry 28%, restaurants and hotels 28%, other services 44%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.3 billion
  expenditures: $1.07 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics, cement, footwear, machinery

Imports—commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods,
fuels, lubricants

Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1—7.74 (1998), 7.99 (1997), 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note—linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar

Telephone system: fairly modern communication facilities
  maintained for domestic and international services
  domestic: NA
  international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to
  international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and
  China; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 66,744 (1999 est.)

Military—note: defense is currently the responsibility of
Portugal, but will become the responsibility of China on 20 December
1999

@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of —————————————————————

Land boundaries:
  total: 748 km
  border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)

Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall

Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and
valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country
bisected by the Vardar River

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m

Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten,
nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: 39%
  other: 10% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection 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

Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.)
  note: the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put the
  population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely
  undercounted

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 243,190; female 228,491)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 680,692; female 673,923)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.05 years male: 70.93 years female: 75.34 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,
Gypsies 3%, other 2%

Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%,
Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Country name:
  conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
  conventional short form: none
  local long form: Republika Makedonija
  local short form: Makedonija
  abbreviation: FYROM

Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular—opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30
  November 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
  the deputies in the Assembly; note—cabinet formed by the government
  coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999)
  election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of
  vote—Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats—85
  members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of
  candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties
  gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held
  NA 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VMRO
  49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected
by the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of
president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization—Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or

International organization participation: BIS (pending member),
  CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)

Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field

Economy—overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20.4% industry: 38.6% services: 41% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.); note—many employed workers
are, in fact, furloughees

Budget:
  revenues: $1.06 billion
  expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel,
textiles, wood products, tobacco

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 19.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Exports—commodities: food, beverages, tobacco 17.0%, machinery
and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%

Imports—partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany,
Bulgaria, Italy, Austria

Exchange rates: denars per US$1—52.156 (January 1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995), 43.263 (1994)

Television broadcast stations: 136 (of which 22 are main stations and 114 are low-power stations) (1997)

Railways: total: 922 km standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1997)

Highways:
  total: 10,591 km
  paved: 5,500 km (including 133 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,091 km (1997 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 10
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 6
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 434,468 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: dispute with Greece over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA), which is now a member party of the government, calls for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and allow for regional autonomy

Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 41%
  forests and woodland: 40%
  other: 14% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: soil erosion results from
  deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water
  contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several
  species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine
  Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location
along Mozambique Channel

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.24 years male: 52.01 years female: 54.51 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),
  Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab
  ancestry—Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French,
  Indian, Creole, Comoran

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 80%
  male: 88%
  female: 73% (1990 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
  conventional short form: Madagascar
  local long form: Republique de Madagascar
  local short form: Madagascar
  former: Malagasy Republic

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo,
Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional
Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO
  (since NA 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime
  minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates
  nominated by the National Assembly
  election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of
  vote—Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
  to serve four-year terms); note—the legislature is scheduled to
  become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate;
  two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional
  assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the
  remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president;
  the total number of seats will be determined by the National
  Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms
  elections: National Assembly—last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held
  NA 2002)
  election results: National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6,
  MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents
  34

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High
Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)

Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth of
  RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or
  and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo
  RAZANAMASY]

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of
Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair
  Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO
  chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T.
  PERLOW
  embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
  mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Economy—overview: Madagascar suffers from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 32% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 13% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $477 million
  expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 41.18% hydro: 58.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Exports—commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish,
sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)

Exports—partners: France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%,
Reunion 5.7% (1996)

Imports—commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods
28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)

Imports—partners: France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%,
Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)

Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1—5,468.5 (January 1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994)

Telephone system: system is above average for Africa domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small
portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)

Merchant marine:
  total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1,
  oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention
Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces—includes Navy and Air
Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all
administered by France)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild
varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point
for heroin

Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

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 3,002 m

Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 39%
  other: 23% (1993 est.)

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 2,265,526; female 2,246,135)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 2,580,125; female 2,637,464)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 112,813; female 158,353) (1999 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.3 years male: 36.49 years female: 36.11 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga,
Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%,
traditional indigenous beliefs

Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other
languages important regionally

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 56.4%
  male: 71.9%
  female: 41.8% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
  conventional short form: Malawi
  former: Nyasaland

Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
  Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe,
  Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba,
  Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima,
  Thyolo, Zomba

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet named by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
  election results: Bakili MULUZI elected president; percent of vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (177 seats;
  members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UDF
  84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note—because of defections and
  byelections, the distribution of seats in the National Assembly had
  changed at the end of the 1996 as follows: UDF 84, MCP 47, AFORD 34,
  independents 8, and vacant 4
  note: the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing the
  age at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years,
  provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to the
  existing National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected

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

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU,
  OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Ellen SHIPPY embassy: address NA, in new development area in Lilongwe mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

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 accounts for 45% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The new government faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities, and to deal with environmental problems of deforestation and erosion.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 30% services: 25% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $530 million
  expenditures: $674 million, including capital expenditures of $129
  million (1993)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 2.5% hydro: 97.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; cattle, goats

Imports—commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Exchange rates: Malawian kwachas (MK) per US$1—43.5426 (January 1999), 31.0727 (1998), 16.4442 (1997), 15.3085 (1996), 15.2837 (1995), 8.7364 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
  links, and radiotelephone communications stations
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
  and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 5
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 40
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 16
  under 914 m: 23 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),
Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,186,341 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)

Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
  specified boundary in the South China Sea
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and
northeast (October to February) monsoons

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: 3%
  permanent crops: 12%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 68%
  other: 17% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 3,879,012; female 3,680,895)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 6,478,910; female 6,482,909)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 369,639; female 484,701) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
  note: does not include illegal immigrants—large numbers from
  Indonesia and smaller numbers from the Philippines, Bangladesh,
  Burma, China, and India

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: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.67 years male: 67.62 years female: 73.9 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 26%,
Indian 7%, others 9%

Religions: Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity,
Sikhism; note—in addition, Shamanism is practiced on East Malaysia

Languages: Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects
  (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil,
  Telugu, Malalalam, Panjabi, Thai; note—in addition, in East Malaysia
  several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are
  Iban and Kadazan

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 83.5%
  male: 89.1%
  female: 78.1% (1995 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union

Government type: constitutional monarchy note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August 1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965); nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states—hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah—holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak—holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government

Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular—negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular—wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan* note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not interchangeable

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Paramount Ruler TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku
  Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994) and Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan
  TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin
  Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since
  16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi
  (since 8 January 1999)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
  members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
  elections: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and
  from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year
  terms; election last held 4 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
  prime minister designated from among the members of the House of
  Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the
  party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives
  becomes prime minister
  election results: TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman
  elected paramount ruler; Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah
  ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected deputy paramount
  ruler

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of
  nonelected Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the
  paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the
  House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (192 seats; members elected
  by popular vote directly weighted toward the rural Malay population
  to serve five-year terms)
  elections: House of Representatives—last held 24-25 April 1995 (next
  to be held by April 2000)
  election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by
  party—National Front 63%, other 37%; seats by party—National Front
  162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Spirit of '46 6; note—subsequent to the
  election there was a change in the distribution of seats, the
  current distribution is—National Front 168, DAP 8, PAS 8, PBS 5,
  independents 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount
ruler on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders:
  Peninsular Malaysia: National Front (a confederation of 13 political
  parties dominated by United Malays National Organization or UMNO
  Sarawak: National Front, composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra
  note: subsequent to the election, the following parties were
  president] and Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C,
  CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE
  embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
  mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American
  Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152

Flag description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top)
  alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the
  upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow
  fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional
  symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Economy—overview: After a decade of 8% average GDP growth, the Malaysian economy—severely hit by the regional financial crisis—declined 7% in 1998. Malaysia will likely remain in recession for the first half of 1999; official statistics continue to show anemic exports, and some private financial analysts forecast a further drop in GDP of 1% in 1999. Prime Minister MAHATHIR has imposed capital controls to protect the local currency while cutting interest rates to stimulate the economy. Kuala Lumpur also announced an expansionary budget for 1999 to combat rising unemployment. Malaysia continues to seek funding from domestic and international sources to help finance its budget deficit and recapitalize its weakened banking sector.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 46% services: 41% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 37.9% (1989)

Labor force—by occupation: manufacturing 25%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 21%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 12%, government 11%, construction 8% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $22.6 billion
  expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3
  billion (1996 est.)

Industries: Peninsular Malaysia—rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah—logging, petroleum production; Sarawak—agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 83.33% hydro: 16.67% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: Peninsular Malaysia?rubber, palm oil, rice;
Sabah—subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice;
Sarawak—rubber, pepper; timber

Exports—commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles

Exports—partners: US 21%, Singapore 20%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 5%,
UK 4%, Thailand 4%, Germany 3% (1995)

Imports—partners: Japan 27%, US 16%, Singapore 12%, Taiwan 5%,
Germany 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)

Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1—3.8000 (January 1999), 3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996), 2.5044 (1995), 2.6243 (1994)

Telephone system: international service good domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations international: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 27 (of which 26 are government-owned and one is independent and has 15 high-power repeater stations to relay its programs) (1997)

Railways: total: 1,798 km narrow gauge: 1,798 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (1998 est.)

Highways:
  total: 94,500 km
  paved: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 23,530 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569
km, Sarawak 2,518 km)

Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching,
  Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port
  Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung
  Kidurong, Tawau

Merchant marine:
  total: 378 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,059,272
  GRT/7,428,623 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 128, chemical tanker 30, container 58,
  liquefied gas tanker 19, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 61,
  passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6,
  specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 83 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 74 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal
Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police,
Sarawak Border Scouts

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,349,066 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Philippines have not fully revoked claim to Sabah State; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia

Illicit drugs: transit point for some illicit drugs going to Western markets; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties

Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
  Atoll 2.4 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 3%
  forests and woodland: 3%
  other: 84% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive
to sea level rise

Environment—current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers
threatens water supplies

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography—note: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 72,414; female 68,764)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 76,446; female 73,275)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 4,944; female 4,377) (1999 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: 1.13 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.29 years male: 66.53 years female: 70.15 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Maldivian Divehi (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: 93.2%
  male: 93.3%
  female: 93% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
  conventional short form: Maldives
  local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
  local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Administrative divisions: 19 atolls (atholhu, singular and
  plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu,
  Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu,
  Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa,
  Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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: Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; note—need
  not be members of Majlis
  elections: president elected by secret ballot of the Majlis for a
  five-year term; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held
  NA October 1998)
  election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent
  of Majlis vote—Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76%

Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council or Majlis (48
  seats; 40 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president;
  members serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 40

Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not
banned, none exist

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
  SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Maldives does not have an
embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in
New York

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—overview: Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for about 18% 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. About 350,000 tourists visited the islands in 1997. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor 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 15% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 15% services: 63% (1994 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: fishing industry and agriculture 25%, services 21%, manufacturing and construction 21%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 16%, transportation and communication 10%, other 7%

Budget:
  revenues: $88 million (excluding foreign grants)
  expenditures: $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital
goods, petroleum products

Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1—11.770 (1995-January 1999), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993)

Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities domestic: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Highways:
  total: NA km
  paved: NA km
  unpaved: NA km; note—Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the
  city (1988 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 75,585 GRT/115,590 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 18, container 1, oil tanker 1, short-sea
  passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 37,086 (1999 est.)

Area:
  total: 1.24 million sq km
  land: 1.22 million sq km
  water: 20,000 sq km

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

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, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: 6%
  other: 67% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry
seasons; recurring droughts

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 2,482,301; female 2,460,894)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 2,447,712; female 2,708,978)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 155,178; female 174,061) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.5 years male: 46.09 years female: 48.96 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%,
Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 31%
  male: 39.4%
  female: 23.1% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular—region);
Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the
Republic, 22 September (1960)

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
  head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since
  March 1994)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held May 2002); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of
  vote—Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 20 July and 3 August 1997 (next to be held in
  two rounds in 2002); note—much of the opposition boycotted the
  election
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—ADEMA
  130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA
TRAORE]; National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID
Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa

Political pressure groups and leaders: United Movement and Fronts
of Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA,
  MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNOMSIL, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy—overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. 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. In 1997, the government continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996-98, and the government anticipates that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years. Annual growth thus may fall in the 5% range in 1999-2000, and inflation held to 5% or less.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 17% services: 34% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $730 million
  expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food
processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 21.88% hydro: 78.12% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports—partners: Thailand 20%, Italy 20%, China 9%, Brazil, franc zone (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, construction
materials, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports—partners: Cote d'Ivoire 19%, France 17%, other franc zone
and EU countries (1997)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—567.81 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides
  only minimal service
  domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and
  radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
  relay in progress
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean)

Railways:
total: 641 km; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes)
narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican
Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,218,732 (1999 est.)

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Land use:
  arable land: 38%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 59% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.76 years male: 75.43 years female: 80.23 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and
Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean
stock)

Literacy:
  definition: age 10 and over can read and write
  total population: 88%
  male: 88%
  female: 88% (1985)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Malta
  conventional short form: Malta
  local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
  local short form: Malta

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law;
has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6
  September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8
  September 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
  prime minister
  elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
  five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by
  NA April 1999); following House of Representatives 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: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of
  House of Representatives vote—NA

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; current
  total: 69 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of
  proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September
  2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD
  1.2%; seats by party—PN 35, MLP 30

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
  EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony
  DARMANIN
  chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
  embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
  Malta
  mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta

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—overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: public services 34%, other services 32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.32 billion
  expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: potatoes, cauliflowers, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco

Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1—0.3797 (January 1999), 0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994)

Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956
  GRT/40,706,665 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination
  bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker
  2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil
  tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle
  carrier 18
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49
  countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland
  45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia
  23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Armed Forces (including an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 78,855 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North
Africa to Western Europe

Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 56%
  forests and woodland: 32%
  other: 0%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 6,906; female 6,597)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 24,655; female 24,604)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 5,156; female 7,768) (1999 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.79 years male: 74.28 years female: 81.47 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
  1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Sir Timothy
  DAUNT (since NA 1995)
  head of government: President of the Tynwald and the Legislative
  Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
  by the monarch for a five-year term; president of theTwnwald and the
  Legislative Council elected by the Tynwald for a five-year term;
  election last held NA (next to be held NA)
  election results: Sir Charles KERRUISH elected president of the
  Legislative Council; percent of legislative vote—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative
  Council (a 10-member body composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and
  Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House
  of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by
  popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: House of Keys—last held 21 November 1996 (next to be held
  NA 2001)
  election results: House of Keys—percent of vote by party—NA; seats
  by party—independents 24

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: there is no party system; members sit as independents

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—overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Banking and other services now contribute more than four fifths of GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 16% services: 82% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, retail distribution 9%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%

Budget:
  revenues: $437.7 million
  expenditures: $432.5 million, including capital expenditures of
  $102.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

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

Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994)); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Merchant marine:
  total: 148 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,161,154
  GRT/6,880,170 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 7, chemical tanker 14, combination
  bulk 3, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 14, oil tanker 43,
  refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, vehicle carrier 2
  note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 8 ships, Denmark 1,
  Sweden 1, Belgium 1, and Netherlands 1 (1998 est.)

Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

Area:
  total: 181.3 sq km
  land: 181.3 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein

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

Climate: wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: 60%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 40%

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Law of the
  Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and
  1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
  Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US
  missile test range

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 50% (male 16,622; female 15,957)
  15-64 years: 48% (male 16,106; female 15,386)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 677; female 759) (1999 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.81 years male: 63.21 years female: 66.5 years (1999 est.)

Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 93%
  male: 100%
  female: 88% (1980 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
  conventional short form: Marshall Islands
  former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
  Islands)

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

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

National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, 1 May (1979)

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
  Parliament
  elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own
  members for a four-year term; election last held 14 January 1997
  (next to be held NA November 1999); note—Imata KABUA elected to
  succeed and complete the term of the late President Amata KABUA
  election results: Imata KABUA elected president; percent of
  Parliament vote—63%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA
  note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
  matters affecting customary law and practice

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

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory
  user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
  chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379

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—overview: US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid, equal to about 70% of GDP. Negotiations will get underway in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties have caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 13% services: 72% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $80.1 million
  expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5
  million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood,
and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Economic aid—recipient: $NA; note?approximately $65 million annually from the US

Telephone system: telex services domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein

Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which one is an independent station and two are US military stations) (1997)

Highways:
  total: NA km
  paved: NA km
  unpaved: NA km
  note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
  stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks

Merchant marine:
  total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,572,915
  GRT/11,208,214 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 56, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, container 20,
  liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 42, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
  vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes the ships of Canada
  1, China 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, and US 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 4
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 12
  914 to 1,523 m: 7
  under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June
to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every
eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: 8%
  permanent pastures: 17%
  forests and woodland: 44%
  other: 23% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 47,933; female 46,957)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 136,058; female 138,935)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 17,530; female 24,126) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.27 years male: 76.47 years female: 82.13 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%,
white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 93%
  male: 92%
  female: 93% (1982 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Department of Martinique
  conventional short form: Martinique
  local long form: Departement de la Martinique
  local short form: Martinique

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995); Prefect Dominique BELLION (since NA October 1998)
  head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
  (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
  MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
  French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
  Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
  (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
  terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41
  seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
  elections: General Council—last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
  NA 2000); Regional Assembly—last held on NA March 1998 (next to be
  held by March 2004)
  election results: General Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats
  by party—NA; note—the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly—percent
  of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA
  note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
  held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PS 2; Martinique
  also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last
  held 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results—percent of vote
  by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1

Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for
League of Workers and Peasants; Association for the Protection of

Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy—overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $775 million
  expenditures: $2.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $118
  million (1996)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane

Imports—commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequate
  domestic: NA
  international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and
  Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are nine repeaters) (1997)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,074 km
  border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
  Western Sahara 1,561 km

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 38%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 58% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.48 years male: 47.39 years female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 37.7%
  male: 49.6%
  female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

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

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
  December 1984)
  head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA
  (since 16 November 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December
  2003); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
  reelected with 90% of the vote

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
  or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years;
  members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and
  the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected
  by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000);
  National Assembly—last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held
  NA 2001)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—NA; National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7

Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme
Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed
12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based;
emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party or

Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union
MOHAMED, secretary general]

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER
  embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott
  mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott

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—overview: A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many 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 almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are uncertain because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 31% services: 43% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%

Budget:
  revenues: $329 million
  expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 80% hydro: 20% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep; fish products

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum
products, capital goods

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1—204.600 (January 1999), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)

Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor
  microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
  stations (improvements being made)
  domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed
  domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
  regional capitals
  international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
  and 2 Arabsat

Railways:
  total: 704 km (single track); note—owned and operated by government
  mining company
  standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 8
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)

Area:
  total: 1,860 sq km
  land: 1,850 sq km
  water: 10 sq km
  note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
  Brandon), and Rodrigues

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

Climate: tropical, 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

Land use:
  arable land: 49%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 3%
  forests and woodland: 22%
  other: 23% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 156,616; female 153,698)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 398,557; female 402,674)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 28,586; female 42,081) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.09 years male: 67.21 years female: 74.96 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,
Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%,
Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 82.9%
  male: 87.1%
  female: 78.8% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius

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

Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice
  President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27
  December 1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister
  elections: president and vice president elected by the National
  Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next
  to be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister
  appointed by the president and are responsible to the National
  Assembly
  election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi
  Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by the
  National Assembly—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats—62
  elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from
  the losing political parties to give representation to various
  ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by
  December 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%,
  other 15%; seats by party—MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on
  Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1,
  Hizbullah 1

Political parties and leaders:
RAMGOOLAM]
Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,
  CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
  ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450

Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

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 services, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in 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 industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1991-98 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: construction and industry 36%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $824 million (FY94/95)
  expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $198
  million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Exports—partners: UK 34.4%, France 19.5%, US 13.0%, Germany 5.6%,
Italy 4.0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: manufactured goods 37%, capital equipment
19%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% (1995)

Imports—partners: South Africa 12.0%, France 11.1%, India 8.9%,
UK 6.5%, Germany 4.7%, (1996)

Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1—24.099 (January 1999), 22.803 (1998), 20.561 (1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994)

Telephone system: small system with good service domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries

Highways:
  total: 1,860 km
  paved: 1,732 km (including 30 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 128 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,846 GRT/236,308 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 6, combination bulk 2, container 6, liquefied
  gas tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
  note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National Coast Guard)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 171,705 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: claims the Chagos Archipelago in
UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November)

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 34,838; female 34,798)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 42,073; female 35,068)
  65 years and over: 1% (male 1,257; female 1,302) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.02 years male: 57.61 years female: 62.51 years (1999 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA)
  head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa
  BAMANA (since NA 1977)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
  French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
  elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
  (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year
  terms)
  elections: last held 23 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; note—only nine of the
  19 seats were subjected to voting in March 1997; after the election,
  seats by party were as follows: MPM 8, RPR 5, independents 5, PS 1
  note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last
  held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—MPM 1; Mayotte
  also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections
  last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held as a special
  election on NA May 2002); results—percent of vote by party—UDF/FD
  51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by party—UDF/FD 1

Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM
BEOUTIS]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti
JEAN-BAPTISTE]

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)

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.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $NA
  expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1991 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Imports—commodities: building materials, machinery and transportation equipment, metals, chemicals, rice, clothing, flour

Economic aid—recipient: $107.7 million (1995); note?extensive
French financial assistance

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Telephone system: small system administered by French Department
  of Posts and Telecommunications
  domestic: NA
  international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone
  communications to Comoros and other international connections

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island

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

Land boundaries: total: 4,538 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km

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

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%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 39%
  forests and woodland: 26%
  other: 22% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts

Environment—current issues: 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; serious air pollution in the national capital and
  urban centers along US-Mexico border

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
  Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 17,987,500; female 17,289,875)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 29,610,813; female 31,216,342)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 1,873,986; female 2,315,520) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72 years male: 68.98 years female: 75.17 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Languages: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional
indigenous languages

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 89.6%
  male: 91.8%
  female: 87.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: United Mexican States
  conventional short form: Mexico
  local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
  local short form: Mexico

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

Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1
  December 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1
  December 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of the
  Senate
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held in July or August
  2000)
  election results: Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon elected president;
  percent of vote—Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%,
  Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE
  CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%, other 6.05%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la
  Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; half
  are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and half are
  allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote) and the Chamber
  of Deputies or Camara 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 6 July 1997 for one-quarter of the
  seats; Chamber of Deputies—last held 6 July 1997 (the next
  legislative elections will coincide with the presidential election
  in July or August 2000)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PRI 77, PAN 33, PRD 16, PVEM 1, PT 1; note—the distribution of
  seats as of May 1998 is as follows—PRI 77, PAN 31, PRD 15, PT 1,
  independents 4; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by party—PRI
  39%, PAN 27%, PRD 26%; seats by party—PRI 239, PRD 125, PAN 121,
  PVEM 8, PT 7; note—the distribution of seats as of May 1998 is as
  follows—PRI 237, PRD 127, PAN 120, PT 7, PVEM 6, independents 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia (judges are appointed by the president with consent of the
Senate)

Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church;
  Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of Industrial
  Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce
  or CONCANACO; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; Revolutionary
  Workers Party or PRT; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and
  Peasants or CROC; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers or CROM;
  Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX;
  National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA;
  Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE;
  Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES;
  National Union of Workers or UNT

International organization participation: APEC, BCIE, BIS,
  Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-11,
  G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA
  (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer),
  NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus REYES HEROLES Gonzalez Garza chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffery DAVIDOW
  embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
  Distrito Federal
  mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087
  consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
  consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band

Economy—overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. The number of state-owned enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1,000 in 1982 to fewer than 200 in 1998. The ZEDILLO administration is privatizing and expanding competition in sea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports. A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, private consumption became the leading driver of growth, which was accompanied by increased employment and higher wages. The government expects the economy to slow in 1999 because of low commodity prices, tighter international liquidity, and slacker demand for exports. Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems as it strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards. Income distribution is very unequal, with the top 20% of income earners accounting for 55% of income. Trade with the US and Canada has nearly doubled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico is pursuing additional trade agreements with most countries in Latin America and with the EU to lessen its dependence on the US.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 36.6% 1996)

Labor force—by occupation: services 28.8%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 21.8%, commerce 17.1%, manufacturing 16.1%, construction 5.2%, public administration and national defense 4.4%, transportation and communications 4.1%

Budget:
  revenues: $117 billion
  expenditures: $123 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 71.46% hydro: 20.16% nuclear: 4.85% other: 3.53% (1996)

Agriculture—products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton,
coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Exports: $117.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond
industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)

Exports—commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver,
engines, motor vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics

Exports—partners: US 87.5%, Canada 1.3%, Japan 0.8%, Spain 0.6%,
Chile 0.6%, Brazil 0.5% (1998 est.)

Imports: $111.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond
industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)

Imports—commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

Imports—partners: US 74.2%, Japan 3.7%, Germany 3.7%, Canada 1.8%, South Korea 1.5%, Italy 1.3%, France 1.2% (1998 est.)

Exchange rates: Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1—10.1104 (January 1999), 9.1360 (1998), 7.9141 (1997), 7.5994(1996), 6.4194 (1995), 3.3751 (1994)

Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive
  microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990; opened to
  competition January 1997
  domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,
  but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with
  120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network
  international: satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean
  and 1 Pacific Ocean); launched Solidaridad I satellite in November
  1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico improved
  access to South America, Central America and much of the US as well
  as enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central American
  Microwave System of trunk connections

Radio broadcast stations: AM 824 (1999 est.), FM 500 (1998 est.),
shortwave 19 (1999 est.)

Railways:
  total: 31,048 km
  standard gauge: 30,958 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1998 est.)

Highways:
  total: 252,000 km
  paved: 94,248 km (including 6,740 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 157,752 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km;
natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km

Ports and harbors: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada,
Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso,
Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz

Merchant marine:
  total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 852,004 GRT/1,236,475
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4,
  liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 28, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3,
  short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 232
  over 3,047 m: 10
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 91
  914 to 1,523 m: 78
  under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 1,573
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
  914 to 1,523 m: 468
  under 914 m: 1,040 (1998 est.)

Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army and Air Force), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 18,675,524 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 1,085,042 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 1998—5,500 hectares; potential production—60 metric tons) and cannabis cultivation in 1998—4,600 hectares; government eradication efforts have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America; involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamines

Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Area:
  total: 702 sq km
  land: 702 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands,
  and Kosrae

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
Truk

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Totolom 791 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.48 years male: 66.52 years female: 70.48 years (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese,
Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 89%
  male: 91%
  female: 88% (1980 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
  conventional short form: none
  former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of
  the Pacific Islands)
  abbreviation: FSM

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of
Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July
  1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM
  (since 9 May 1997); note—the president is both the chief of state
  and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting
  president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a
  stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as
  provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still
  unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;
  he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
  head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA
  July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM
  (since 9 May 1997); note—the president is both the chief of state
  and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting
  president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a
  stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as
  provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still
  unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;
  he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
  cabinet: Cabinet
  elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
  among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last
  held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note—because of the
  vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to
  become acting president, a new election to fill the position of vice
  president for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May
  1997 (next to be held NA May 1999)
  election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of
  Congress vote—NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of
  Congress vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four—one elected from each of state—to serve four-year terms and 10—elected from single-member districts delineated by population—to serve two-year terms) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held 2 March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held 3 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 14

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941

Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

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 remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$220 million (1996 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $58 million
  expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7
  million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items
from shell, wood, and pearls

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Imports—commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Economic aid—recipient: $77.4 million (1995); note?under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Telephone system:
  domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
  mostly for government purposes)
  international: satellite earth stations—4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military—note: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Area:
  total: 6.2 sq km
  land: 6.2 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 4 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Economy—overview: The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m

Land use:
  arable land: 53%
  permanent crops: 14%
  permanent pastures: 13%
  forests and woodland: 13%
  other: 7% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 555,096; female 535,625)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 1,408,334; female 1,529,542)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 160,317; female 271,924) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.39 years male: 59.76 years female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.) note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians in the Transdniester region

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991) note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldovans

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: 96%
  male: 99%
  female: 94% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
  conventional short form: Moldova
  local long form: Republica Moldova
  local short form: none
  former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

Administrative divisions: 40 raions (singular—raion) and 4 municipalities*; Anenii Noi, Balti*, Basarabeasca, Bender*, Briceni, Cahul, Cainari, Calarasi, Camenca, Cantemir, Causeni, Ceadir-Lunga, Chisinau*, Cimislia, Comrat, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Grigoriopol, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Ribnita, Riscani, Singerei, Slobozia, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Tiraspol*, Ungheni, Vulcanesti note: in accordance with the Law on Territorial Administrative Reform, the 40 raions have been reorganized into 9 counties (judets), one municipality*, and 2 territorial units**: Baltsi, Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Dubossary district (Transnistria)**, Edinets, Gagauzia**, Lapushna, Orhei, Soroca, Tighina, Ungheni; the status of the Dubossary district is still under negotiation

Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old
Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January
  1997) and four deputy prime ministers
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996
  (next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections,
  the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition
  is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; names of deputy
  prime ministers are submitted by the prime minister for acceptance
  by the president
  election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was
  elected president; percent of vote—LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime
  Minister Ion CIUBUC was appointed by the president 15 January 1997
  and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101
  seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held spring 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PCM 30%, CDM 19%, PMDP
  18%, PFD 9%; seats by party—PCM 40, CDM 26, PMDP 24, PFD 11
  note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; The Democratic Convention or CDM (includes the Christian Democratic Popular Front or FPCD and the Party of chairman]; Bloc for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova or PMDP

Political pressure groups and leaders: The Ecology Movement of
president]; Liberal Convention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party);

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
  CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ceslav CIOBANU chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rudolf Villem PERINA embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevicie, #103, Chisinau 2009 mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address—American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080

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—overview: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda. As part of its reform efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. In 1998, the economic troubles of Russia, with whom Moldova conducts 55% of its trade, was a major cause of the 8.6% drop in GDP. In 1999, the IMF resumed payment on Moldova's Extended Fund Facility, which had been suspended since 1997. The IMF intends to grant $135 million in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 29% services: 41% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 40.2%, industry 14.3%,
other 45.5% (1998)

Unemployment rate: 2% (includes only officially registered
unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (September 1998)

Budget:
  revenues: $536 million
  expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 96.1% hydro: 3.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Exports—commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and
footwear, machinery

Exports—partners: Russia 58%, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus,
Romania, US, Germany, Italy (1997)

Imports—commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, chemical products, metals, metal products, foodstuffs, automobiles, other consumer durables

Imports—partners: Russia 26%, Ukraine 20%, Belarus, Romania,
Germany, Italy (1997)

Economic aid—recipient: $100.8 million (1995); note?$547 million
from the IMF and World Bank (1992-99)

Exchange rates: lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period)—8.3226 (December 1998), 8.3395 (1998), 4.6605 (1997), 4.6500 (1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994); period average—4.6758 (January 1998), 4.6236 (1997), 4.6045 (1996), 4.4958 (1995)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Information, Computers, and
  Telecommunications controls telecommunications; the carrier is
  Modtelecom
  domestic: local—Chisinau has a fiber-optic loop and one cellular GSM
  provider; the waiting list for telephones is long; local service
  outside Chisinau is poor; intercity—Moldova's two fiber-optic
  segments form a synchronous digital hierarchy ring through Romania's
  system; an analog backbone system runs from south to north in Moldova
  international: two fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to
  Romania; worldwide service can be available to Moldova through this
  infrastructure; additional analog lines are to Russia; Intelsat,
  Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations

Television broadcast stations: 1 national station, 3 private stations, 15 small local stations outside Chisinau (1998)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 8
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 18
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 908,347 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: separatist Transdniester region, comprising the area between the Nistru (Dniester) River and Ukraine, has its own de facto government, dominated by Moldovan Slavs

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 United States

Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (urban area)

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: second smallest independent state in world (after
Holy See); almost entirely urban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 2,723; female 2,645)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 10,014; female 10,530)
  65 years and over: 19% (male 2,302; female 3,935) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.58 years male: 75 years female: 82.35 years (1999 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
  conventional short form: Monaco
  local long form: Principaute de Monaco
  local short form: Monaco

Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular—quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent
  Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born 14
  March 1958)
  head of government: Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3
  February 1997)
  cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; minister of state
  appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national
  candidates presented by the French Government

Legislative branch: unicameral National Council or Conseil
  National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 1 and 8 February 1998 (next to be held NA
  January 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—National and Democratic Union 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named
by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council

International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO,
ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Monaco does not have an
embassy in the US
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is
accredited to Monaco

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag
of Poland which is white (top) and red

Economy—overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. 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. About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $518 million
  expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which
collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in
EU market system through customs union with France

Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which
collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in
EU market system through customs union with France

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Telephone system: automatic telephone system
  domestic: NA
  international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into
  the French communications system

Land boundaries: total: 8,114 km border countries: China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km

Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and
southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m

Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten,
phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 80%
  forests and woodland: 9%
  other: 10% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal and the concentration of factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted the air; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification; mining activities have also had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 480,087; female 464,609)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 787,222; female 787,405)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 42,219; female 55,837) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.81 years male: 59.71 years female: 64.02 years (1999 est.)

Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of communist regime

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 82.9%
  male: 88.6%
  female: 77.2% (1988 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Mongolia
  local long form: none
  local short form: Mongol Uls
  former: Outer Mongolia

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular—aymag)
  and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular—hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor,
  Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan,
  Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay,
  Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Janlavyn NARANTSATSRALT (since 9
  December 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation
  with the president
  elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural
  and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held
  18 May 1997 (next to be held summer 2001); following legislative
  elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is
  usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural
  election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI elected president; percent of
  vote—Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 60.8%, Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP
  and MSDP) 29.8%, Jambyn GOMBOJAV (MUTP) 6.6%; following five months
  of political deadlock which left Mongolia without a working
  government, Janlavyn NARANTSATSRALT was elected prime minister on 9
  December 1998 by a vote in the State Great Hural of 36 to 21, with
  nine abstentions and 10 absentees

Legislative branch: unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—DUC 66%, MPRP 33%, MCP 1%; seats by party—DUC 50 (MNDP 34, MSDP 13, independents 3), MPRP 25, MCP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts, judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval by the State Great Hural

Political parties and leaders: Mongolian People's Revolutionary
chairman], Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP

International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN (observer),
  CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OPCW,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR
  chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse F. LA PORTA
  embassy: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe
  Gol, Ulaanbaatar
  mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big
  Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP
  96521-0002

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—overview: The government has embraced free-market economics, freezing spending, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade. Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land, however, have constrained economic development. Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock. In past years, extensive mineral resources had been developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its height amounted to 30% of GDP, but disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. The Mongolian leadership has been soliciting support from foreign donors and economic growth picked up in 1997 and 1998 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 35% services: 34% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.5% (1995)

Industries: copper, construction materials, mining (particularly
coal); food and beverage, processing of animal products

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Exports—commodities: copper, livestock, animal products,
cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports—partners: China 30.1%, Switzerland 21.5%, Russia 12.1%,
South Korea 9.7%, US 8.1% (1998)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports—partners: Russia 30.6%, China 13.3%, Japan 11.7%, South
Korea 7.5%, US 6.9% (1998)

Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1—902 (January 1999), 840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997), 548.40 (1996), 448.61 (1995), 412.72 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
  Region)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 18 provincial repeaters) (1997)

Highways:
  total: 46,470 km
  paved: 3,730 km
  unpaved: 42,740 km (1997 est.)
  note: much of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough
  cross-country tracks

Airports—with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal
Security Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 457,270 (1999 est.)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chances Peak 914 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 10%
  forests and woodland: 40%
  other: 30% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97)

Environment—current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Population: 12,853 (July 1999 est.)
  note: demographic figures include an estimated 8,000 refugees who
  left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in
  July 1995

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.56 years male: 73.79 years female: 77.37 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 97% (1970 est.)

Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity;
interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the
Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint
Georges, Saint Peter's

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday of June)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997)
  head of government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August
  1997)
  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; note—as a result of the last
  election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of
  the independent candidates

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)

International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC
(associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL

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—overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, put a damper on this small, open economy throughout 1996-98. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the air and sea ports, 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. Construction was the dominant activity in 1997 and 1998. GDP probably declined again in 1998. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has committed about $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the economy.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 13.6% services: 81% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note—later substantially lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity

Labor force—by occupation: community, social, and personal services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $31.4 million
  expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4
  million (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products

Exports—commodities: electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle

Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Economic aid—recipient: $9.8 million (1995); note?about $100 million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

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

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 47%
  forests and woodland: 20%
  other: 11% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 5,409,322; female 5,208,742)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 8,773,625; female 8,922,976)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 619,164; female 727,807) (1999 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.87 years male: 66.85 years female: 70.99 years (1999 est.)

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: 43.7%
  male: 56.6%
  female: 31% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
  conventional short form: Morocco
  local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
  local short form: Al Maghrib

Administrative divisions: 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara; decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available

National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of
King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
  head of government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14
  March 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
  by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Counselors—last held 5 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2000); Chamber of Representatives—last held 14 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2002) election results: Chamber of Counselors—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, IP 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, UT 13, FFD 12, CDT 11, UTM 8, PPS 7, PSD 4, PDI 4, UGTM 3, UNMT 2, other 3; Chamber of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—USFP 57, UC 50, RNI 46, MP 40, MDS 32, IP 32, MNP 19, PND 10, MPCD 9, PPS 9, FFD 9, PSD 5, OADP 4, PA 2, PDI 1

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:
ARCHANE]
labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only):

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward M. GABRIEL embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 3, APO AE 09718 consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam

Economy—overview: Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries—restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within manageable bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented; and state enterprises are slowly being privatized. Drought conditions in 1997 depressed activity in the key agricultural sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 2.2% contraction in real GDP. Favorable rainfalls in the fall of 1997 have led to 6.8% real GDP growth in 1998. Growth is forecast to be about 4.0% in 1999. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the external debt; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU; and improving education and attracting foreign investment to improve living standards and job propects for Morocco's youthful population.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 33% services: 53% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 30.5% (1990-91)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $8.4 billion
  expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
  billion (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food
processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 95.65% hydro: 4.35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Exports—commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods
23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.)

Exports—partners: EU 63%, Japan 7.7%, India 6.6%, US 3.4%, Libya
3.4% (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: semiprocessed goods 26%, capital goods 25%, food and beverages 18%, fuel and lubricants 15%, consumer goods 12%, raw materials 4% (1995 est.)

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1—9.320 (January 1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and
  microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and
  Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and
  Tetouan
  international: 5 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

Railways:
  total: 1,907 km
  standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 246 km
  double track) (1994)

Highways:
  total: 60,626 km
  paved: 30,556 km (including 219 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 30,070 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km
(abandoned); natural gas 241 km

Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar,
Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also
Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla

Merchant marine:
  total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,869 GRT/263,033 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 6, container 3, oil tanker
  3, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8,
  short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,888,595 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco—the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 56%
  forests and woodland: 18%
  other: 22% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones

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

Population: 19,124,335 (July 1999 est.) note: the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,542,800; other estimates range as low as 16.9 million

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 4,236,545; female 4,325,586)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 4,941,048; female 5,181,282)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 182,857; female 257,017) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.89 years male: 44.73 years female: 47.09 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe,
Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans
0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 40.1%
  male: 57.7%
  female: 23.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
  conventional short form: Mozambique
  local long form: Republica de Mocambique
  local short form: Mocambique

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November
  1986); note—before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected
  president by Frelimo's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected
  by the Committee 30 July 1989)
  head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA
  December 1994)
  cabinet: Cabinet
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 27 October 1994 (next to be held NA October
  1999); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO elected president;
  percent of vote—Joaquim CHISSANO 53.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 33.3%

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 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—Frelimo 44.33%, Renamo
  33.78%, DU 5.15%, other 16.74%; seats by party—Frelimo 129, Renamo
  112, DU 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
and judges elected by the Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of
  Alberto CHISSANO, chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance
  secretary]; note—the DU may have broken up into the three parties
  that composed it—Liberal and Democratic Party of Mozambique,
  National Democratic Party, and National Party of Mozambique

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
  (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo

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—overview: Before the peace accord of October 1992, Mozambique's economy was devastated by a protracted civil war and socialist mismanagement. In 1994, it ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world. Since then, Mozambique has undertaken a series of economic reforms. Almost all aspects of the economy have been liberalized to some extent. More than 900 state enterprises have been privatized. Pending are tax and much needed commercial code reform, as well as greater private sector involvement in the transportation, telecommunications, and energy sectors. Since 1996, inflation has been low and foreign exchange rates stable. Albeit from a small base, Mozambique achieved one of the highest growth rates in the world in 1997-98. Still, the country depends on foreign assistance to balance the budget and to pay for a trade imbalance in which imports outnumber exports by three to one. The medium-term outlook for the country looks bright, as trade and transportation links to South Africa and the rest of the region are expected to improve and sizable foreign investments materialize. Among these investments are metal production (aluminum, steel), natural gas, power generation, agriculture (cotton, sugar), fishing, timber, and transportation services. Additional exports in these areas should bring in needed foreign exchange.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 13% services: 52% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 9.5%, services 5.5%, wage earners working abroad 5% (1993 est)

Budget:
  revenues: $402 million
  expenditures: $799 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Agriculture—products: cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry

Exports—partners: Spain 17%, South Africa 16%, Portugal 12%, US
10%, Japan, Malawi, India, Zimbabwe (1996 est.)

Imports—partners: South Africa 55%, Zimbabwe 7%, Saudi Arabia 5%,
Portugal 4%, US, Japan, India (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1—12,394.0 (January 1999), 11,874.6 (1998), 11.543.6 (1997), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995), 6,038.6 (1994)

Telephone system: fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire lines, and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Railways: total: 3,131 km narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 152 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 96 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,526,447 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: Southern African transit hub for South American cocaine probably destined for the European and US markets; producer of hashish and methaqualone

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,824 km
  border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa
  855 km, Zambia 233 km

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

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin,
lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected
deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 22%
  other: 31% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; desertification

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 366,030; female 358,105)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 424,879; female 435,116)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 26,787; female 37,353) (1999 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.26 years male: 41.64 years female: 40.87 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4% note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least, other
Christian denominations 30%), native religions 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: 38%
  male: 45%
  female: 31% (1960 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia

Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap,
Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati,
Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
  of the National Assembly
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
  1999)
  election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote—76%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the
  National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each
  regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly
  (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
  terms)
  elections: National Council—last held 30 November-1 December 1998
  (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly—last held 7-8
  December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
  election results: National Council—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—NA; National Assembly—percent of vote by party—SWAPO
  73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by
  party—SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
  note: the National Council is a purely advisory body

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU,
  MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Usko SHIVUTE chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George F. WARD, Jr. embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek mailing address: use embassy street address

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—overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is three times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 34% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 49%, industry and commerce
25%, services 5%, government 18%, mining 3% (1994 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.1 billion
  expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $193
  million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining
(diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity—imports: 1.11 billion kWh (1996) note: imports electricity from South Africa

Exports—commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium;
cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Exchange rates: Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1—5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio
  relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are
  by open wire
  international: NA
  note: a fully automated digital network is being implemented

Television broadcast stations: 8 (of which five are main stations and three are low-power stations; there are also about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 22
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 113
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
  914 to 1,523 m: 70
  under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 228,225 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and
  Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited
  Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at
  the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

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

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 100% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years—mainly by a UK, Australia, and New Zealand consortium—has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: Nauru is one of the three 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

Languages: Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
  conventional short form: Nauru
  former: Pleasant Island

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-, New Zealand-,
and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
  of Parliament
  elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
  election last held 17 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2001)
  election results: Bernard DOWIYOGO elected president; percent of
  Parliament vote—NA
  note: former President Kinza CLODUMAR was deposed in a no-confidence
  vote

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members
  elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
  elections: last held 8 February 1997 (next to be held NA February
  2000)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 18

International organization participation: AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Nauru does not have an
embassy in the US
consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag description: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Economy—overview: Revenues come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World. Few other resources exist, thus most necessities must be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition. The government also has been borrowing heavily from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government has called a freezing of wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some overseas consulates.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation

Budget:
  revenues: $23.4 million
  expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Economic aid—recipient: $2.5 million (1995); note?$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.)

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate local and international radiotelephone
  communications provided via Australian facilities
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Railways:
total: 3.9 km; note—used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

Military branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the
Nauru Police Force

Military—note: Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, Australia is responsible for defense of the island

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 10%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 90%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

Population: uninhabited note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse located on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island

Land boundaries: total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south,
central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential,
scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 15%
  forests and woodland: 42%
  other: 26% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

Environment—current issues: the almost total dependence on wood
  for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without
  replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion;
  water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health
  risks)

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geography—note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41% (male 5,182,829; female 4,869,895)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 6,856,905; female 6,571,916)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 407,797; female 413,311) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.42 years male: 58.47 years female: 58.36 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,
Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas

Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981) note: only official Hindu state in the world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 27.5%
  male: 40.9%
  female: 14% (1995 est.)

People—note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,
Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the
  throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King
  MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975); Heir
  Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram
  head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 15
  April 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
  the prime minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
  elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
  coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

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 15 November 1994 (next
  to be held 3 May 1999)
  election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by
  party—NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill)
  Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats by party— CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP
  4, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3, independents 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (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
  Madhar KUMAR, general secretary]; Nepali Congress Party or NCP
  general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called
  party chair]

Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous small,
left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical
Nepalese antimonarchist groups

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW,
  SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador THAPA Bekh Bahadur
  chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
  embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
  mailing address: use embassy street address

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—overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with nearly half of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 41% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past three years. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production is growing by about 5% on average as compared with annual population growth of 2.5%. Since May 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. More recently, however, political instability—five different governments over the past few years—has hampered Kathmandu's ability to forge consensus to implement key economic reforms. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of growth.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 22% services: 37% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)

Budget:
  revenues: $536 million
  expenditures: $818 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar,
and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 3.1% hydro: 96.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops;
milk, water buffalo meat

Exports: $394 million (f.o.b., 1997), but does not include
unrecorded border trade with India

Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1—67.675 (January 1999), 65.976 (1998), 58.010 (1997), 56.692 (1996), 51.890 (1995), 49.398 (1994)

Telephone system: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
  radiotelephone communication service
  domestic: NA
  international: radiotelephone communications; satellite earth
  station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Railways:
total: 101 km; note—all in Kosi close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 5
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 40
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 9
  under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air
Service, Nepalese Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,079,569 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: 8%
  other: 39% (1996 est.)

Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: located at mouths of three major European rivers
(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 1,475,606; female 1,410,088)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 5,482,193; female 5,288,948)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 875,847; female 1,274,959) (1999 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.15 years male: 75.28 years female: 81.17 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1979 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
  conventional short form: Netherlands
  local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
  local short form: Nederland

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien,
  singular—provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland,
  Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel,
  Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
  1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), Prince
  of Orange, son of the monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994)
  and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998)
  and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch 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 a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir
  apparent, and councillors consulted by the executive on legislative
  and administrative policy

Legislative branch: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal
  consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members
  indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for
  four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats;
  members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: First Chamber—last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 25
  May 1999); Second Chamber—last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May
  2002)
  election results: First Chamber—percent of vote by party—NA; seats
  by party—VVD 23, CDA 19, PvdA 14, D'66 7, other 12; Second
  Chamber—percent of vote by party—PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%,
  D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party—PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66
  14, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices are
nominated for life by the monarch

Political pressure groups and leaders: large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council or IKV

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
  EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
  NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 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

Economy—overview: This prosperous and open economy is based on private enterprise with the government's presence felt in many aspects of the economy. Industrial activity features food processing, petroleum refining, and metalworking. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. As a result, the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. Sharp cuts in subsidy and social security spending since the 1980s helped the Dutch achieve sustained economic growth combined with falling unemployment and moderate inflation. The economy achieved a strong 3.7% growth in 1998; a dip in the business cycle probably will cause the economy to decelerate to slightly over 2% growth in 1999. Unemployment in 1999 is expected to be less than 5% of the labor force, and inflation probably will decline. The Dutch joined the first wave of 11 EU countries launching the euro system on 1 January 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 27.5% services: 69.3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)

Labor force—by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $163 billion
  expenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1999 est.)

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 94.51% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.95% other: 0.44% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels,
food and tobacco

Exports—partners: EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%,
France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels, consumer goods

Imports—partners: EU 61% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK
10%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1997)

Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents; note—on 1 January 2002 to be replaced by the euro

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1—1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephones: 8.431 million (1998 est.); 3.4 million cellular
telephone subscribers (1998 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; system of
  multi-conductor cables gradually being supplemented/replaced by a
  glass-fiber based telecommunication infrastructure; Mobile GSM-based
  mobile telephony density rapidly growing; third generation Universal
  Mobile Telecommunications System expected for introduction by the
  year 2001
  domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relay
  international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3
  Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1
  Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)

Television broadcast stations: 15 (in addition, there are five low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways: total: 2,813 km standard gauge: 2,813 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 127,000 km
  paved: 114,427 km (including 2,360 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 12,573 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 5,046 km, of which 47% is usable by craft of 1,000
metric ton capacity or larger

Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven,
Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen,
Utrecht

Merchant marine:
  total: 510 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,632,477
  GRT/4,097,328 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 303, chemical tanker 42, combination
  bulk 1, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 17, livestock carrier 1,
  multifunction large-load carrier 9, oil tanker 24, passenger 8,
  refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea
  passenger 3, specialized tanker 4
  note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry
  of Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,595,693 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea—one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is east of the Virgin Islands

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)

Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 90% (1993 est.)

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—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 27,160; female 26,149)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 65,781; female 73,054)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 6,538; female 9,145) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.25 years male: 72.19 years female: 76.41 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a
Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English
widely spoken, Spanish

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 99% (1981 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
  local long form: none
  local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands
  (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH
  (since NA October 1989)
  head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February
  1994)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
  the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
  the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister
  by the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held
  by NA 2002)
  election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of
  legislative vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St.M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties

Political parties and leaders:
  Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
  WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA
  ROLLOCKS]
  note: political parties are indigenous to each island

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO
(associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS consulate(s) general: J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

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—overview: Tourism, petroleum transshipment, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $710.8 million
  expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire),
petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities
(Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: US 28.6%, Honduras 6.4%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6%,
Italy 4.9%, Guatemala 4.5%, Costa Rica 4% (1996)

Imports—partners: Venezuela 34%, US 16.4%, Mexico 15.5%,
Netherlands 5%, Italy 3.5%, Brazil 2.8% (1996)

Economic aid—recipient: $NA; note?the Netherlands provided a $97
million aid package in 1996

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or
florins (NAf.) per US$1—1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)

Telephone system: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there is a cable service which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks) (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 95 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 811,782 GRT/1,045,989
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination
  ore/oil 3, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction
  large-load carrier 19, oil tanker 4, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo
  18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
  Belgium owns 9 ships, Germany 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal
Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 29,888 (1999 est.)

Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for
South American drugs bound for the US and Europe

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese,
silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 12%
  forests and woodland: 39%
  other: 49% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 29% (male 29,610; female 28,485)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 64,552; female 63,229)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 5,443; female 6,042) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.35 years male: 72.1 years female: 78.77 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,
Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 91%
  male: 92%
  female: 90% (1976 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note—a
referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council
  of Government Dominque BUR (since NA August 1995)
  head of government: President of the Territorial Congress Simon
  LOUECKHOTE (since NA 1998)
  cabinet: Consultative Committee
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
  advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
  Territorial Congress elected by the members of the congress

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres
  Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial
  Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to
  serve six-year terms)
  elections: last held 9 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR
  22, FLNKS 12, UNCT 9, UNI 5, DEPCA 2, FN 2, RCF 2, and other 2
  note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections
  last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1; New
  Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly;
  elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 2

Political parties and leaders: Progressive Melanesian Union or
POSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs Kanaks Exploites or
Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of 5 parties: Union

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO

Flag description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy—overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and tourism are key to the health of the economy. Performance in 1998 was hampered by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower expected prices for nickel.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry 16%, services 60%, mining 4% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $755.6 million
  expenditures: $755.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 69.87% hydro: 30.13% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%,
Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: foods, transport equipment, machinery and
electrical equipment, fuels, minerals

Imports—partners: France 45%, Australia 18%, Singapore 7%, New
Zealand 6%, Japan 4% (1996 est.)

Economic aid—recipient: $446.3 million (1995); note?about $50
million yearly support from France for government operations

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1—102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994); note—linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Gendarmerie); Police Force

Disputes—international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by
France and Vanuatu

Area:
  total: 268,680 sq km
  land: 268,670 sq km
  water: 10 sq km
  note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
  Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 50%
  forests and woodland: 28%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not
severe; volcanic activity

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native
flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
  Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
  Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 430,105; female 409,302)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 1,202,762; female 1,195,006)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 184,048; female 241,042) (1999 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.82 years male: 74.55 years female: 81.27 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other
European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%

Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%,
Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none
33% (1986)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1980 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: New Zealand
  abbreviation: NZ

Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
  districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,
  Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,
  Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin,
  Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,
  Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua,
  Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea,
  Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo,
  Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki,
  Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
  Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*,
  Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island,
  Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
  Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
  Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West,
  Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa,
  Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**,
  Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
  note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
  (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
  Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
  Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
  subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
  Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
  Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin,
  Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua,
  Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast,
  Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton,
  Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*,
  Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*,
  Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn,
  Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa,
  Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel,
  Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa,
  Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of
  Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of
  various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand
  Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1
  January 1987, but has not been enacted

Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21
  March 1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jenny SHIPLEY (since 8 December
  1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt CREECH (since NA August 1998);
  note—the coalition government of the National Party and the New
  Zealand First Party was dissolved on 18 August 1998
  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 for a
  three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor
  general

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives—commonly
  called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in
  single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms)
  elections: last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NP 34.1%, NZLP 28.3%,
  NZFP 13.1%, Alliance 10.1%, ACT 6.17%, UNZ 0.91%; seats by party—NP
  44, NZLP 37, NZFP 17, Alliance 13, ACT 8, UNZ 1

Political parties and leaders: National Party or NP [Jenny
coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian Heritage Party)

International organization participation: ANZUS (US suspended
  security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia
  Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest),
  NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNMOP, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER
  chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN
  embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP
  96531-1001
  consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Economy—overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on a concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. The slump in demand in Asian markets largely explains the slight drop in GDP in 1998.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services 65.1%, industry 25.1%, agriculture 9.8% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $24.9 billion
  expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 18.72% hydro: 75.67% nuclear: 0% other: 5.61% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish

Exports—commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures, dairy products, wood

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.85 (February 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems
  domestic: NA
  international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite
  earth stations—2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 41 (in addition, there are 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways: total: 3,973 km narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 92,200 km
  paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km;
liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km

Merchant marine:
  total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 138,687 GRT/183,372 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
  3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 43 (1998 est.)

Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy,
Royal New Zealand Air Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 793,814 (1999 est.)

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone continental shelf: natural prolongation territorial sea: 200 nm

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

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 27%
  other: 17% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides,
and occasionally severe hurricanes

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 1,037,269; female 1,018,909)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 1,236,326; female 1,297,356)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 54,706; female 72,566) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.08 years male: 64.7 years female: 69.56 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Languages: Spanish (official)
note: English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 65.7%
  male: 64.6%
  female: 66.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
  conventional short form: Nicaragua
  local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
  local short form: Nicaragua

Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular—departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular—region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997);
  Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note—the
  president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January
  1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997);
  note—the president is both chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October
  1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note—in July 1995 the term of the
  office of the president was amended to five years
  party]—includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA
  Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE
  (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other
  candidates) remaining 4.33%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—Liberal Alliance (ruling party—includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party—Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected
for seven-year terms by the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders:
OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC
Saavedra]

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or
  FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista
  Workers Central or CST; Farm Workers Association or ATC; Health
  Workers Federation or FETASALUD; National Union of Employees or UNE;
  National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN; Union of
  Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of
  Professional Associations or CONAPRO; and the National Union of
  Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT
  is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions:
  Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS; Autonomous Nicaraguan
  Workers Central or CTN-A; Independent General Confederation of Labor
  or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
  Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
  Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of
  business groups

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA
  (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
  chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
  York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
  embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
  mailing address: APO AA 34021
  666026, 666027, 666032, 666033

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—overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, Nicaragua had been pursuing a number of impressive economic reforms and had begun to shed the legacy of a decade of civil war and economic mismanagement by posting strong annual growth numbers. The storm has put the reform effort on hold and has changed economic forecasts for the foreseeable future—Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane. Nicaragua sustained approximately $1 billion in damages and will probably see GDP growth slow by at least one percentage point in 1999. Hardest hit was the all-important agriculture sector, which is responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to roughly $900 million. Significant aid and relief have helped to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and other creditors have offered substantial debt relief. Nevertheless, additional financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch condition.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 24% services: 44% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: services 54%, agriculture 31%, industry 15% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $389 million
  expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 48.95% hydro: 21.02% nuclear: 0% other: 30.03% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Imports—commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products

Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1—11.14 (December 1998), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72 (1994)

Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System domestic: wire and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations—1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,
Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur

Airports—with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 143 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 681,495 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the disputants to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras

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

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 Greboun 1,944 m

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 7%
  forests and woodland: 2%
  other: 88% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 2,445,536; female 2,346,844)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 2,421,971; female 2,518,248)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 121,253; female 108,390) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.96 years male: 42.22 years female: 41.7 years (1999 est.)

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

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 13.6%
  male: 20.9%
  female: 6.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Niger
  conventional short form: Niger
  local long form: Republique du Niger
  local short form: Niger

Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular—departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by
national referendum on 12 May 1996

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January
  1996); note—the president is both chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28
  January 1996); note—Ibrahim MAYAKI (since 27 November 1997) was
  appointed prime minister by the president but does not exercise any
  executive authority and is only the implementor of the president's
  programs; the president is both chief of state and head of government
  note: President Ibrahim BARE was assasinated on the 9 April 1999
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  last held 7-8 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note—Ibrahim BARE
  Mainassara initially became president when he ousted President
  Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup on 27 January 1996 and subsequently
  defeated him in the flawed election of July 1996
  election results: percent of vote—Ibrahim BARE Mainassara 52.22%,
  Mahamane OUSMANE 19.75%, Tandja MAMADOU 15.65%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU
  7.60%, Moumouni AMADOU Djermakoye 4.77%

Legislative branch: two-chamber National Assembly; one chamber with 83 seats (members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); selection process for second chamber not established elections: last held 23 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UNIRD 59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3, MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
  TALBA, chairman]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or
  MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic
  Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya
  Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives-Shamuwa or UPDP-Shamuwa
  NA]

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
  MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB,
  WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Charles O. CECIL
  embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
  mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey

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—overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank. Short-term prospects depend largely on upcoming negotiations on debt relief and extended aid.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 18% services: 42% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.3% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%

Budget:
  revenues: $370 million (including $160 million from foreign sources)
  expenditures: $370 million, including capital expenditures of $186
  million (1998 est.)

Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium mining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity—imports: 195 million kWh (1996) note: imports electricity from Nigeria

Agriculture—products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Exports—commodities: uranium ore 50%, livestock products 20%,
cowpeas, onions (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: consumer goods, primary materials,
machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports—partners: France 17%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, US 5%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 4%, Nigeria (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: small system of wire, radiotelephone
  communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in
  southwestern area
  domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio
  relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 9
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 18
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 15
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
Republican Guard, National Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,143,355 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger; delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between
Benin and Cameroon

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,047 km
  border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
  1,497 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 30 nm

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: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas

Land use:
  arable land: 33%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 44%
  forests and woodland: 12%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 25,613,974; female 25,397,166)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 30,272,539; female 29,197,611)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 1,678,732; female 1,668,565) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.3 years male: 52.55 years female: 54.06 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 57.1%
  male: 67.3%
  female: 47.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

Capital: Abuja
  note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from
  Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending
  completion of facilities in Abuja

Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe note: the government has announced the creation of six additional states named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara as part of the process of transition to a civilian government

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
  Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
  9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
  29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
  inaugurated
  head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
  Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
  9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
  29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
  inaugurated
  cabinet: Federal Executive Council
  elections: the president is elected by popular vote for no more than
  two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next
  election to be held NA 2003)
  election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) won the election with NA%
  of the vote, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of
  Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal
  Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote to serve
  seven-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members
  elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA
  2006); House of Representatives—last held 20-24 February 1999 (next
  to be held NA 2006)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PDP 61, APP 24, AD 20, other 4; House of Representives—percent
  of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PDP 206, APP 74, AD 68, others 12
  note: the National Assembly was suspended by the military government
  following the military takeover on 17 November 1993; the new
  civilian government which was elected on 20 February 1999 is
  expected to be inaugurated on 29 May 1999

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
  Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are
  appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory
  Judicial Committee

Political parties and leaders: political parties, suppressed by
  the military government, were allowed to form in July 1998; three
  parties were registered by the Provisional Ruling Council for
  participation in local, state and national elections; All People's

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C
  (suspended), CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM,
  OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU
  chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
  embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
  mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), white, and green

Economy—overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides 30% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. The government's resistance to initiating greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on a staff-monitored program and debt relief. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Growth in 1999 may become negative because of continued low oil prices and persistent inefficiencies in the system.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 42% services: 25% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 31.4% (1992-93)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%

Budget:
  revenues: $13.9 billion (1998 est.)
  expenditures: $13.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  billion (1998 est.)

Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts,
  cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other
  construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals,
  fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 60.94% hydro: 39.06% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Imports—commodities: machinery, chemicals, transportation
equipment, manufactured goods, food and animals

Imports—partners: US 14%, UK 11%, Germany 10%, France 8%,
Netherlands 5% (1997 est.)

Exchange rates: nairas (N) per US$1—21.886 (December 1998), 21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994)

Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, cellular network, and a domestic communications satellite system with 20 earth stations international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable

Railways:
  total: 3,557 km
  narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
  standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
  note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the
  right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the
  system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway

Highways:
  total: 51,000 km
  paved: 26,000 km (including 2,044 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 25,000 km (1998 est.)
  note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because
  of poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part the
  result of the failure of the railroad system), much of the road
  system is barely useable

Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and
smaller rivers and creeks

Merchant marine:
  total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 371,499 GRT/631,425 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 20,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,890,337 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 1,201,738 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula is currently before the International Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea

Illicit drugs: facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 8%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 19%
  other: 50% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church) 75%—a Protestant church
  closely related to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints
  10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses,
  Seventh-Day Adventist)

Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs

Administrative divisions: none; note—there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages each with its own village council whose members are elected and serve three-year terms

Independence: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing
parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
  and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner
  Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993)
  head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (since 12 March
  1993)
  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 23
  February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)
  election results: Frank Fakaotimanava LUI elected premier; percent
  of Legislative Assembly vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections: last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NPP 9, independents 11

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description: yellow with the 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—overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid and remittances from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export products. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by grants from New Zealand which are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Budget:
  revenues: $5.5 million
  expenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1985 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Exports—commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Imports—commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods,
machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
  island
  international: NA

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 75% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian,
New Zealander, Polynesians

Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in
Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown
16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)

Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century
English and ancient Tahitian

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status: territory of Australia; Canberra administers
Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the
Department of Environment, Sport and Territories

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
  and Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since
  4 August 1997)
  head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister George
  Charles Smith (since 30 April 1997)
  cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
  the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
  acts as an advisor to the Administrator
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
  governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the
  Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years;
  election last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)
  election results: George Charles Smith elected chief minister;
  percent of Legislative Assembly vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats;
  members elected by 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 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 9

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—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. Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $4.6 million
  expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY92/93)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Exports—commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island
pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (local programming station; in addition, there are two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)

Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Area:
  total: 477 sq km
  land: 477 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

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

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 19%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 60%

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

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 8,459; female 8,197)
  15-64 years: 74% (male 24,651; female 26,949)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 550; female 592) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.36 years male: 72.19 years female: 78.72 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians,
Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although
traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 96% (1980 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

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

Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978

Legal system: based on US system, except for customs, wages,
immigration laws, and taxation

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are
US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
  20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
  1993)
  head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January
  1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
  ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
  on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
  last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)
  election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way
  race; percent of vote—Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican) 47%

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 NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); House of Representatives—last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Republicans 8, Democrats 1; House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Republicans 13, Democrats 5 note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party—Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court;
Federal District Court

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), SPC

Flag description: blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy—overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing chief source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $1 billion to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$524 million (1996 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)

Labor force—by occupation: managerial 20.5%, technical, sales 16.4%, services 19.3%, farming 3.1%, precision production 13.8%, operators, fabricators 26.9%

Budget:
  revenues: $221 million
  expenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7
  million (1996)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Imports—commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable stations on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 3
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Background: Norway gained its independence from Sweden in 1905. As a separate realm, Norway stayed free of World War I but suffered German occupation in World War II. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s gave a strong boost to Norway's economic fortunes. Norway is planning for the time when its oil and gas reserves are depleted and is focusing on containing spending on its extensive welfare system. It has decided at this time not to join the European Union and the new euro currency regime.

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Land boundaries:
total: 2,515 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km

Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands
2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor
indentations 16,093 km)

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic
Current; colder interior; 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: Glittertinden 2,472 m

Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites,
nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 27%
  other: 70% (1993 est.)

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway is the only NATO member having a land boundary with Russia

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 447,607; female 423,844)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 1,462,906; female 1,415,992)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 286,339; female 401,859) (1999 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.36 years male: 75.55 years female: 81.35 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other
Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)

Languages: Norwegian (official)
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1976 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
  conventional short form: Norway
  local long form: Kongeriket Norge
  local short form: Norge

Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular—fylke);
  Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More
  og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold,
  Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms,
  Vest-Agder, Vestfold

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent
  Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)
  head of government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 15
  October 1997)
  cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
  the Parliament
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
  elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
  coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with
  the approval of the Parliament

Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament or Storting
  which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers (165
  seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional
  representation to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 15 September 1997 (next to be held NA September
  2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—Labor 35%, Center Party
  7.9%, Conservatives 14.3%, Christian People's 13.7%, Socialist Left
  6%, Progress 15.3%, Liberal Party 4.4%, other parties 1.6%; seats by
  party—Labor 65, Center Party 11, Conservatives 23, Christian
  People's 25, Socialist Left 9, Progress 25, Liberal Party 6, other
  parties 1
  note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two
  chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
  or Lagting

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointed
by the monarch

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO,
  IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OPCW,
  OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP,
  UNPREDEP, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tom Erik VRAALSON chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David B. HERMELIN embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707

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—overview: Norway is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism. The economy consists of 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), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. Norway maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50% of GDP and results in one of the highest average tax levels in the world. A major shipping nation, with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods. 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. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Economic growth in 1999 should drop to about 1%. Despite their high per capita income and generous welfare benefits, Norwegians worry about that time in the 21st century when the oil and gas run out.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 21.2% (1991)

Labor force—by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $48.6 billion
  expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.76% hydro: 99.23% nuclear: 0% other: 0.01% (1996)

Exports—commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 55%,
machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish (1997)

Exports—partners: EU 76% (UK 19%, Germany 10%, Netherlands 11%,
Sweden 9%, France 8%), US 6% (1997)

Imports—partners: EU 68% (Sweden 16%, Germany 14%, UK 9%, Denmark
7%, Netherlands 4%), US 6%, Japan 4%(1997)

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1—7.4524 (January 1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994)

Telephones: 2.39 million (1994 est.); 470,000 cellular telephone subscribers (1994)

Telephone system: high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services domestic: NA domestic satellite earth stations international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations—NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143 government), shortwave 0

Railways:
  total: 4,012 km
  standard gauge: 4,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,422 km electrified; 96 km
  double track) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 91,180 km
  paved: 67,473 km (including 109 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 23,707 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad,
Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger,
Tromso, Trondheim

Merchant marine:
  total: 788 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,200,416
  GRT/33,642,888 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 150, chemical tanker 99, combination
  bulk 8, combination ore/oil 39, container 19, liquefied gas tanker
  86, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 143, passenger
  12, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 52, short-sea
  passenger 22, vehicle carrier 36
  note: the government has created an internal register, the Norwegian
  International Ship register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian
  register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of
  convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes
Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home
Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 917,244 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen
Maud Land); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in
the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia

Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for drugs shipped via
the CIS and Baltic states for the European market; increasing
domestic consumption of cannabis and amphetamines

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Land boundaries: total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

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

Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;
strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

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%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 95% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and
dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution
from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41% (male 508,681; female 489,453)
  15-64 years: 57% (male 856,062; female 535,123)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 30,083; female 27,243) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.6 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.33 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.3 years male: 69.31 years female: 73.39 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri
Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Literacy: definition: NA total population: approaching 80% male: NA% female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
  conventional short form: Oman
  local long form: Saltanat Uman
  local short form: Uman

Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqat, singular—mintaqah)
  and 2 governorates* (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah,
  Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*,
  Zufar*

Constitution: none; note—on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral Omani council, 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: limited to approximately 50,000 Omanis chosen by the
government to vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said
  (since 23 July 1970); note—the monarch is both the chief of state
  and head of government
  head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al
  Said (since 23 July 1970); note—the monarch is both the chief of
  state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper
  chamber or Majlis ad-Dawla (41 seats; members appointed by the
  monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis
  ash-Shura (82 seats; members elected by limited suffrage, however,
  the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results;
  body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise
  has only advisory powers)
  elections: last held NA October 1997 (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: NA

Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent
civil court system, administered by region

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
  ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
  ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John D. CRAIG
  embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
  mailing address: international: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat
  Qaboos, Muscat

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 at the top of
  the vertical band

Economy—overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for 75% of export earnings and government revenues and for roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' production at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development. In 1998-99 the economy is suffering from weak world oil prices.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 50% services: 48% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $4 billion
  expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1999 budget est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas
production, construction, cement, copper

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Exports—partners: Japan 26%, China 19%, Thailand 19%, South Korea 14%, US 4% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

Imports—partners: UAE 23% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 14%,
US 8%, Germany 5% (1997)

Telephone system: modern system consisting of open wire,
  microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
  coaxial cable
  domestic: open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a
  domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
  and 1 Arabsat

Television broadcast stations: 13 (in addition, there are 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Highways:
  total: 32,800 km
  paved: 9,840 km (including 550 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 22,960 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,306 GRT/8,210 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 137 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 58 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes
Royal Oman Police)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 420,361 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: southern boundary with the United Arab
Emirates has not been bilaterally defined; northern section in the
Musandam Peninsula is an administrative boundary

Location: body of water between Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Area:
  total: 165.384 million sq km
  note: includes Bali Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering
  Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf
  of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of
  Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, and
  other tributary water bodies

Area—comparative: about 18 times the size of the US; the largest ocean (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world

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); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs from Antarctica; cyclical El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast of Peru, when the trade winds slacken and the warm Equatorial countercurrent moves south, killing the plankton that is the primary food source for anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move to better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds to starve by the thousands because of the loss of their food source; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May and in extreme south from May to October; 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

Environment—international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes—see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix

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 Australia, NZ, China, US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has slowed but not stopped new drillings.

Telephone system:
international: several submarine cables with network nodal points on
Guam and Hawaii

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

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Land boundaries:
  total: 6,774 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
  km, Iran 909 km

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

Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and
northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 6%
  forests and woodland: 5%
  other: 61% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

Environment—current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography—note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional
invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41% (male 29,423,876; female 27,763,774)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 38,533,918; female 36,804,592)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 2,768,942; female 2,828,257) (1999 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.38 years male: 58.49 years female: 60.3 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir
(immigrants from India and their descendants)

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: 37.8%
  male: 50%
  female: 24.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
  conventional short form: Pakistan
  former: West Pakistan

Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1
  capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal
  Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab,
  Sindh
  note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
  Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
amendments 30 December 1985

Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and
reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December
  1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17
  February 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
  elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
  election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held no later than 1
  January 2003); following legislative elections, the leader of the
  majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected
  prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3
  February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
  election results: Mohammad Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of
  Parliament and provincial vote—NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected
  prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora
  consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by
  provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the
  members up for election every two years) and the National Assembly
  (217 seats—10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote
  to serve five-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March
  1999); National Assembly—last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held
  NA February 2002)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J
  2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National
  Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PML/N 137, PPP
  18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1,
  independents 21, minorities 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by
the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'a) Court

Political parties and leaders:
  government: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N
  frequently shifting: Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or
  Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella organization which
  Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S, Tehrik-I-Jafria
  Noorani faction or JUP/NO
  note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently;
  subsequent to the election Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman
  group or JUI/F was disbanded

Political pressure groups and leaders: military remains important
political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and
small merchants also influential

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAS (observer),
  OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Riaz Hussain KHOKHAR chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William MILAM embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200 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—overview: Pakistan continues to suffer through a damaging foreign exchange crisis—stemming from years of loose fiscal policies that have exacerbated inflation and allowed public debt to explode. After accruing more than $1.5 billion in debt arrears in the first six months of FY98/99, Pakistani officials approached multilateral creditors requesting balance-of-payments relief and structural support. In January 1999, Islamabad received more than $1 billion in loans along with $3 billion in debt relief following the Finance Minister DAR's pledge to implement an economic reform program to reduce the budget deficit, deepen the financial sector, and broaden the industrial base. Although the economy has shown signs of improvement following implementation of some corrective measures, Prime Minister SHARIF—historically—has failed to implement the tough structural reforms necessary for sustained, longer-term growth. The government must also cope with long-standing economic vulnerabilities—inadequate infrastructure and low levels of literacy.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 24.2% industry: 26.4% services: 49.4% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 25.2% (1991)

Labor force: 37.8 million (1998) note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 47%, mining and manufacturing 17%, services 17%, other 19%

Budget:
  revenues: $10.8 billion
  expenditures: $12 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY96/97)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 42.13% nuclear: 0.57% other: 0% (1997)

Agriculture—products: cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs

Imports—commodities: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals

Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1—46.000 (January 1999), 45.033 (1998), 41.086 (1997), 36.056 (1996), 31.623 (1995), 30.548 (1994); note—annual average of official rate; parallel market rate is higher

Telephone system: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
  service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
  major businesses have established their own private systems; since
  1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
  telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
  increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
  urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
  available to the majority of the rural population
  domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
  cellular, and satellite
  international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
  and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges
  (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to
  neighboring countries

Television broadcast stations: 22 (in addition, there are seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 8,163 km
  broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas 4,044 km (1987)

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 384,304 GRT/619,668 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 15, container 3, oil tanker 1 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 80 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 20,519,762 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 1,553,310 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: status of Kashmir with India; water-sharing problems with India over the Indus River (Wular Barrage)

Illicit drugs: producer of illicit opium and hashish for the international drug trade (poppy cultivation in 1998—3,030 hectares, a 26% drop from 1997 because of eradication and alternative development); limited center for processing Afghan heroin; key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets; narcotics still move from Afghanistan into Baluchistan Province

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
  extended fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 3 nm

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 Ngerchelchauus 242 m

Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine
products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

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, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou
(Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island
groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 2,595; female 2,446)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 6,867; female 5,675)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 468) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.75 years male: 64.69 years female: 70.98 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races

Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists,
  Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission,
  and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the
  population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states),
  Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese
  (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in
  the other 13 states)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 92%
  male: 93%
  female: 90% (1980 est.)

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

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital: Koror
note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror

Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
  Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong,
  Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island,
  Peleliu, Sonsoral, Tobi

Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and
  Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993)
  and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet
  elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November
  1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
  election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of
  vote—Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E.
  REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote—Tommy E.
  REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau
  (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular
  vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House
  of Delegates (16 seats—one from each state; members elected by
  popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA
  November 2000); House of Delegates—last held 11 November 1996 (next
  to be held NA November 2000)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—NA; House of Delegates—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—NA

International organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila); Charge d'Affaires Allen E. NUGENT embassy: address NA, Koror mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940

Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economy—overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The population enjoys a per capita income of more than twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$160 million (1997 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $52.9 million
  expenditures: $59.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some
commercial fishing and agriculture

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 85% hydro: 15% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Economic aid—recipient: $155.8 million (1995); note?the Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, will provide Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 100%
  other: 0%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status: incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World
War II are unserviceable and overgrown

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
note: some overgrowth of vegetation on runway but still serviceable

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Land boundaries: total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Climate: tropical; 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

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 44%
  other: 27% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
  of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
  Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography—note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus
  forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls
  Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with
  North Pacific Ocean

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 446,792; female 429,811)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 882,541; female 859,455)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 76,648; female 83,279) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.66 years male: 71.91 years female: 77.51 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%,
Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 90.8%
  male: 91.4%
  female: 90.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Panama
  conventional short form: Panama
  local long form: Republica de Panama
  local short form: Panama

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas, and a new, as yet unnamed territory* or comarca created 7 March 1997 when President PEREZ BALLADARES signed a bill designating a reserve stretched across three provinces

Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
  September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
  1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
  September 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
  September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
  1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
  September 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994
  (next to be held 2 May 1999)
  election results: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president;
  percent of vote—Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO
  DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES
  (MOLIRENA) 16%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
  Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PRD
  32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PLN 2, PDC
  1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
  note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
  plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
  cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
  formula

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior
courts; three courts of appeal

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation: CAN (associate), CCC,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba
  chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
  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 Simon FERRO
  embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
  mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002

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—overview: Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. Since taking office in 1994, President PEREZ BALLADARES has advanced an economic reform program designed to liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage job creation through labor code reform. The government privatized its two remaining ports along the Panama Canal in 1997 and approved the sale of the railroad in early 1998. It also plans to sell other assets, including the electric company. Panama joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) and approved a tariff reduction that will give the country the lowest average tariff rates in Latin America. A banking reform law was approved by the legislature in early 1998. The most important sectors driving growth have been the Panama Canal and other shipping and port activities.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 18% services: 74% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.5% (1991)

Labor force: 1.044 million (1997 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Labor force—by occupation: government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3%

Budget:
  revenues: $2.4 billion
  expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $341
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and
other construction materials, sugar milling

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 29.58% hydro: 70.42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp

Exports—commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%

Imports—commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals

Telephone system: domestic and international facilities well
  developed
  domestic: NA
  international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations—2
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American
  Microwave System

Railways:
  total: 355 km
  broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 11,100 km
  paved: 3,730 km (including 30 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 7,370 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part
of Colon area), Vacamonte

Merchant marine:
  total: 4,632 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 98,433,972
  GRT/149,800,820 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1,335, cargo 1,028, chemical tanker 288,
  combination bulk 68, combination ore/oil 15, container 507,
  liquefied gas tanker 176, livestock carrier 9, multifunction
  large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 498, passenger 41, passenger-cargo
  5, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 312, roll-on/roll-off cargo
  102, short-sea passenger 40, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier
  177
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71
  countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244,
  South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116,
  Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 43 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 22 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 50 (1998 est.)

Military branches: an amendment to the Constitution abolished the
  armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public
  Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime
  Service, and National Air Service)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 511,866 (1999 est.)

Military—note: in October 1994, a month after President PEREZ BALLADARES assumed office, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of a "special police force" to counter acts of "external aggression"

Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major drug-money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving

Location: Southeastern Asia, 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

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0.1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 92.9%
  other: 6% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific
"Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes
severe earthquakes; mud slides

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, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 951,532; female 902,841)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 1,411,053; female 1,298,937)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 64,101; female 76,662) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.47 years male: 57.58 years female: 59.4 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
  Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
  Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant
  sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%

Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread,
Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 72.2%
  male: 81%
  female: 62.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
  conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
  abbreviation: PNG

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)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November
  1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Bill SKATE (since 22 July 1997);
  Deputy Prime Minister Iairo LASARO (since 20 October 1998)
  cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
  general on the recommendation of the prime minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
  appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and
  deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to
  five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament

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 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%; seats by party—PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note—association with political parties is very fluid

Judicial branch: 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

International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
  embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby

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—overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Despite problems with drought, the year 1998 saw a small recovery in GDP.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 28.2% industry: 34.5% services: 37.3% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.5 billion
  expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 70.59% hydro: 29.41% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork

Exports—commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil,
coffee, cocoa, crayfish and prawns

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1—0.47 (December 1998), 0.6975 (1997), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994); note—the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Telephone system: services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service

Merchant marine:
  total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,400 GRT/50,869 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, combination
  ore/oil 5, container 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 473 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 400 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes
Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 687,978 (1999 est.)

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Economy—overview: China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded

Land boundaries: total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Climate: subtropical; 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 San Rafael 850 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 55%
  forests and woodland: 32%
  other: 7% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment—current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million
  hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water
  pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks
  for many urban residents

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
  Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 1,086,107; female 1,049,833)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 1,528,127; female 1,517,213)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 116,761; female 136,054) (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.43 years male: 70.47 years female: 74.49 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white
plus Amerindian 5%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 92.1%
  male: 93.5%
  female: 90.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
  conventional short form: Paraguay
  local long form: Republica del Paraguay
  local short form: Paraguay

Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
  singular—departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay,
  Asuncion, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central,
  Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu,
  Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March
  1999); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March
  1999); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 10 May 1998
  (next to be held NA May 2003)
  election results: Raul CUBAS Grau elected president; percent of
  vote—55.3%; resigned 28 March 1999
  note: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi, formerly president of the
  Chamber of Senators, constitutionally succeeded President Raul CUBAS
  Grau, who resigned following the assassination of Vice President
  Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA will be decided in an
  election to be held in late 1999

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 10 May 1998 (next to be
  held NA May 2003); Chamber of Deputies—last held 10 May 1998 (next
  to be held NA May 2003)
  election results: Chamber of Senators—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—Colorado Party 24, PLRA/PEN 20, other 1; Chamber of
  Deputies—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Colorado Party
  45, PLRA/PEN 35

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of
Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura)

Political pressure groups and leaders: Unitary Workers Central or
CUT; Roman Catholic Church; National Workers Central or CNT;
Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
  IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
  chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Maura A. HARTY
  embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
  mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001

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—overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes, and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. The formal sector is largely oriented toward services. A large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy has grown an average of about 3% over the past six years, but GDP declined in 1998. However, population has increased at about the same rate over the same period, leaving per capita income nearly stagnant. The new government of Raul CUBAS Grau was pursuing an economic reform agenda, albeit with limited success because of in-fighting in the ruling party and resistance from the opposition.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 30% services: 43% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 46.6% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.25 billion
  expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $357
  million (1995 est.)

Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.07% hydro: 99.93% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Exports—commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils,
meat products, coffee, tung oil

Exports—partners: Brazil 48%, Netherlands 22%, Argentina 9%, US
4%, Uruguay 3%, Chile 2% (1997)

Imports—commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, foodstuffs,
raw materials, fuels

Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$—2,866.3 (January 1999), 2,755.7 (1998), 2,191.0 (1997), 2,062.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994)

Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching
  center is Asuncion
  domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 971 km
  standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: there are 470 km of various gauges that are privately owned

Merchant marine:
  total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,287 GRT/32,510 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 4,
  roll-on/roll-off 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 931 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 29 914 to 1,523 m: 349 under 914 m: 552 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 947,347 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for Europe and the US

Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific
Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Land boundaries:
  total: 6,940 km
  border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
  Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 21%
  forests and woodland: 66%
  other: 10% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

Environment—current issues: deforestation; 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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 4,786,048; female 4,637,280)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 8,045,747; female 7,939,760)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 557,252; female 658,495) (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.38 years male: 68.08 years female: 72.78 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 88.7%
  male: 94.5%
  female: 83% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Peru
  conventional short form: Peru
  local long form: Republica del Peru
  local short form: Peru

Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos, singular—departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali note: the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions (regiones, singular—region) to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 of the 24 departments—Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the central government and organizational and political difficulties, the regions have yet to assume major responsibilities; the 1993 constitution retains the regions but limits their authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments

Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28
  July 1990); note—the president is both the chief of state and head
  of government
  head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since
  28 July 1990); note—the president is both the chief of state and
  head of government
  note: Prime Minister Victor JOYWAY (since 4 January 1999) 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;
  election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of
  vote—Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%,
  Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%

Legislative branch: unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, other parties 33.9%; seats by party—C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, CODE-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovation 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, other parties 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the
Judiciary

Political pressure groups and leaders: leftist guerrilla groups
RAMIREZ Durand (top leader at-large)]; Tupac Amaru Revolutionary
(top leader at-large)]

International organization participation: APEC, CAN, CCC, ECLAC,
  FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA,
  NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA MENDOZA
  chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
  York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis C. JETT
  embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
  APO AA 34031-5000

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 llama, cinchona
  tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out
  gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Economy—overview: The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a short-lived contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. By working with the IMF and World Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign investment helped push growth to 7% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995. Growth slowed to 2.8% in 1996 as the government adopted tight fiscal and monetary policy to reduce the current account deficit and meet its IMF targets. Growth then rebounded to 7.3% in 1997 even as inflation fell to its lowest level in 23 years. Capital inflows surged to record levels in early 1997 and have remained strong. In 1998, El Nino's impact on agriculture, the financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets undercut growth. While Lima publicly projects a rebound to 5% in 1999, private sector analysts believe this figure is overly optimistic.

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 34.3% (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services

Budget:
  revenues: $8.5 billion
  expenditures: $9.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $2
  billion (1996 est.)

Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 19.25% hydro: 80.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish

Exports—commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and
byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton

Imports—commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1—3.250 (January 1999), 2.930 (1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate for most requirements domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 2,041 km
  standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 315 km 0.914-m gauge (1997)

Waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and
208 km of Lago Titicaca

Ports and harbors: Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto
  Maldonado, Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa,
  Yurimaguas
  note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all on the upper reaches
  of the Amazon and its tributaries

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,518 GRT/75,018 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 44
  over 3,047 m: 7
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
  914 to 1,523 m: 8
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 200
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
  914 to 1,523 m: 73
  under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de
Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,657,649 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $913 million (1998); note—may not include off-budget purchases related to military modernization program

Disputes—international: on 26 October 1998, Peru and Ecuador concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the long-standing boundary dispute between them; demarcation of the agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999

Illicit drugs: until recently the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru has reduced the area of coca under cultivation by 26%, from 68,800 hectares in 1997 to 51,000 hectares at the end of 1998; most of cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia and Brazil for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine
Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth

Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October)

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: 12%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 46%
  other: 19% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment—current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
  Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
  Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37% (male 15,057,698; female 14,555,430)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 23,168,043; female 23,715,877)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 1,269,522; female 1,579,242) (1999 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.58 years male: 63.79 years female: 69.5 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 94.6%
  male: 95%
  female: 94.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
  conventional short form: Philippines
  local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
  local short form: Pilipinas

Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*;
  Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*,
  Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan
  City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol,
  Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de
  Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
  Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu,
  Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City*
  Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern
  Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte,
  Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao,
  La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*,
  Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao,
  Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental,
  Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain,
  Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern
  Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*,
  Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*,
  Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon,
  Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
  Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon,
  South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*,
  Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,
  Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,
  Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
  1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
  1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
  1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
  1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the
  Commission of Appointments
  elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
  by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998
  (next to be held 11 May 2004)
  election results: Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent
  of vote—NA%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent
  of vote—NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of
  the Senate or Senado (24 seats—one-half elected every three years;
  members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the
  House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (221 seats;
  members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note—an
  additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)
  elections: Senate—last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May
  2001); House of Representatives—elections last held 11 May 1998
  (next to be held 11 May 2001)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note—the Senate now
  has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria
  MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president; the seat can only be filled
  by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular
  election in 2001; House of Representatives—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon
  Demokratiko 1, other 35

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for
four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the
Judicial and Bar Council

Political parties and leaders: Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP
  Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party
  MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party
  SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
  CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam) consulate(s): San Diego and Susupe (Saipan)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 mailing address: FPO 96515

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star

Economy—overview: In 1998 the Philippine economy?a mixture of agriculture, light industry, and supporting services—deteriorated as a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions. Growth fell to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but is expected to recover to more than 2% in 1999. The government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 32% services: 48% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 33.5% (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 39.8%, government and social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%, construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)

Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products,
food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 62.11% hydro: 20.19% nuclear: 0% other: 17.7% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

Exports—commodities: electronics and telecommunications 51%,
machinery and transport 10%, garments 9%, other 30%

Exports—partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, EU 17%, ASEAN 14%, Hong Kong
4%, Taiwan 4% (1997 est.)

Imports—commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods 43%,
capital goods 36%, consumer goods 9%, fuels 9%

Imports—partners: Japan 21%, US 20%, ASEAN 12%, EU 10%, Taiwan
5%, Hong Kong 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1997 est.)

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1—38.404 (January 1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995), 26.417 (1994)

Telephone system: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations international: submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 37 (includes six stations of the
US Armed Forces Radio and TV Service) (1997)

Railways:
total: 897 km of which 492 km in operation
narrow gauge: 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)

Ports and harbors: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao,
Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao,
Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Merchant marine:
  total: 513 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,544,029
  GRT/10,052,418 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 179, cargo 131, chemical tanker 6, combination
  bulk 13, container 9, liquefied gas tanker 12, livestock carrier 10,
  oil tanker 48, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo
  19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 31, specialized
  tanker 1, vehicle carrier 20
  note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong
  5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK
  1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 75 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 185 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 121 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine
Corps), Air Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,261,514 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: involved in a complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; claim to Malaysia's Sabah State has not been fully revoked

Illicit drugs: exports locally produced marijuana and hashish to
East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit
point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand

Climate: tropical, hot, humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

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%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment—current issues: deforestation (only a small portion
of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for
settlement)

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Languages: English (official), Pitcairnese, Tahitian, 18th century English dialect

Country name:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)

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 Robert John ALSTON (since NA
  August 1994); Commissioner (nonresident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA;
  is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council)
  head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island
  Council Jay WARREN (since NA)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner and
  commissioner appointed by the monarch; island magistrate elected by
  popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA
  December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996)
  election results: Jay WARREN reelected island magistrate; percent of
  vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council (10 seats—6 elected
  by popular vote, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed
  by the governor, and 1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve
  one-year terms)
  elections: take place each December; last held NA December 1998
  (next to be held NA December 1999)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—all independents

Judicial branch: Island Court, island magistrate presides over
the court and is elected every three years

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—overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. 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.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Budget:
  revenues: $729,884
  expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Imports—commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,888 km
  border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
  km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
  444 km, Ukraine 428 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters
with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Land use:
  arable land: 47%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 13%
  forests and woodland: 29%
  other: 10% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist 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

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
  Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat
terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 3,921,093; female 3,734,223)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 13,076,231; female 13,243,716)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 1,762,135; female 2,871,531) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.06 years male: 68.93 years female: 77.41 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%,
Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern
Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 98% (1978 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Poland
  conventional short form: Poland
  local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
  local short form: Polska

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (wojewodztwa,
  singular—wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie,
  Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie,
  Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie,
  Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie

National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791); Independence
Day, November 11 (1918)

Constitution: 16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly
on 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 May 1997

Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts although under the new constitution, the Constitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December
  1995)
  head of government: Prime Minister Jerzy BUZEK (since NA October
  1997), Deputy Prime Ministers Leszek BALCEROWICZ (since 31 October
  1997), Janusz TOMASZEWSKI (since 31 October 1997)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and
  the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and
  the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19
  November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and
  deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by
  the Sejm
  election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president in 1995;
  percent of popular vote, second round—Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%,
  Lech WALESA 48.3%; Jerzy BUZEK selected prime minister in 1997

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms) elections: Sejm elections last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001); Senate—last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001) election results: Sejm—percent of vote by party—AWS 33.8%, SLD 27.1%, UW 13.4%, PSL 7.3%, ROP 5.6%, MN 0.4%, other 12.4%; seats by party—AWS 201, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 27, ROP 6, MN 2; Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—AWS 51, SLD 28, UW 8, ROP 5, PSL 3, independents 5; note—seats by party in the Sejm as of December 1997: AWS 200, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 26, ROP 4, MN 2, other 4 note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period; Constitutional Tribunal, judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms

Political parties and leaders:
  post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of
  KALINOWSKI]
  post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union or UW; note—Democratic Union
  non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Movement for the Reconstruction of

Political pressure groups and leaders: powerful Roman Catholic
Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance or
OPZZ (trade union)

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel FRIED embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054, Warsaw P1 mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) 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—overview: Poland today stands out as one of the most successful and open transition economies. The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms marked the rapid development of a private sector now responsible for 70% of economic activity. In contrast to the vibrant expansion of private non-farm activity, the large agriculture component remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. The government's determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affects all aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's worsening current account deficit also is a priority. To date, the government has resisted pressure for protectionist solutions and continues to support regional free trade initiatives. The government export strategy emphasizes a more aggressive export assistance program. Warsaw continues to hold the budget deficit to less than 2% of GDP. Further progress on public finance depends mainly on comprehensive reform of the social welfare system and privatization of Poland's remaining state sector. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, and telecommunications) has begun. Long-awaited privatizations in aviation and energy are scheduled for 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5.1% industry: 26.6% services: 68.3% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22.1% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 29.9%, agriculture 26%, services 44.1% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $36.5 billion
  expenditures: $38.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining,
chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 97.09% hydro: 2.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, beef, milk, cheese

Exports—commodities: manufactured goods, chemicals 57%, machinery and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7%, other 3%

Exports—partners: Germany 32.9%, Russia 8.4%, Italy 5.9%, Ukraine 4.7%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.4%

Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, chemical 43%, machinery and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8%, other 4%

Imports—partners: Germany 24.1%, Italy 9.9%, Russia 6.3%, UK 5.5%, US 4.5%, France 5.9%

Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1—3.5409 (January 1999), 3.4754 (1998), 3.2793 (1997), 2.6961 (1996), 2.4250 (1995); note—a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994)

Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government
  aims to have 10 million telephones in service by 2000; the process
  of partial privatization of the state-owned telephone monopoly has
  begun
  domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular
  networks
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2
  Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik
  (Atlantic Ocean region)

Railways:
  total: 24,313 km
  broad gauge: 652 km 1.520-m gauge
  standard gauge: 22,243 km 1.435-m gauge (11,648 km electrified;
  8,978 km double track)
  narrow gauge: 1,418 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,
  0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1996)

Highways:
  total: 377,048 km
  paved: 247,721 km (including 264 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 129,327 km (1997 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 2,280 km; natural gas
17,000 km (1996)

Ports and harbors: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin,
Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw

Merchant marine:
  total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,162,954 GRT/1,866,462
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 53, cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 74 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,104,484 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Spain

Area:
  total: 92,391 sq km
  land: 91,951 sq km
  water: 440 sq km
  note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in
  the Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore,
uranium ore, marble

Land use:
  arable land: 26%
  permanent crops: 9%
  permanent pastures: 9%
  forests and woodland: 36%
  other: 20% (1993 est.)

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,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate
  Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Tropical Timber 94

Geography—note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic
locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 866,115; female 820,438)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 3,283,345; female 3,428,427)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 619,086; female 900,629) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.88 years male: 72.51 years female: 79.46 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black
African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization
number less than 100,000

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 85%
  male: 89%
  female: 82% (1990 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
  conventional short form: Portugal
  local long form: Republica Portuguesa
  local short form: Portugal

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

Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November 1992, and 3 September 1997

Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera
  GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister
  note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
  body to the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January
  2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
  party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
  minister by the president
  election results: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of
  vote—Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Social
  Democrat) 46.2%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or
  Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular
  vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by 1 October
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU
  8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party—PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica,
judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD
Popular Party or PP (formerly known as Center Democratic Party or
SERGIO]; United Democratic Coalition or CDU (communists; includes

International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
  BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LAIA (observer), MINURCA, MINURSO, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
  NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security
  Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,
  UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN
  GUIMARAES
  chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), New
  Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island), and San Francisco
  consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald S. MCGOWAN embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726 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—overview: Portugal, in 1998, continued to see strong economic growth, falling interest rates, and low unemployment. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and joined with 10 other European countries in launching the euro on 1 January 1999. Portugal's inflation rate for 1998, 2.8%, was low but higher than most of its European partners. The country continues to run a trade deficit and a balance of payments deficit. The government is working to modernize capital plant and increase the country's competitiveness in the increasingly integrated world markets. Growth is expected to slow to 3% in 1999 because of a slowdown in public investment and sluggish demand for exports.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 36% services: 60% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services 56%, manufacturing 22%, agriculture, forestry, fisheries 12%, construction 9%, mining 1% (1998 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $48 billion
  expenditures: $52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4
  billion (1996 est.)

Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork;
metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 55% hydro: 45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998 est.)

Agriculture—products: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products

Exports—commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals,
cork and paper products, hides

Exports—partners: EU 81% (Germany 20%, Spain 15%, France 14%, UK
12% Netherlands 5%, Benelux 5%, Italy 4%), US 5% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, petroleum, textiles, agricultural products

Imports—partners: EU 76% (Spain 24%, Germany 15%, France 11%,
Italy 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%), US 3%, Japan 2% (1997)

Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1—172.78 (January
  1999), 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995),
  165.99 (1994)
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 200.482 escudos per euro; the euro will replace the local
  currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system:
  domestic: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables,
  open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth
  stations
  international: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3
  Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
  tropospheric scatter to Azores; note—an earth station for Inmarsat
  (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned

Railways:
  total: 3,072 km
  broad gauge: 2,769 km 1.668-m gauge (528 km electrified; 426 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 303 km 1.000-m gauge (1996)

Highways:
  total: 68,732 km
  paved: 59,110 km (including 687 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 9,622 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national
economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo
capacity

Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km; natural gas
  700 km
  note: the secondary lines for the natural gas pipeline that will be
  300 km long have not yet been built

Ports and harbors: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta
(Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da
Vitoria (Azores), Setubal, Viana do Castelo

Merchant marine:
  total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 894,640 GRT/1,366,955
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 72, chemical tanker 14, container 7,
  liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4, vehicle carrier 2
  note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for
  Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will
  have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 40 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force,
National Republican Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,042,730 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: as former colonial power, Portugal plays a key role in the issue of Indonesia's sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province), which has not been recognized by the UN

Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Terrain: mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north;
mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most
coastal areas

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore
and offshore oil

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 26%
  forests and woodland: 16%
  other: 49% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 482,111; female 459,940)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 1,220,682; female 1,323,787)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 173,133; female 227,999) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.06 years male: 70.95 years female: 79.41 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 89%
  male: 90%
  female: 88% (1980 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the
  US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by
  the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios,
  singular—municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada,
  Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo,
  Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy,
  Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo,
  Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica,
  Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros,
  Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las
  Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo,
  Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas,
  Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande,
  Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa
  Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega
  Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco

Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3
July 1952; effective 25 July 1952

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 William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
  20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
  1993)
  head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
  ticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a
  four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held
  7 November 2000)
  election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor; percent of
  vote—51.1%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of
  the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
  to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54
  seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7
  November 2000); House of Representatives—last held 5 November 1996
  (next to be held 7 November 2000)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives—percent of vote
  by party—NA; seats by party—PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1
  note: Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative to the US
  House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next
  to be held 7 November 2000); results—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate); Superior Courts (justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate); Municipal Courts (justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)

Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National
  Liberation or FALN; Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution;
  Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of
  Popular Resistance

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (commonwealth
associated with the US)

Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag

Economy—overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has 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 for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 4 million tourists in 1993. Construction and tourism were the leading sectors in economic growth in 1998.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: government 19%, manufacturing 13%, trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 98.36% hydro: 1.64% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens

Exports—commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Imports—commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

Telephone system: modern system, integrated with that of the US
  by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data
  capability
  domestic: digital telephone system with about 1 million lines (1990
  est.); cellular telephone service
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat; submarine cable
  to US

Radio broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0
note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995

Television broadcast stations: 18 (in addition, there are three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 96 km
  narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for
  hauling sugarcane; no passenger service

Airports—with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 94% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
  Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography—note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major petroleum deposits

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 99,232; female 95,421)
  15-64 years: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 2.52 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 2.35 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.23 years male: 71.7 years female: 76.89 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 79.4%
  male: 79.2%
  female: 79.9% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat,
  singular—baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al
  Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal,
  Umm Salal

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

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 JASSIM bin Hamad bin
  Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by
  the monarch 22 October 1996); note—Amir HAMAD also holds the
  positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed
  forces
  head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,
  brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime
  Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch
  (since 20 January 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the monarch) note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no 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

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
  CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,
  IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
  OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 consulate(s) general: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

Economy—overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $3.4 billion
  expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
  million (FY98/99 budget est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: Japan 49%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 12%,
Thailand 4%, US 3% (1997)

Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha
  domestic: NA
  international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio
  relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
  satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
  Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 713,014 GRT/1,112,829
  DWT
  ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 5, oil
  tanker 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 301,451 (1999 est.) note: includes non-nationals

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 158,114 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing

Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool
and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 35%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 118,401; female 112,878)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 218,952; female 225,292)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 17,506; female 24,694) (1999 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.73 years male: 72.69 years female: 78.93 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 79%
  male: 76%
  female: 80% (1982 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Department of Reunion
  conventional short form: Reunion
  local long form: none
  local short form: Ile de la Reunion

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)
  head of government: President of the General Council Christophe
  PAYET (since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council
  Margarite SUDRE (since 25 June 1993)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
  French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and
  Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members
  are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and
  unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct
  popular vote to serve six-year terms)
  elections: General Council—last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
  NA 2000); Regional Council—last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
  NA 1999)
  election results: General Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats
  by party—PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional
  Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UPF 17, Free-Dom
  Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
  note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
  elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1, PCR 2;
  Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly;
  elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA2002);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PCR 3, PS 1, and
  RPR-UDF 1

Economy—overview: The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $856.7 million
  expenditures: $2.2437 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 54.55% hydro: 45.45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn

Exports—commodities: sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993)

Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis domestic: modern open wire and microwave radio relay network international: radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 22 (in addition, there are 18 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 chemical tanker (l,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,264
GRT/44,885 DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 95,068 (1999 est.)

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,508 km
  border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362
  km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: 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

Land use:
  arable land: 41%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 21%
  forests and woodland: 29%
  other: 6% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides

Environment—current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
  Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol

Geography—note: controls most easily traversable land route
between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 2,117,289; female 2,027,940)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 7,563,695; female 7,663,491)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 1,234,760; female 1,727,137) (1999 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.83 years male: 67.05 years female: 74.81 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%,
Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%

Religions: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3%
are Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 98%
  female: 95% (1992 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania

Administrative divisions: 40 counties (judete, singular—judet)
  and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor,
  Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau,
  Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj,
  Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi,
  Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
  Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November
  1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister Radu VASILE (since 17 April 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two
  candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA
  November/December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: percent of vote—Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion
  ILIESCU 45.6%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of
  the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct
  popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve
  four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor
  (343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a
  proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA
  2000); Chamber of Deputies—last held 3 November 1996 (next to be
  held NA 2000)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—CDR 30.7%, PDSR
  23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%;
  seats by party—CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7;
  Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by party—CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%,
  USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by
  party—CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic
  minorities 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed
by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of
Magistrates

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or PD [Petre DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM note: to increase their voting strength several of the above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD, PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent election

Political pressure groups and leaders: various human rights and
professional associations

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
  CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
  MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner),
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James C. ROSAPEPE embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) branch office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flags of Andorra and Chad

Economy—overview: After the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989-91, Romania was left with an obsolete industrial base and a pattern of industrial capacity wholly unsuited to its needs. In February 1997, Romania embarked on a comprehensive macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform program, but reform subsequently has been a stop-and-go process. Restructuring programs include liquidating large energy-intensive industries and major agricultural and financial sector reforms. Today, Romania is continuing its difficult transition to a market-based economy. GDP contracted by an estimated 7.3% in 1998 after a 6.6% decline in 1997. Tight monetary policy and slower exchange rate depreciation earlier in 1998 helped lower inflation to an estimated 41% from 152% in 1997. The large current account deficit and concerns about meeting debt payments in 1999 contributed to increased pressure on the exchange rate towards the end of 1998. Replacing the IMF standby agreement (suspended because of lack of progress on structural reforms), servicing large debt payments, and bringing the budget under control are key priorities for 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 41% services: 40% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $10 billion
  expenditures: $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.3
  billion (1997 est.)

Industries: mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production and refining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 72.11% hydro: 26.35% nuclear: 1.54% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, beef

Exports—commodities: textiles and footwear 23%, metals and metal
products 18%, machinery and equipment 9%, chemicals 7% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and
minerals 19%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs (1997)

Exchange rates: lei (L) per US$1—11,353.6 (January 1999), 8,875.6 (1998), 7,167.9 (1997), 3,084.2 (1996), 2,033.3 (1995), 1,655.1 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: poor service; 89% of telephone network is automatic; trunk
  network is microwave radio relay; roughly 3,300 villages with no
  service (February 1990 est.)
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat; new digital
  international direct-dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993 est.)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: in 1995, 135 local radio stations were registered

Television broadcast stations: 130 (in addition, there are about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 11,376 km
  broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
  standard gauge: 10,889 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060
  km double track)
  narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
  total: 153,358 km
  paved: 78,213 km (including 113 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 75,145 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km;
natural gas 6,400 km (1992)

Merchant marine:
  total: 199 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,996,157
  GRT/2,917,895 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 141, container 2, oil tanker 7,
  passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 9, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 21
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

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

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,938,953 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: dispute with Ukraine over continental shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of Justice

Illicit drugs: important transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe

Background: Russia, a vast Eurasian expanse of field, forest, desert, and tundra, has endured many "times of trouble"—the Mongol rule of the 13th to 15th century; czarist reigns of terror; massive invasions by Swedes, French, and Germans; and the deadly communist period (1917-91) in which Russia dominated an immense Soviet Union. General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV, in charge during 1985-91, introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize communism, but also inadvertently released forces that shattered the USSR into 15 independent republics in December 1991. Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the communist period. These reform efforts have resulted in contradictory and confusing economic and political regulations and practices. Industry, agriculture, the military, the central government, and the ruble have suffered, but Russia has successfully held one presidential, two legislative, and numerous regional elections since 1991. The severe illnesses of President Boris YEL'TSIN have contributed to a lack of policy focus at the center.

Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean

Land boundaries:
  total: 19,917 km
  border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
  (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland
  1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,
  Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441
  km, Norway 167 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576
  km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast

Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast
coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along
southern border regions

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Mount 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: 8%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 46%
  other: 42% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula

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 sea coasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
  Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 14,224,033; female 13,666,440)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 48,407,409; female 51,768,664)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 5,698,356; female 12,628,667) (1999
  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: 0.45 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.12 years male: 58.83 years female: 71.72 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 100%
  female: 97% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Russian Federation
  conventional short form: Russia
  local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
  local short form: Rossiya
  former: Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: oblasts (oblastey, singular—oblast'), 21 autonomous republics* (avtonomnyk respublik, singular—avtonomnaya respublika), 10 autonomous okrugs**(avtonomnykh okrugov, singular—avtonomnyy okrug), 6 krays*** (krayev, singular—kray), 2 federal cities (singular—gorod)****, and 1 autonomous oblast*****(avtonomnaya oblast'); Adygeya (Maykop)*, Aginskiy Buryatskiy (Aginskoye)**, Altay (Gorno-Altaysk)*, Altayskiy (Barnaul)***, Amurskaya (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'skaya, Astrakhanskaya, Bashkortostan (Ufa)*, Belgorodskaya, Bryanskaya, Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude)*, Chechnya (Groznyy)*, Chelyabinskaya, Chitinskaya, Chukotskiy (Anadyr')**, Chuvashiya (Cheboksary)*, Dagestan (Makhachkala)*, Evenkiyskiy (Tura)**, Ingushetiya (Nazran')*, Irkutskaya, Ivanovskaya, Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik)*, Kaliningradskaya, Kalmykiya (Elista)*, Kaluzkskaya, Kamchatskaya (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk)*, Kareliya (Petrozavodsk)*, Kemerovskaya, Khabarovskiy***, Khakasiya (Abakan)*, Khanty-Mansiyskiy (Khanty-Mansiysk)**, Kirovskaya, Komi (Syktyvkar)*, Koryakskiy (Palana)**, Kostromskaya, Krasnodarskiy***, Krasnoyarskiy***, Kurganskaya, Kurskaya, Leningradskaya, Lipetskaya, Magadanskaya, Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola)*, Mordoviya (Saransk)*, Moskovskaya, Moskva (Moscow)****, Murmanskaya, Nenetskiy (Nar'yan-Mar)**, Nizhegorodskaya, Novgorodskaya, Novosibirskaya, Omskaya, Orenburgskaya, Orlovskaya (Orel), Penzenskaya, Permskaya, Komi-Permyatskiy (Kudymkar)**, Primorskiy (Vladivostok)***, Pskovskaya, Rostovskaya, Ryazanskaya, Sakha (Yakutsk)*, Sakhalinskaya (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samarskaya, Sankt-Peterburg (Saint Petersburg)****, Saratovskaya, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya (Vladikavkaz)*, Smolenskaya, Stavropol'skiy***, Sverdlovskaya (Yekaterinburg), Tambovskaya, Tatarstan (Kazan')*, Taymyrskiy (Dudinka)**, Tomskaya, Tul'skaya, Tverskaya, Tyumenskaya, Tyva (Kyzyl)*, Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)*, Ul'yanovskaya, Ust'-Ordynskiy Buryatskiy (Ust'-Ordynskiy)**, Vladimirskaya, Volgogradskaya, Vologodskaya, Voronezhskaya, Yamalo-Nenetskiy (Salekhard)**, Yaroslavskaya, Yevreyskaya*****; note—when using a place name with an adjectival ending 'skaya' or 'skiy,' the word Oblast' or Avonomnyy Okrug or Kray should be added to the place name note: the autonomous republics of Chechnya and Ingushetiya were formerly the autonomous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between Chechnya and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June
  1991)
  head of government: Premier Yevgeniy Maksimovich PRIMAKOV (since 11
  September 1998), First Deputy Premiers Yuriy Dmitriyevich MASLYUKOV
  (since 11 September 1998) and Vadim Anatol'yevich GUSTOV (since 11
  September 1998); Deputy Premiers Vladimir Broisovich BULGAK (since
  11 September 1998), Gennadiy Vasil'yevich KULIK (since 11 September
  1998), and Valentin Ivanovna MATVIYENKO (since 11 September 1998)
  cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of
  the premier and his deputies, ministers, and other agency heads; all
  are appointed by the president
  note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides
  staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential
  decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a
  Security Council also reports directly to the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  election last held 16 June 1996 with runoff election on 3 July 1996
  (next to be held NA June 2000); note—no vice president; if the
  president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill
  health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the
  premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election
  is held, which must be within three months; premier and deputy
  premiers appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma
  election results: Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN elected president;
  percent of vote in runoff—YEL'TSIN 54%, Gennadiy Andreyevich
  ZYUGANOV 40%

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Federal'noye
  Sobraniye consists of the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii
  (178 seats, filled ex-officio by the top executive and legislative
  officials in each of the 89 federal administrative units—oblasts,
  krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the federal
  cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg; members serve four-year terms)
  and the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats, half elected
  in single-member districts and half elected from national party
  lists; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year
  terms)
  elections: State Duma—last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA
  December 1999)
  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—Communist Party of the Russian Federation
  22.3%, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 11.2%, Our Home Is Russia
  10.1%, Yabloko Bloc 6.9%; seats by party—Communist Party of the
  Russian Federation 157, independents 78, Our Home Is Russia 55,
  Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 51, Yabloko Bloc 45, Agrarian
  Party of Russia 20, Russia's Democratic Choice 9, Power To the
  People 9, Congress of Russian Communities 5, Forward, Russia! 3,
  Women of Russia 3, other parties 15

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed for
  life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the
  president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed for life by the
  Federation Council on the recommendation of the president; Superior
  Court of Arbitration, judges are appointed for life by the
  Federation Council on the recommendation of the president

Political parties and leaders:
  YAVLINSKIY]; Pravoye Delo (Just Cause), a coalition of reformist,
  Borisovich CHUBAYS, Boris Yefimovich NEMTSOV, Sergey Vladlenovich
  KIRIYENKO]
  anti-market and/or ultranationalist: Communist Party of the Russian
  BARKASHOV]
  note: some 150 political parties, blocs, and movements registered
  with the Justice Ministry as of the 19 December 1998 deadline to be
  eligible to participate in the scheduled December 1999 Duma
  elections; in 1995, 43 political organizations qualified to run
  slates of candidates on the Duma party list ballot; among the
  parties not listed above but holding seats in the Duma were Russia's
  Democratic Choice, Power To the People, Congress of Russian
  Communities, Forward, Russia!, and Women of Russia

International organization participation: APEC, BIS, BSEC, CBSS,
  CCC, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO,
  MONUA, MTCR, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN
  Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
  UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yuliy Mikhaylovich VORONTSOV chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James F. COLLINS embassy: Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow mailing address: APO AE 09721 consulate(s) general: St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg

Economy—overview: Seven years after the collapse of the USSR, Russia is still struggling to establish a modern market economy and achieve strong economic growth. Russian GDP has contracted an estimated 43% since 1991, including a 5% drop in 1998, despite the country's wealth of natural resources, its well-educated population, and its diverse—although increasingly dilapidated—industrial base. By the end of 1997, Russia had achieved some progress. Inflation had been brought under control, the ruble was stabilized, and an ambitious privatization program had transferred thousands of enterprises to private ownership. Some important market-oriented laws were also passed, including a commercial code governing business relations and an arbitration court for resolving economic disputes. But in 1998, the Asian financial crisis swept through the country, contributing to a sharp decline in russia's earnings from oil exports and resulting in an exodus of foreign investors. Matters came to a head in August 1998 when the government allowed the ruble to fall precipitously and stopped payment on $40 billion in ruble bonds. Ongoing problems include an undeveloped legal and financial system, poor progress on restructuring the military-industrial complex, and persistently large budget deficits, largely reflecting the inability of successive governments to collect sufficient taxes. Russia's transition to a market economy has also been slowed by the growing prevalence of payment arrears and barter and by widespread corruption. The severity of Russia's economic problems is dramatized by the large annual decline in population, estimated by some observers at 800,000 people, caused by environmental hazards, the decline in health care, and the unwillingness of people to have children.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 22.2% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1998 est.) with considerable additional
underemployment

Budget:
  revenues: $40 billion
  expenditures: $63 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 68.14% hydro: 19% nuclear: 12.82% other: 0.04% (1997)

Agriculture—products: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk

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: Ukraine, Germany, US, Belarus, other Western and less developed countries

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods,
medicines, meat, grain, sugar, semifinished metal products

Exchange rates: rubles per US$1—22.2876 (January 1999), 9.7051 (1998), 5,785 (1997), 5,121 (1996), 4,559 (1995), 2,191 (1994) note: the post-1 January 1998 ruble is equal to 1,000 of the pre-1 January 1998 rubles

Telephone system: the telephone system has undergone significant
  changes in the 1990's; 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
  domestic: cross country digital trunk lines run from St. Petersburg
  to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone
  systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures;
  cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many
  areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated,
  inadequate, and low density
  international: Russia is connected internationally by three undersea
  fiber-optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more
  than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations
  provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and
  Orbita

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—there are about 1,050 (including AM, FM, and shortwave) radio broadcast stations throughout the country

Radios: 50 million (1993 est.) (74.3 million radio receivers with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion)

Railways:
  total: 150,000 km; note—87,000 km in common carrier service; 63,000
  km serve specific industries and are not available for common
  carrier use
  broad gauge: 150,000 km 1.520-m gauge (January 1997 est.)

Highways:
  total: 948,000 km (including 416,000 km which serve specific
  industries or farms and are not maintained by governmental highway
  maintenance departments)
  paved: 336,000 km
  unpaved: 612,000 km (including 411,000 km of graveled or some other
  form of surfacing and 201,000 km of unstabilized earth) (1995 est.)

Waterways: total navigable routes in general use 101,000 km; routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900 km; routes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made navigable routes 16,900 km (January 1994 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km;
natural gas 140,000 km (June 1993 est.)

Ports and harbors: Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Kaliningrad, Kazan',
  Khabarovsk, Kholmsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka,
  Nevel'sk, Novorossiysk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, St. Petersburg,
  Rostov, Sochi, Tuapse, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg

Merchant marine:
  total: 617 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,146,329
  GRT/5,278,909 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 19, cargo 309, combination bulk
  21, combination ore/oil 6, container 25, multifunction large-load
  carrier 1, oil tanker 149, passenger 35, passenger-cargo 3,
  refrigerated cargo 16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea
  passenger 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 630
  over 3,047 m: 54
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 202
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 108
  914 to 1,523 m: 115
  under 914 m: 151 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 1,887
  over 3,047 m: 25
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 45
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 134
  914 to 1,523 m: 291
  under 914 m: 1,392 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Strategic
Rocket Forces
note: the Air Defense Force merged into the Air Force in March 1998

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 30,173,495 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 1,149,536 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA note: the Intelligence Community estimates that defense spending in Russia fell by about 10% in real terms in 1996, reducing Russian defense outlays to about one-sixth of peak Soviet levels in the late 1980s (1997 est.)

Disputes—international: dispute over at least two small sections of the boundary with China remain to be settled, despite 1997 boundary agreement; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been ratified; draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Latvia has not been signed; has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; 1997 border agreement with Lithuania not yet ratified; Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia

Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and producer of amphetamines, mostly for domestic consumption; government has active eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian opiates and cannabis and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe, possibly to the US, and growing domestic market

Background: Throughout their colonial rule, first Germany and then Belgium favored Rwanda's minority Tutsi ethnic group in education and employment. In 1959, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi monarch. The Hutus killed hundreds of Tutsis and drove tens of thousands 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 October 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exasperated ethnic tensions culminating in April 1994 in a genocide in which roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the genocide in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees—many fearing Tutsi retribution—fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire, now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC). According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, in 1996 and early 1997 nearly 1.3 million Hutus returned to Rwanda. Even with substantial international aid, these civil dislocations have hindered efforts to foster reconciliation and to boost investment and agricultural output. Although much of the country is now at peace, members of the former regime continue to destabilize the northwest area of the country through a low-intensity insurgency. Rwandan troops are currently involved in a crisis engulfing neighboring DROC.

Land boundaries:
  total: 893 km
  border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 35%
  permanent crops: 13%
  permanent pastures: 18%
  forests and woodland: 22%
  other: 12% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Birunga
mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic
Republic of the Congo

Environment—current issues: deforestation results from
uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil
exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 1,807,695; female 1,793,590)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 2,148,477; female 2,179,119)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 92,490; female 133,562) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: following the outbreak of genocidal strife in Rwanda in April 1994 between Tutsi and Hutu factions, more than 2 million refugees fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire); according to the UN High Commission on Refugees, in 1996 and early 1997 nearly 1.3 million Hutus returned to Rwanda—of these 720,000 returned from Democratic Republic of the Congo, 480,000 from Tanzania, 88,000 from Burundi, and 10,000 from Uganda; probably fewer than 100,000 Rwandans remained outside of Rwanda by the end of 1997

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: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.31 years male: 40.84 years female: 41.8 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs and other 25%

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: 60.5%
  male: 69.8%
  female: 51.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
  conventional short form: Rwanda
  local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
  local short form: Rwanda

Administrative divisions: 12 prefectures (in French—prefectures, singular—prefecture; in Kinyarwanda—plural—NA, singular—prefegitura); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Kigaliville, Umutara, Ruhengeri

Constitution: on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted a new constitution which included elements of the constitution of 18 June 1991 as well as provisions of the 1993 Arusha peace accord and the November 1994 multi-party protocol of understanding

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994);
  Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since 19 July 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since 1
  September 1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: normally the president is elected by popular vote for a
  five-year term; election last held in December 1988 (next to be held
  NA); prime minister is appointed by the president
  election results: Juvenal HABYARIMANA elected president; percent of
  vote—99.98% (HABYARIMANA was the sole candidate)
  note: President HABYARIMANA was killed in a plane crash on 6 April
  1994 which ignited the genocide and was replaced by President
  BIZIMUNGU who was installed by the military forces of the ruling
  Rwandan Patriotic Front on 19 July 1994

Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional National Assembly or
  Assemblee Nationale de Transition (a power-sharing body with 70
  seats established on 12 December 1994 following a multi-party
  protocol understanding; members were predetermined by the Arusha
  peace accord)
  elections: the last national legislative elections were held 16
  December 1988 for the National Development Council (the legislature
  prior to the advent of the Transitional National Assembly); no
  elections have been held for the Transitional National Assembly as
  the distribution of seats was predetermined by the Arusha peace
  accord
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPF
  19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, other 2; note—the
  distribution of seats was predetermined

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of
Cassation and the Council of State in joint session

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
  NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Theogene N. RUDASINGWA chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador George M. STAPLES
  embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
  mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side),
  yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow
  band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to
  the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band

Economy—overview: Rwanda is a rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa; is landlocked, and has few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary exports 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 significant progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has been curbed. In June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF. Rwanda has also embarked upon an ambitious privatization program with the World Bank.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 36% industry: 24% services: 40% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 24.2% (1983-85)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 90%, government and services, industry and commerce

Budget:
  revenues: $231 million
  expenditures: $319 million, including capital expenditures of $13
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: production of cement, processing of agricultural products, small-scale beverage production, manufacture of soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 2.44% hydro: 97.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel,
petroleum products, cement and construction material (1997)

Economic aid—recipient: $711.2 million (1995); note?since 1994, World Bank financing to Rwanda has totaled more than $120 million; in June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF; in summer 1998, Rwanda presented its policy objectives and development priorities to donor governments resulting in multi-year pledges in the amount of $250 million

Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1—320.63 (February 1999), 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997), 306.82 (1996), 262.20 (1995)

Telephone system: telephone system primarily serves business and
  government
  domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the
  prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder of the network
  depends on wire and HF radiotelephone
  international: international connections employ microwave radio
  relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more
  distant countries; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian
  Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,000,204 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Rwandan military forces are supporting the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about mid-way between South America and Africa

Area:
  total: 410 sq km
  land: 410 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island,
  Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha Island

Climate: Saint Helena—tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade
winds; Tristan da Cunha—temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade
winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)

Terrain: Saint Helena—rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus
and plains
note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: 6%
  forests and woodland: 6%
  other: 82% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (his remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 713; female 690)
  15-64 years: 72% (male 2,664; female 2,449)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 259; female 370) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.88 years male: 72.78 years female: 79.13 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 20 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 98% (1987 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena

Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David Leslie
  SMALLMAN (since NA 1995)
  cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio
  officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by
  the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats, including the governor, 2 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2001) election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 15

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—overview: The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1998. The local population earns income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 2,416 (1991 est.) note: a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas

Labor force—by occupation: professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmers, fishermen 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987)

Budget:
  revenues: $11.2 million
  expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY92/93)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha)

Exports—commodities: fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts

Imports—commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts

Economic aid—recipient: $12.6 million (1995); note?$5.3 million from UK (1997)

Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6047 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note—the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound

Telephone system:
  domestic: automatic network; HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to
  Ascension, then into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks
  international: major coaxial submarine cable relay point between
  South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; satellite earth
  stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Highways:
  total: NA km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha
  NA km)
  paved: 180.7 km (Saint Helena 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da
  Cunha 2.70 km)
  unpaved: NA km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da
  Cunha NA km)

Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

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

Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little
seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Land use:
  arable land: 22%
  permanent crops: 17%
  permanent pastures: 3%
  forests and woodland: 17%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 7,178; female 6,826)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 13,226; female 13,083)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,020; female 1,505) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.94 years male: 64.87 years female: 71.21 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 98% (1980 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola
  Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George
  Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John
  Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul
  Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint
  Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Dr. 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 House of Assembly (14 seats, 11
  popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats
  by party—SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edwards ERSTEIN
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the
embassy in Bridgetown (Barbados)

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—overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far more in taxes than it was receiving in government services, but the vote on cessation failed in August 1998. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 22.5% services: 72% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $64.1 million
  expenditures: $73.3 million, including capital expenditures of $10.4
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra,
clothing, footwear, beverages

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Telephone system: good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) domestic: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone international: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 58 km
  narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane
  plantations (1995)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force,
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard

Illicit drugs: transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

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

Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August

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: 8%
  permanent crops: 21%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 13%
  other: 53% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 26,068; female 25,359)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 46,265; female 48,100)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 3,097; female 5,131) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.81 years male: 68.14 years female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 67%
  male: 65%
  female: 69% (1980 est.)

Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries,
Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin,
Soufriere, Vieux Fort

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September
  1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Kenny ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997)
  and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
  the prime minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
  appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
  leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
  usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (an 11-member body, six appointed on the advice of the prime
  minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
  two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups)
  and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular
  vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
  elections: House of Assembly—last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held
  NA 2002)
  election results: House of Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—SLP 16, UWP 1

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction
  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)

International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP,
  C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Juliet
  Elaine MALLET PHILLIP
  chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in
Bridgetown (Barbados)

Flag description: blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a
black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Economy—overview: The economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction. In 1997, strong activity in tourism and other service sectors offset the contraction in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Improvement in the construction sector and growth of the tourism industry was expected to expand GDP in 1998. The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997 primarily because of a severe decline in banana production.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10.7% industry: 32.3% services: 57% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $141.2 million
  expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of
  $25.1 million (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

Exports—commodities: bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil

Imports—commodities: food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery
and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Imports—partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan
5%, Canada 4% (1995)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Telephone system:
  domestic: system is automatically switched
  international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados;
  international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat
  from Martinique

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes
Special Service Unit), Coast Guard

Illicit drugs: transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 83% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.13 years male: 75.58 years female: 79 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99% (1982 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of
  France)
  note: there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by
  the US Government, but there are two communes—Saint Pierre, Miquelon

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been
under French control since 1763)

Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by Prefect Remi THUAU (since NA)
  head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE
  SOAVEC (since NA 1996)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
  French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is
  elected by the members of the council

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
  (19 seats—15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
  elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA
  April 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR
  15, other 4
  note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
  elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
  2004); results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1;
  Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National
  Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
  2002); results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UDF 1

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)

Flag description: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square 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 on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions

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 the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. 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. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $70 million
  expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in
  the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system

Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)

@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ————————————————

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 18%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 36%
  other: 31% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of
Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 18,160; female 17,524)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 39,448; female 38,672)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 2,762; female 3,953) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.8 years male: 72.29 years female: 75.36 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 96%
  male: 96%
  female: 96% (1970 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General David JACK (since NA)
  head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
  1984)
  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 15 June 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDP 8,
  ULP 7

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent

Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [James
Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,
  OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C. A. LAYNE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

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—overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism sector has considerable potential for development over the next decade. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10.6% industry: 17.5% services: 71.9% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $85.7 million
  expenditures: $98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7
  million (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 67.74% hydro: 32.26% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish

Exports—commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Economic aid—recipient: $47.5 million (1995); note?Stabex (EU), $34.5 million (1998)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Telephone system:
  domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
  radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
  Grenadines
  international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to
  Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;
  access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 814 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,726,930
  GRT/11,835,144 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 138, cargo 402, chemical tanker
  26, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 7, container 47,
  liquefied gas tanker 3, livestock carrier 4, multifunction
  large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 64, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo
  40, roll-on/roll-off cargo 51, short-sea passenger 10, specialized
  tanker 5, vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20
  countries among which are Croatia 17, Slovenia 7, China 5, Greece 5,
  UAE 3, Norway 2, Japan 2, and Ukraine 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police
Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged
mountains in interior

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 24%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 47%
  other: 10%

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Population: 229,979 (July 1999 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 162,000

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 45,647; female 44,141)
  15-64 years: 57% (male 68,054; female 62,612)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 4,477; female 5,048) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.82 years male: 67.43 years female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European
and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%

Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population
  associated with the London Missionary Society; includes
  Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints,
  Seventh-Day Adventist)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 97% (1971 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
  conventional short form: Samoa
  former: Western Samoa

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

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of
  state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April
  1963)
  head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi
  (since 24 November 1998); note—TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime
  minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November
  1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor
  health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant
  cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of
  state with the prime minister's advice
  elections: upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a
  new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to
  serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of
  state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49
  seats—47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs
  (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year
  terms)
  elections: last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%,
  independents 23.7%; seats by party—HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand) embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia

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—overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. 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. Outside of a large automotive wire harness factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,0000 tourists visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 25% services: 35% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $52 million
  expenditures: $99 million, including capital expenditures of $37
  million (FY96/97 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.54% hydro: 38.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—partners: Australia 82%, New Zealand 6%, Slovakia,
Germany, American Samoa (1996)

Imports—partners: Australia 33%, New Zealand 25%, Japan 15%, Fiji 8%, US 8% (1996)

Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1—2.9011 (January 1999), 2.9429 (1998), 2.5562 (1997), 2.4618 (1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m highest point: Monte Titano 749 m

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 83% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Geography—note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 2,008; female 2,036)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 8,501; female 8,294)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 1,774; female 2,448) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 0.99 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 (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.47 years male: 77.59 years female: 85.35 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 10 and over can read and write
  total population: 96%
  male: 97%
  female: 95% (1976 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli,
  singular—castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova,
  Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino,
  Serravalle

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Pietro BERTI and
  Captain Regent Paolo BOLLINI (for the period 1 October 1998-31 March
  1999)
  head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
  Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986)
  cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
  for a five-year term
  elections: cochiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great
  and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA
  September 1998 (next to be held NA March 1999); secretary of state
  for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
  Council for a five-year term; election last held NA June 1998 (next
  to be held NA June 2003)
  election results: Pietro BERTI and Paolo BOLLINI elected captain
  regents; percent of legislative vote—NA; Gabriele GATTI reelected
  secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of
  legislative vote—NA
  note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council)
  selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (cochiefs
  of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the
  Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which
  has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General
  Council; assisting the captains regent are three secretaries of
  state—Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance—and several
  additional secretaries; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs
  has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Great 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 31 May 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—PDCS 40.8%, PSS 23.3%, PPDS 18.6%, AP 9.8%, RC 3.3%, Reformist Socialists 4.2%; seats by party—PDCS 25, PSS 14, PPDS 11, AP 6, RC 2, RS 2

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDCS
MACINA, secretary general]; Reformist Socialists or RS (formerly San

International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW,
OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: San Marino does not have an
  embassy in the US
  honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC, and New York
  honorary consulate(s): Detroit

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Economy—overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1995 more than 3.3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of Italy, which supplies much of its food.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $320 million
  expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $26
  million (1995 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: wheat, grapes, maize, olives; cattle, pigs,
horses, beef, cheese, hides

Exports—commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1—1,668.7 (January 1998),1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into
  Italian system
  international: microwave radio relay and cable connections to
  Italian network; no satellite earth stations

Television broadcast stations: 1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)

Railways: 0 km; note—there is a 1.5 km cable railway connecting the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore

Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 36%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 61% (1993 est.)

Environment—international agreements: party to: Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 37,322; female 36,423)
  15-64 years: 48% (male 36,067; female 38,730)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 2,876; female 3,460) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.71 years male: 63.18 years female: 66.28 years (1999 est.)

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)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 73%
  male: 85%
  female: 62% (1991 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Legal system: based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
  head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since
  30 December 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  proposal of the prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 30 June and 15 July 1996 (next to be held in
  2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved
  by the president
  election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's
  second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote—Miguel
  TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
  Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD
  14.5%%, ADI 29%; seats by party—MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8

Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic Convergence
Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or
other small parties

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe does
  not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to
  the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located
  at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone

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—overview: This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence over 20 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. 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, but economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 19% services: 58% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing note: there are shortages of skilled workers

Budget:
  revenues: $58 million
  expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54
  million (1993 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Imports—commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food
products, petroleum products

Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1—6,873.5 (October 1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995), 732.6 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,610 GRT/9,446
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 16,766 (1999 est.)

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red
Sea, north of Yemen

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,415 km
  border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
  676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 56%
  forests and woodland: 1%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

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

Geography—note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

Population: 21,504,613 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 5,321,938 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 4,705,724; female 4,543,918)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 6,925,020; female 4,783,570)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 291,449; female 254,932) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.45 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.55 years male: 68.67 years female: 72.53 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 62.8%
  male: 71.5%
  female: 50.2% (1995 est.)

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

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

Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the
Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and
responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have
been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
  (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister
  ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir
  to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22
  February 1996); note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head
  of government
  head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
  Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
  Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
  monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
  January to 22 February 1996); note—the monarch is both the chief of
  state and head of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and
  includes many royal family members
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: a consultative council (90 members and a
chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
  OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al
  Saud
  chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
  consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr. embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam

Economy—overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The Saudi economy was severely hit by the large decline in world oil prices in 1998. GDP fell by nearly 11%; the budget deficit rose to $12.3 billion; and the current account recorded a $13 billion deficit—the first in three years. The government announced plans to implement large spending cuts in 1999 because of weak oil prices and will continue to call on greater private sector involvement in the economy. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 7 million
note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: government 40%, industry,
construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5%

Budget:
  revenues: $32.3 billion
  expenditures: $44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1999 budget est.)

Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

Exports—partners: Japan 18%, US 15%, South Korea 11%, Singapore 8%, India 4% (1997 est.)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles

Economic aid—donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 1993, Saudi Arabia has committed $208 million for assistance to the Palestinians

Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1—3.7450 (fixed rate since June 1986)

Telephone system: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Railways: total: 1,390 km standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)

Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural
gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)

Ports and harbors: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan,
Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat
Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Merchant marine:
  total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,124,110 GRT/1,467,121
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 7, container 5,
  liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 17,
  passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12,
  short-sea passenger 8 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 70
  over 3,047 m: 30
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 135
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
  914 to 1,523 m: 38
  under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air
Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,171,860 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; in 1996, agreed with Qatar to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing

Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and cocaine

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

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

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

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 16%
  forests and woodland: 54%
  other: 18% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
  Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 2,403,384; female 2,416,791)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 2,360,113; female 2,594,278)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 134,765; female 142,599) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.83 years male: 54.95 years female: 60.78 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Diola 3.7%,
Mandink 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%

Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2%
(mostly Roman Catholic)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 33.1%
  male: 43%
  female: 23.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
  conventional short form: Senegal
  local long form: Republique du Senegal
  local short form: Senegal

Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular—region);
Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis,
Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Independence: 4 April 1960 from France; complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 (The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)

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; Senegal has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981)
  head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Lamine LOUM (since 4 July
  1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
  consultation with the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February
  2000); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of
  vote—Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
  Nationale (140 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 24 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—PS 50.19%, PDS 19%, UDS-R
  13%, And/Jef-PADS 5%, LD/MPT 4%, CDP/Garab-Gi 2%, FSD 1%, PDS-R 1%,
  RND 1%, BCG 1%, PIT 1% ; seats by party—PS 93, PDS 23, UDS-R 11,
  And-Jef/PADS 4, LD-MPT 3, CDP/Garab-Gi 1, FSD 1, PDS-R 1, RND 1, BCG
  1, PIT 1

Judicial branch: under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders: African Party for Democracy and
secretary general]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT

Political pressure groups and leaders: students; teachers; labor;
Muslim brotherhoods

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC,
  OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
  UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr. embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar

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—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 is linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually in 1995-98. Annual inflation has been pushed below 2%, and the fiscal deficit has been cut to less than 1.5% of GDP. Investment rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction. Forecasters predict growth will continue in the 5% range in 1999-2000.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 17% services: 64% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 42.8% (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $885 million
  expenditures: $885 million, including capital expenditures of $125
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining,
fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish

Exports—commodities: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum
products, phosphates, cotton

Exports—partners: France 20%, other EU countries, India, Cote
d'Ivoire, Mali (1996)

Imports—commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital
goods, petroleum products

Imports—partners: France 36%, other EU countries, Nigeria,
Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, US, China, Japan (1996)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1966), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial
  cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
  international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station—1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways: total: 904 km narrow gauge: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995)

Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km
on the Saloum river

Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard-Toll,
Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor

Merchant marine:
total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 10
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 10
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Police (Surete Nationale)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,095,047 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: short section of boundary with The Gambia is indefinite

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

Background: Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US. The US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Area:
  total: 102,350 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,938 sq km)
  land: 102,136 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,724 sq km)
  water: 214 sq km (Serbia 0 sq km; Montenegro 214 sq km)

Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky (Serbia is
slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro is slightly smaller than
Connecticut)

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,246 km
  border countries: Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with
  Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215
  km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km (with Serbia), Croatia (north)
  241 km (with Serbia), Croatia (south) 25 km (with Montenegro),
  Hungary 151 km (with Serbia), The Former Yugoslav Republic of
  Macedonia 221 km (with Serbia), Romania 476 km (with Serbia)
  note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km

Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland

Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Daravica 2,656 m

Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc,
nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube

Environment—international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: controls one of the major land routes from
Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along
the Adriatic coast

Population: 11,206,847 (Serbia—10,526,478; Montenegro?680,369)
  (July 1999 est.)
  note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerable
  error because of the dislocations caused by military action and
  ethnic cleansing

Age structure:
  0-14 years: Serbia—20% (male 1,102,109; female 1,025,069);
  Montenegro—21% (male 75,633; female 70,464)
  15-64 years: Serbia—67% (male 3,538,689; female 3,483,192);
  Montenegro—68% (male 232,223; female 227,371)
  65 years and over: Serbia—13% (male 595,200; female 782,219);
  Montenegro—11% (male 30,829; female 43,849) (July 1999 est.)

Birth rate: Serbia—12.54 births/1,000 population; Montenegro?
13.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: Serbia—9.68 deaths/1,000 population; Montenegro? 7.44
deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: Serbia—-2.65 migrants/1,000 population;
Montenegro—-5.09 migrants/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: Serbia—1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: Serbia—1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.07
  male(s)/female
  15-64 years: Serbia—1.02 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.02
  male(s)/female
  65 years and over: Serbia—0.76 male(s)/female; Montenegro—0.70
  male(s)/female
  total population: Serbia—0.99 male(s)/female; Montenegro—0.99
  male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: Serbia—16.49 deaths/1,000 live births;
Montenegro—10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: Serbia—73.45 years; Montenegro—76.32 years
  male: Serbia—71.03 years; Montenegro— 72.87 years
  female: Serbia—76.05 years; Montenegro—80.07 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: Serbia—1.74 children born/woman;
Montenegro—1.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%,
Hungarians 4%, other 13%

Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%,
Protestant 1%, other 11%

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro
  local long form: none
  local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora
  note: Serbia and Montenegro has self-proclaimed itself the "Federal
  Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) but the US view is that the Socialist
  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of
  the successor republics represents its continuation

Administrative divisions: 2 republics (republike, singular—republika); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular—autonomna pokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*

Independence: 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or
FRY formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Slobodan MILOSEVIC (since 23 July 1997);
  note—Milan MILUTINOVIC is president of Serbia (since 21 December
  1997); Milo DJUKANOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 21 December
  1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Momir BULATOVIC (since 20 May
  1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September
  1995), Vuk DRASKOVIC (since 1 February 1999), Jovan ZEBIC (since 9
  April 1998), and Vladan KUTLESIC (since 20 March 1997), Zoran LILIC
  (since 20 May 1998), Danilo VUKSANOVIC (since 20 May 1998)
  cabinet: Federal Executive Council
  elections: president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-year
  term; election last held 23 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2001);
  prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Slobodan MILOSEVIC elected president; percent of
  legislative vote—Slobodan MILOSEVIC 90%

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Savezna
  Skupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40
  seats—20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed on the basis
  of party representation in the republican assemblies to serve
  four-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138
  seats -, 108 Serbian with half elected by constituency majorities
  and half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with six
  elected by constituency and 24 proportionally; members serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: Chamber of Republics—last held 24 December 1996 (next to
  be held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens—last held 3 November 1996
  (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: Chamber of Republics—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—NA; note—seats are filled on a proportional basis to
  reflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics of
  Montenegro and Serbia; Chamber of Citizens—percent of vote by
  party—NA; seats by party—SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno 22, DPSCG 20, SRS
  16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note—Zajedno coalition includes SPO, DS,
  GSS

Judicial branch: Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms; Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms

Diplomatic representation in the US: the US and Serbia and
  Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations; the Embassy of
  the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues to
  function in the US
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires
  ad interim Nebojsa VUJOVIC
  chancery: 2410 California St. NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Serbia and
  Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Richard M.
  MILES
  embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
  mailing address: American Embassy, Belgrade, United States
  Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5070 (pouch)

Economy—overview: The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991 has been followed by highly destructive warfare, the destabilization of republic boundaries, and the breakup of important interrepublic trade flows. Output in Serbia and Montenegro dropped by half in 1992-93. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it had depended on its sister republics for large amounts of energy and manufactures. Wide differences in climate, mineral resources, and levels of technology among the republics accentuated this interdependence, as did the communist practice of concentrating much industrial output in a small number of giant plants. The breakup of many of the trade links, the sharp drop in output as industrial plants lost suppliers and markets, and the destruction of physical assets in the fighting all have contributed to the economic difficulties of the republics. One singular factor in the economic situation of Serbia is the continuation in office of a government that is primarily interested in political and military mastery, not economic reform. Hyperinflation ended with the establishment of a new currency unit in June 1993; prices were relatively stable from 1995 through 1997, but inflationary pressures resurged in 1998. Reliable statistics continue to be hard to come by, and the GDP estimate is extremely rough. The economic boom anticipated by the government after the suspension of UN sanctions in December 1995 has failed to materialize. Government mismanagement of the economy is largely to blame. Also, the Outer Wall sanctions that exclude Belgrade from international financial institutions and an investment ban and asset freeze imposed in 1998 because of Belgrade's repressive actions in Kosovo have added to economic difficulties.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 50% services: 25% (1994 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: industry 41%, services 35%, trade and tourism 12%, transportation and communication 7%, agriculture 5% (1994)

Industries: machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore, limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs, appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.44% hydro: 36.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports—partners: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials

Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1—official rate: 10.0 (December 1998), 5.85 (December 1997), 5.02 (September 1996), 1.5 (early 1995); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998), 8.9 (December 1997), 2 to 3 (early 1995)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: more than 771 (consisting of 86 strong stations, 685 low-power stations, and 20 repeaters in the principal networks; there are also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 3,987 km
  standard gauge: 3,987 km 1.435-m gauge (1,377 km partially
  electrified since 1992) (1998)

Highways:
  total: 50,414 km
  paved: 45,020 km (including 545 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,394 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,437
GRT/400 DWT (owned by Montenegro) (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 18
  over 3,047 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (Serbia 3, Montenegro 2)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 1)
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
  under 914 m: 4 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 0) (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 30
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
  914 to 1,523 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1)
  under 914 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1) (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army (including ground forces with border
troops, naval forces, air and air defense forces)

Military manpower—military age: Serbia?NA years of age;
Montenegro—19 years of age

Military manpower—availability:
males age 15-49: Serbia—2,727,292; Montenegro—187,198 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: Serbia—2,183,534; Montenegro—150,415 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: Serbia—NA; Montenegro—5,671 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina over Serbian populated areas; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian republic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP); the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route

Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

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

Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during 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

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 13%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: 11%
  other: 74% (1993 est.)

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 rain water

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 29% (male 11,712; female 11,569)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 24,879; female 26,038)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 1,709; female 3,257) (1999 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: 0.52 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.95 years male: 66.61 years female: 75.42 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 58%
  male: 56%
  female: 60% (1971 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June
  1977); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003)
  election results: President France Albert RENE reelected; percent of
  vote—France Albert RENE (SPPF) 61%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 27%, Sir
  James MANCHAM (DP) 12%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats—25 elected by popular vote, 10 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least nine percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party (elected)—SPPF 24, DP 1; seats by party (awarded)—SPPF 6, DP 1, UO 3 note: the 10 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,
  ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU,
  OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claude MOREL
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017

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—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, which accounted for 70% of GDP in 1996-97. 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. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in the face of stiff international competition. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit and further privatization of public enterprises.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: industry 19%, services 57%, government 14%, fishing, agriculture, and forestry 10% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $220 million
  expenditures: $241 million, including capital expenditures of $36
  million (1994 est.)

Industries: fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish

Exports—commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment

Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1—5.4540 (January 1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997), 4.9700 (1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the
  archipelago
  international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent
  island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth
  station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, air wing, National
Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,242 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: claims Chagos Archipelago in British
Indian Ocean Territory

Background: On 25 May 1997, the democratically-elected government of President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH was overthrown by a disgruntled coalition of army personnel from the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under the command of Major Johnny Paul KOROMA; President KABBAH fled to exile in Guinea. The Economic Community of West African States Cease-Fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) forces, led by a strong Nigerian contingent, undertook the suppression of the rebellion. They were initially unsuccessful, but, by October 1997, they forced the rebels to agree to a cease-fire and to a plan to return the government to democratic control. President KABBAH returned to office on 10 March 1998 to face the task of restoring order to a demoralized population and a disorganized and severely damaged economy. Many of the leaders of the coup were tried and executed in October 1998. In January 1999, the situation had deteriorated even further, with commerce at a standstill, hundreds of thousands of people driven from their homes, and bitter fighting between the AFRC/RUF and ECOMOG troops intensifying by large-scale import of arms.

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 31%
  forests and woodland: 28%
  other: 33% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the
Sahara (November to May); sandstorms, dust storms

Environment—current issues: rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 1,182,181; female 1,219,956)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 1,307,475; female 1,423,046)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 82,374; female 81,619) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.13 years male: 46.07 years female: 52.27 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole 10% (descendents of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-eighteenth century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

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 descendents of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled
  in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10%
  of the population but understood by 95%)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende,
  Temne, or Arabic
  total population: 31.4%
  male: 45.4%
  female: 18.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone

Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern,
Northern, Southern, Western*

Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996,
  reinstated 10 March 1998); note—the president is both the chief of
  state and head of government
  head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March
  1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note—the president is both the
  chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
  approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
  to the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001);
  note—president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms
  election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent of
  vote—first round—KABBAH 36.0%, second round—KABBAH 59.5%

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (80 seats—68 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—SLPP 27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note—first elections since the former House of Representatives was shut down by the military coup of 29 April 1992

Political parties and leaders: 15 parties registered for the
M. B. JALLOH]; National Alliance for Democracy Party or NADP

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
  IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Ernest LEIGH
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph MELROSE; note—embassy closed in
  late December 1998
  embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of light green
(top), white, and light blue

Economy—overview: Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. The period of AFRC/RUF junta rule (May 1997-February 1998) led to UN sanctions and 20% drop in GDP in 1997. The continued fighting at yearend 1997 set back what small progress had been made by the KABBAH government in recovering from the junta period and reestablishing a viable economy. 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. Bauxite and rutile mines have been shut down by civil strife. The major source of hard currency is found in the mining of diamonds, the large majority of which are smuggled out of the country. The fate of the economy in 1999 depends on the outcome of negotiations to end the civil strife.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 16% services: 32% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)
note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%,
services 16% (1981 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $96 million
  expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing
(beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels
and lubricants

Imports—partners: UK 16%, US 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 8%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 3% (1997)

Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1—1,630.5 (January 1999), 1,597.2 (1998), 981.48 (1997), 920.73 (1996), 755.22 (1995), 586.74 (1994)

Telephone system: marginal telephone and telegraph service
  domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable
  by military activities
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 84 km used on a limited basis because the mine at Marampa is
  closed
  narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 2
  over 3,047 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 8
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 543,210 (1999 est.)

Maritime claims:
  exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as
  defined in treaties and practice
  territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry
seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in
April)

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

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 6%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: 5%
  other: 87% (1993 est.)

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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 21% (male 387,786; female 364,018)
  15-64 years: 72% (male 1,265,291; female 1,268,458)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 109,418; female 136,629) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.84 years male: 75.79 years female: 82.14 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu,
Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist

Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national),
Tamil (official), English (official)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 91.1%
  male: 95.9%
  female: 86.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November
  1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November
  1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to
  Parliament
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999);
  following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
  the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
  minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the
  president
  election results: ONG Teng Cheong elected president in the country's
  first popular election for president; percent of vote—ONG Teng
  Cheong 59%, CHUA Kim Yeow 41%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 January 1997 (next to be held by 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—PAP 65% (in contested constituencies), other 35%; seats by party—PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; Court of Appeals

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN,
  Australia Group (observer), BIS, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
  chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Steven J. GREEN
  embassy: 27 Napier Street, Singapore 258508
  mailing address: FPO AP 96534-0001

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—overview: Singapore has an open economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. Extraordinarily strong fundamentals allowed Singapore to weather the effects of the Asian financial crisis better than its neighbors, but the crisis did pull GDP growth down to 1.3% in 1998 from 6% in 1997. Projections for 1999 GDP growth are in the -1% to 1% range. Rising labor costs and appreciation of the Singapore dollar against its neighbors' currencies continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness. The government's strategy to address this problem includes cutting costs, increasing productivity, improving infrastructure, and encouraging higher value-added industries. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes of a developed country.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: financial, business, and other services 33.5%, manufacturing 25.6%, commerce 22.9%, construction 6.6%, other 11.4% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $16.3 billion
  expenditures: $13.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY97/98 est.)

Industries: electronics, financial services, oil drilling
  equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber
  products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade,
  biotechnology

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber
products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment

Exports—partners: Malaysia 19%, US 18%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 8%,
Thailand 6% (1995)

Imports—partners: Japan 21%, Malaysia 15%, US 15%, Thailand 5%,
Taiwan 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)

Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1—1.6781 (January 1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994)

Telephone system: good domestic facilities; good international
  service
  domestic: NA
  international: submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular
  Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth
  stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1
  Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

Railways:
  total: 38.6 km
  narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: there is a 67 km mass transit system with 42 stations

Highways:
  total: 3,017 km
  paved: 2,936 km (including 148 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 81 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 875 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,734,146
  GRT/31,442,482 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 142, cargo 132, chemical tanker 51, combination
  bulk 6, combination ore/oil 6, container 154, liquefied gas tanker
  27, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil
  tanker 291, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11,
  short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 30
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 22
  countries among which are Japan 41, Denmark 35, Sweden 28, Thailand
  28, Hong Kong 26, Germany 19, Taiwan 19, and Indonesia 11 (1998 est.)

Airports—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 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 757,940 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a money-laundering center

Background: After centuries under foreign rule, mainly by Hungary, the Slovaks joined with their neighbors to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. 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 was an independent country turning toward the West. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia has experienced more difficulty than the Czech Republic in developing a modern market economy.

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,355 km
  border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515
  km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km

Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point: Gerlachovka 2,655 m

Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron
ore, copper and manganese ore; salt

Land use:
  arable land: 31%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 17%
  forests and woodland: 41%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air pollution from metallurgical
plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 551,847; female 528,236)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 1,837,788; female 1,861,305)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 237,710; female 379,307) (1999 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: 0.63 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.46 years male: 69.71 years female: 77.4 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is about 500,000), Czech 1%, Ruthenian 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%,
Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Slovak Republic
  conventional short form: Slovakia
  local long form: Slovenska Republika
  local short form: Slovensko

Administrative divisions: 8 departments (kraje, singular—kraj);
Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky,
Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky

National holiday: Slovak Constitution Day, 1 September (1992);
Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising, 29 August (1944)

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (vacant); note—President NOVAC retired at
  the end of his term; the government has announced its intention to
  hold direct presidential election in early 1999; in the meantime the
  prime minister takes over the president's duties
  head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30
  October 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
  the prime minister
  elections: president elected by National Council secret ballot that
  must yield a three-fifths majority for a five-year term; election
  last held NA March 1998 but no candidate was able to win a
  three-fifths majority required by law (next to be held NA 1999);
  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: presidency vacant

Legislative branch: unicameral National Council of the Slovak
  Republic or Narodna Rada Slovensky Repubiky (150 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 25-26 September 1998 (next to be held NA
  September 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party—HZDS 27%, SDK 16.3%, SDL
  14.7%, SMK 9.1%, SNS 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party—governing
  coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS
  43, SNS 14)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the
National Council; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
  Hungarian Coalition or SMK (includes MKDH, MOS, and Coexistence)
  LUPTAK, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS
  chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Party of Entrepreneurs and
  Businessmen of Slovakia; Christian Social Union; Confederation of
  Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG;
  Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and
  Villages or ZMOS

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
  (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
  IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Martin BUTORA
  chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
  Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON
  embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top),
  blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield
  centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a
  background of red and blue

Economy—overview: Slovakia, continuing the difficult transition from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy, begins 1999 with clouds on the horizon: GDP growth is slowing sharply; budget and current account deficits are too large; external debt is growing uncomfortably fast; unemployment is high and rising; corrupt insider deals persist; and demand is weakening for Slovakia's key primary goods exports, especially as Russia and Ukraine slump and as EU growth slows. International credit rating agencies have downgraded Slovak debt to below investment grade. The new government intends to address the economy's ills by giving priority to joining the OECD and EU, cutting government wage and infrastructure spending, boosting some taxes and regulated prices, expanding privatization to companies formerly considered strategic, restructuring the financial section, encouraging foreign investment, and reenergizing the social partnership with labor and employers. Government officials believe as long as two years may be needed before its structural reforms improve economic performance. In 1999, the government expects GDP growth to slow from 5% in 1998 to 2%, inflation to rise from 6% to 10%, and unemployment to rise from less than 14% to 15% or 16%, but hopes to bring the budget deficit down to no more than 2% of GDP and the current account deficit down to 5% to 6% of GDP.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 33.4% services: 61.8% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.4 billion
  expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997)

Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 35.57% hydro: 20.81% nuclear: 43.62% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Exports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37%; intermediate manufactured goods 30%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4% (1998)

Exports—partners: EU 56% (Germany 29%), Czech Republic 20%,
Austria 7%, Poland 7% (1998)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 40%; intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 10% (1998)

Imports—partners: EU 50% (Germany 26%), Czech Republic 18%,
Russia 10%, Italy 6% (1998)

Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1—36.207 (January 1999), 35.233 (1998). 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995), 32.045 (1994)

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—there
are 22 private broadcast stations and two public (state) broadcast
stations

Railways:
  total: 3,660 km
  broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge
  standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1424 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 38,000 km
  paved: 37,500 km (including 280 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 500 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,041 GRT/19,517
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Reserve
Force (Home Guards), Civil Defense Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,130,482 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with
  Hungary is before the International Court of Justice; unresolved
  property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former
  Czechoslovak federal property

Illicit drugs: minor, but increasing, transshipment point for
Southwest Asian heroin and hashish bound for Western Europe

Location: Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,334 km
  border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km,
  Hungary 102 km

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 mountain and
valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 3%
  permanent pastures: 24%
  forests and woodland: 54%
  other: 7% (1996 est.)

Environment—current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 163,816; female 155,509)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 693,382; female 687,060)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 99,121; female 171,682) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.36 years male: 71.71 years female: 79.21 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
  conventional short form: Slovenia
  local long form: Republika Slovenije
  local short form: Slovenija

Administrative divisions: 136 municipalities (obcine,
  singular—obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (obcine mestne,
  singular—obcina mestna) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj,
  Borovnica, Bovec, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*,
  Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na
  Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca, Dobrepolje,
  Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava,
  Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona,
  Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik,
  Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola,
  Jesenice, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,
  Kocevje, Komen, Koper*, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko,
  Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno,
  Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica,
  Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica,
  Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje,
  Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*,
  Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran, Pivka, Podcetrtek,
  Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram,
  Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne-Prevalje,
  Ribnica, Rogasevci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Semic, Sencur,
  Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan,
  Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica,
  Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Sostanj,
  Starse, Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic,
  Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice,
  Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki,
  Ziri, Zrece

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990)
  head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
  elected by the National Assembly
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 24 November 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
  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 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA
  November 2000)
  election results: Milan KUCAN elected president; percent of
  vote—Milan KUCAN 56.3%, Janez PODOBNIK 18%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected
  prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote—51%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor
  (90 seats, 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a
  proportional basis; note—the numbers of directly elected and
  proportionally elected seats varies with each election; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: National Assembly—last held 10 November 1996 (next to be
  held Fall 2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—LDS 27.01%, SLS 19.38%,
  SDS 16.13%, SKD 9.62%, ZLDS 9.03%, DeSUS 4.32%, SNS 3.22%; seats by
  party—LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 10, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4,
  Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note—seating as of January
  1997 is as follows: LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 9, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5,
  SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1, independents 1
  note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with
  limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review
  any National Assembly decisions; in the election of NA November
  1997, 40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and
  socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the fall of
  2002)

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 or LDS [Janez
  PETERLE, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS
  PODOBNIK, chairman]; United List (former Communists and allies) or
  JELINCIC, chairman]; Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of

International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC,
  EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN
  Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UPU,
  WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dimitrij RUPEL chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. Paul REID embassy: address NA, Ljubljana mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 1000 Ljubljana; American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140

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, there are three six-sided 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—overview: Today, Slovenia exhibits one of the highest per capita GDPs of the transition economies of the region, fairly moderate inflation, and a comfortable level of international reserves. Slovenia received an invitation in 1997 to begin accession negotiations with the EU—a reflection of its sound economic footing. Slovenia must press on with privatization, enterprise restructuring, institution reform, and liberalization of financial markets, thereby creating conditions conducive to foreign investment and the maintenance of a stable tolar. Critical to the future success of the economy is the development of export sales in increasingly competitive international markets.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 24.5% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $8.48 billion
  expenditures: $8.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $455
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products,
  aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting,
  electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power
  equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 34.58% hydro: 29.31% nuclear: 36.11% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry

Exports—commodities: manufactured goods 45%, machinery and
transport equipment 30%, chemicals 10%, food 3% (1997)

Exports—partners: Germany 29%, Italy 15%, Croatia 10%, France,
Austria, US (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 31%, manufactured goods 31%, chemicals 11%, fuels and lubricants, food (1997)

Imports—partners: Germany 21%, Italy 17%, France 10%, Austria 8%,
Croatia 5%, Hungary, US (1997)

Exchange rates: tolars (SlT) per US$1—162.50 (January 1999), 166.13 (1998), 159.69 (1997), 135.36 (1996), 118.52 (1995), 128.81 (1994)

Telephone system:
domestic: 70% digital; full digitalization scheduled by 2000
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast
stations

Television broadcast stations: 23 (consisting of 20 network stations and three private stations; there are also about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways: total: 1,201 km standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 489 km) (1998)

Highways:
  total: 14,830 km
  paved: 12,309 km (including 251 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 2,521 km (1997 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 8
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 421,864 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: significant progress has been made with Croatia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; Italy and Slovenia made progress in resolving bilateral issues

Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe and for precursor chemicals

Background: In 1893, Britain made the southern Solomon Islands a protectorate. Other islands were added to the group, including some ceded to Britain by Germany. The Solomon Islands were occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Following the war, internal self-government was established in 1976, and independence from the UK came two years later. Current issues include government deficits, deforestation, and malaria control.

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 88%
  other: 9% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 103,844; female 99,972)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 120,518; female 117,298)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 6,808; female 6,989) (1999 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.09 years male: 69.55 years female: 74.75 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%,
European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%

Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
(Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other
Protestant 5%, traditional beliefs 4%

Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua
franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population
note: 120 indigenous languages

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Solomon Islands
  former: British Solomon Islands

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western note: there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been abolished

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU (since 27
  August 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since 27
  August 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
  the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
  appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five
  years; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
  party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime
  minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the
  governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the
  members of Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (50 seats;
  members elected from single member constituencies by popular vote to
  serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 6 August 1997 (next to be held by August 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—GNUR
  21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6, other 3

Political parties and leaders: characterized by fluid coalitions;
TAUSINGA] (leader of opposition); People's Alliance Party or PAP

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Rex HOROI (represents the
  country as both the Permanent Representative to the UN and the
  ambassador to the US)
  chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands

Flag description: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

Economy—overview: The bulk of the population depend on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Economic troubles in Southeast Asia led to a steep downturn in the timber industry, and economic output declined by about 10% in 1998. The government instituted public service pay cuts and other retrenchments.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services 41.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 23.7%, commerce, transport, and finance 21.7%, construction, manufacturing, and mining 13.1% (1992 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $147 million
  expenditures: $168 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish

Imports—commodities: plant and equipment, manufactured goods,
food and live animals, fuel

Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1—4.9334 (January 1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.5664 (1997), 3.4059 (1995), 3.2914 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Highways:
  total: 1,360 km
  paved: 34 km
  unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation
  roads) (1996 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military branches: no regular military forces; Solomon Islands
National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon
Islands Police (RSIP)

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the
Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Land boundaries: total: 2,366 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Climate: principally desert; December to February—northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October—southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

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

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 69%
  forests and woodland: 26%
  other: 3% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer

Environment—current issues: famine; use of contaminated water
contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography—note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along
southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and
Suez Canal

Population: 7,140,643 (July 1999 est.) note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated between censuses by factoring in growth rates and by taking account of refugee movements and losses due to famine; lower estimates of Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 million to 6.5 million) have been made by aid and relief agencies, based on the number of persons being fed; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 1,588,025; female 1,584,770)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 1,898,794; female 1,865,487)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 92,419; female 111,148) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.23 years male: 44.66 years female: 47.85 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 24%
  male: 36%
  female: 14% (1990 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

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)

Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random banditry

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha
Shacbiga
note: not functioning

Judicial branch: (not functioning); note—following the breakdown
of national government, most regions have reverted to Islamic law
with a provision for appeal of all sentences

Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous clan and subclan
factions are currently vying for power

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Somalia does not have an
embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy
in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mail address: P.

Flag description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star
in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian
Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

Government—note: While chaos and clan fighting continue in most of Somalia, some orderly government has been established in the northern part. In May 1991, the elders of clans in former British Somaliland established the independent Republic of Somaliland, which, although not recognized by any government, maintains a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of the ruling clan and the economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian and American military assistance programs. The economy has been growing and in February 1996 the EU agreed to finance the reconstruction of the port of Berbera; since then, other aid projects have been assumed by the EU and by a non-governmental Italian organization.

Economy—overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, corn, and fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, accounts for 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. Moreover, as of early 1999, ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu and outlying areas are interfering with any substantial economic advance.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 59% industry: 10% services: 31% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism)
71%, industry and services 29%

Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: bananas, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Imports—commodities: manufactures, petroleum products,
foodstuffs, construction materials (1995)

Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1—2,620
  (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996
  est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December
  1992)
  note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent
  country not recognized by any government, issues its own currency,
  the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.)

Telephone system: the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite

Ports and harbors: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu
(Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 7
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 54
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
  914 to 1,523 m: 28
  under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military branches: NA; note—no functioning central government military forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political prizes

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 962,545 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: most of the southern half of the boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden

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)

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,750 km
  border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491
  km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore,
manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum,
copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 67%
  forests and woodland: 7%
  other: 15% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage threatens to outpace 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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

Population: 43,426,386 (July 1999 est.) note: South Africa took a census 10 October 1996 which showed a population of 37,859,000 (after a 6.8% adjustment for underenumeration based on a post-enumeration survey); this figure is still about 10% below projections from earlier censuses; since the full results of that census have not been released for analysis, the numbers shown for South Africa do not take into consideration the results of this 1996 census

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 7,541,840; female 7,403,235)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 13,180,925; female 13,312,917)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 798,825; female 1,188,644) (1999 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.76 years male: 52.68 years female: 56.9 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), traditional and animistic 28.5%

Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 81.8%
  male: 81.9%
  female: 81.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
  conventional short form: South Africa
  abbreviation: RSA

Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative);
Bloemfontein (judicial)

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State,
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape,
Northern Province, Western Cape

Constitution: 10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994);
  Executive Deputy President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994);
  Executive Deputy President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections: president and executive deputy presidents elected by the
  National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 9 May 1994
  (next scheduled for sometime between May and July 1999)
  election results: Nelson MANDELA elected president; percent of
  National Assembly vote—100% (by acclamation); Thabo MBEKI and
  Frederik W. DE KLERK elected executive deputy presidents; percent of
  National Assembly vote—100% (by acclamation)
  note: the initial governing coalition, made up of the ANC, the IFP,
  and the NP, which constituted a Government of National Unity or GNU,
  no longer includes the NP which was withdrawn by DE KLERK on 30 June
  1996 when he voluntarily gave up his position as executive deputy
  president and distanced himself from the programs of the ANC

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 Senate—last held 26-29 April 1994
  (next to be held 2 June 1999); note—the Senate was disbanded and
  replaced by the National Council of Provinces on 6 February 1997
  election results: National Assembly—percent of vote by party—ANC
  62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%,
  other 0.9%; seats by party—ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC
  5, ACDP 2; Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—ANC
  61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals;
High Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders: African Christian Democratic Party SCHALKWYK, executive director]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC note: 11 other parties won votes in the April 1994 elections but not enough to gain seats in the National Assembly

Political pressure groups and leaders: Congress of South African secretary]; South African National Civics Organization or SANCO in a formal alliance with the ANC

International organization participation: AfDB, BIS, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM, NSG, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
  chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New
  York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James A. JOSEPH
  embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083
  mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
  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, embracing 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 note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in one—three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

Economy—overview: South Africa is a middle-income, developing country with an abundant supply of 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 cut into the 30% unemployment, and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially the problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. Other problems are crime and corruption. The new government demonstrated its commitment to open markets, privatization, and a favorable investment climate with the release of its macroeconomic strategy in June 1996. Called "Growth, Employment and Redistribution," this policy framework includes the introduction of tax incentives to stimulate new investment in labor-intensive projects, expansion of basic infrastructure services, the restructuring and partial privatization of state assets, continued reduction of tariffs, subsidies to promote economic efficiency, improved services to the disadvantaged, and integration into the global economy. Serious structural rigidities remain, including a complicated and relatively protectionist trade regime, and concentration of wealth and economic control.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 39% services: 56% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 47.3% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%

Budget:
  revenues: $30.5 billion
  expenditures: $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6
  billion (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 93% hydro: 0.7% nuclear: 6.3% other: NA% (1996)

Agriculture—products: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Exports—commodities: gold 20%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, textiles, scientific instruments (1997)

Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1—5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994)

Telephone system: the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and radiotelephone communication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 556 (includes 156 network stations and 400 privately-owned low-power stations; in addition, there are 144 network repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 21,431 km
  narrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km
  0.610-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 331,265 km
  paved: 137,475 km (including 1,142 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 193,790 km (1995 est.)

Ports and harbors: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai,
Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha

Merchant marine:
  total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 274,797 GRT/270,837 DWT
  ships by type: container 6, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 144 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 75 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 605 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 304 under 914 m: 266 (1998 est.)

Military branches: South African National Defense Force or SANDF (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service or SAPS

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,889,631 (1999 est.)

Military—note: the National Defense Force continues to integrate former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces

Disputes—international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
  negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African
  territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long
  ago part of the Swazi Kingdom

Illicit drugs: transshipment center for heroin 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

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ——————————————————————

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Area:
  total: 4,066 sq km
  land: 4,066 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island

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 2,915 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
  sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)

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—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: the north coast of South Georgia has several
large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early
in this century, live on South Georgia

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited

Country name:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Island by a UK civil commissioner; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town

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)

Economy—overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters.
  There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and
  krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in
  the UK.

Budget:
  revenues: $291,777
  expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988
  est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Background: A powerful world empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain ultimately yielded command of the seas to England, beginning with the defeat of the Armada in 1588. Spain subsequently failed to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions and fell behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II. In the second half of the 20th century Spain played a catch-up role in the western international community. Continuing problems are large-scale unemployment and the Basque separatist movement.

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France

Area:
  total: 504,750 sq km
  land: 499,400 sq km
  water: 5,350 sq km
  note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of
  sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of
  Morocco—Ceuta, Melilla, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and
  Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,919.1 km
  border countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,
  Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate
and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly
cloudy and cool along coast

Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged
hills; Pyrenees in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury,
pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin,
potash, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 30%
  permanent crops: 9%
  permanent pastures: 21%
  forests and woodland: 32%
  other: 8% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 15% (male 3,012,907; female 2,835,455)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 13,411,046; female 13,406,214)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 2,702,654; female 3,799,468) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years male: 73.97 years female: 81.71 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 96%
  male: 98%
  female: 94% (1986 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
  conventional short form: Spain
  local short form: Espana

Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades
  autonomas, singular—comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon,
  Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Canarias (Canary Islands),
  Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad
  Valencian, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra,
  Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
  note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of
  Morocco: Ceuta and Melilla are administered as autonomous
  communities; Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de
  Velez de la Gomera are under direct Spanish administration

Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir
  Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
  head of government: President of the Government Jose Maria AZNAR
  Lopez (since 5 May 1996); First Vice President Francisco ALVAREZ
  CASCOS Fernandez (since 5 May 1996) and Second Vice President (and
  Minister of Economy and Finance) Rodrigo RATO Figaredo (since 5 May
  1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
  note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme
  consultative organ of the government
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; president proposed by the
  monarch and elected by the National Assembly following legislative
  elections; election last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by NA
  April 2000); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on proposal of
  the president
  election results: Jose Maria AZNAR elected president; percent of
  National Assembly vote—NA

Legislative branch: bicameral; the General Courts or National
  Assembly or Las Cortes Generales consists of the Senate or Senado
  (256 seats—208 members directly elected by popular vote and the
  other 48 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 3 March 1996 (next to be held by April
  2000); Congress of Deputies—last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held
  by April 2000)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9; Congress of
  Deputies—percent of vote by party—PP 38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%,
  CiU 4.6%; seats by party—PP 156, PSOE 141, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16

Political parties and leaders:
  principal national parties, from right to left: Popular Party or PP
  Gonzalez]
  Soley, secretary general] (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence

Political pressure groups and leaders: on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty or ETA and the First of October Antifascist Resistance Group or GRAPO use terrorism to oppose the unions (authorized in April 1977); Workers Confederation or CC.OO; the Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; business and landowning interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; university students

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA,
  EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
  NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio OYARZABAL MARCHESI
  chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
  New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edward L. ROMERO
  embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
  mailing address: APO AE 09642
  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—overview: Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is three-fourths that of the four leading West European economies. Its center-right government successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching the European single currency on 1 January 1999. The deficit-to-GDP ratio is 2.1%, the debt-to-GDP ratio is around 68%, and inflation is approximately 2%. Moreover, the AZNAR administration has continued to advocate liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and has introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment, nonetheless, remains the highest in the EU at 20%. The government, for political reasons, has made only limited progress in changing labor laws or reforming pension schemes, which are key to the sustainability of both Spain's internal economic advances and its competitiveness in a single currency area. Adjustment to the monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe will pose difficult challenges to Spain in the next few years.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3.4% industry: 33.3% services: 63.3% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)

Labor force—by occupation: services 64%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 28%, agriculture 8% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $113 billion
  expenditures: $139 billion, including capital expenditures of $15
  billion (1995)

Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 43.17% hydro: 23.92% nuclear: 32.74% other: 0.17% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish

Exports—commodities: cars and trucks, other machinery and
manufactured goods, foodstuffs, and other consumer goods

Exports—partners: EU 70% (France 20%, Germany 18%, Italy 10%,
Portugal 9%, UK 8%), US 4.4% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels,
semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals (1997)

Imports—partners: EU 65% (France 17%, Germany 15%, Italy 9%, UK
8%, Benelux 7%), US 6%, Japan 3% (1997)

Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1—143.39 (January 1999),
  149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96
  (1994)
  note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
  currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
  member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
  rate of 166.386 pesetas per euro; the euro will replace the local
  currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Telephone system: generally adequate, modern facilities
  domestic: NA
  international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
  stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA
  Eutelsat, NA Inmarsat, and NA Marecs; tropospheric scatter to
  adjacent countries

Television broadcast stations: 542 (382 network stations, 160 low-power stations, and one US Air Force Europe station) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 15,079 km
  broad gauge: 12,781 km 1.668-m gauge (6,355 km electrified; 2,295 km
  double track)
  standard gauge: 525 km 1.435-m gauge (480 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 1,773 km 1.000-m gauge (594 km electrified) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 346,858 km
  paved: 343,389 km (including 9,063 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 3,469 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena,
  Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary
  Islands), Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  (Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo

Merchant marine:
  total: 137 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,094,408
  GRT/1,695,708 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 29, chemical tanker 10, container 10,
  liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, refrigerated
  cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 35, short-sea passenger 6,
  specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard,
National Police, Coastal Civil Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,346,155 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Gibraltar issue with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco—the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

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

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals

Environment—international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategically located near several primary
shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous
small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Economy—overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

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

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, which encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island

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

Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March);
southwest monsoon (June to October)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Land use:
  arable land: 14%
  permanent crops: 15%
  permanent pastures: 7%
  forests and woodland: 32%
  other: 32% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Population: 19,144,875 (July 1999 est.) note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1996, 63,068 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 30,000-40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 2,650,135; female 2,535,092)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 6,231,987; female 6,500,782)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 592,539; female 634,340) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.67 years male: 69.89 years female: 75.59 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil
  (national language) 18%
  note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about
  10% of the population

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 90.2%
  male: 93.4%
  female: 87.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
  conventional short form: Sri Lanka
  former: Ceylon

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central,
North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since
  12 November 1994); note—Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister;
  in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both the chief of
  state and the head of the government, this is in contrast to the
  more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and
  the prime minister when both offices exist
  head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
  (since 12 November 1994); note—Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime
  minister; in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both the
  chief of state and the head of the government, this is in contrast
  to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the
  president and the prime minister when both offices exist
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
  prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
  election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 2000)
  election results: Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA elected
  president; percent of vote—Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
  (People's Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party)
  37%, other 1%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system to serve six-year terms) elections: last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by August 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%, SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party—PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Judicial Service Commission; Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC
  Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil
  APPUHAMY]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in
  either parliament or provincial councils

Political pressure groups and leaders: Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam or LTTE; other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist
clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Warnasena RASAPUTRAM
  chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Shaun E. DONNELLY
  embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
  mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo

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 that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

Economy—overview: In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic industries now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an annual average rate of 5.5% throughout the 1990s until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-98 with growth of 6.4% and 4.7%. For the next round of reforms, the central bank of Sri Lanka recommends that Colombo expand market mechanisms in nonplantation agriculture, dismantle the government's monopoly on wheat imports, and promote more competition in the financial sector. A continuing cloud over the economy is the fighting between the Sinhalese and the minority Tamils, which has cost 50,000 lives in the past 15 years. The global slowdown will temper growth in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 31% services: 51% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)

Labor force—by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 37%, industry 17% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $3 billion
  expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1
  billion (1997 est.)

Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 4.95% hydro: 95.05% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef

Exports—commodities: textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds and other gems, coconut products, rubber products, petroleum products (1997)

Exports—partners: US 36%, UK 11%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 4% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, textiles,
petroleum, building materials, sugar (1997)

Imports—partners: India 10%, Japan 9%, South Korea 8%, Hong Kong
7%, Taiwan 7% (1997)

Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1—67.948 (January 1999), 64.593 (1998), 58.995 (1997), 55.271 (1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994)

Telephones: 352,681 (1997 est.); 114,888 cellular telephone
subscribers (1997 est.)

Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, but expanding
  with the entry of two wireless loop operators and privatization of
  national telephone company; good international service
  domestic: NA
  international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite
  earth stations—2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 21 (19 network stations, two low-power stations) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 1,501 km
  broad gauge: 1,442 km 1.676-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 99,200 km
  paved: 39,680 km
  unpaved: 59,520 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,867 GRT/276,363 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 14, container 1, oil tanker 1,
  refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,062,758 (1999 est.)

Area:
  total: 2,505,810 sq km
  land: 2.376 million sq km
  water: 129,810 sq km

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

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 18 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season
(April to October)

Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper,
chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 19%
  other: 30% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 7,941,909; female 7,614,225)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 9,094,712; female 9,061,194)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 423,389; female 340,261) (1999 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: 1.24 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.4 years male: 55.41 years female: 57.44 years (1999 est.)

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: 46.1%
  male: 57.7%
  female: 34.6% (1995 est.)

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: transitional—previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution drafted by Presidential Committee, went into effect on 30 June 1998 after being approved in nationwide referendum

Administrative divisions: 26 states (wilayat, singular—wilayah);
  A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum,
  Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash
  Shamaliyah, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al
  Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan,
  Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur,
  Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab

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

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR
  (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad
  TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President (Police) Maj.
  General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR
  (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad
  TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President (Police) Maj.
  General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note—President
  al-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National
  Islamic Front (NIF), a fundamentalist political organization formed
  from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; in 1998, the NIF created the
  National Congress as its legal front; the National Congress/NIF
  dominates much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies;
  President al-BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 which
  includes members of the National Islamic Front, serving and retired
  military officers, and civilian technocrats; on 8 March 1998, he
  reshuffled the cabinet and brought in several former rebel and
  opposition members as ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
  election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president;
  percent of vote—Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note—about forty
  other candidates ran for president
  note: al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council
  for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and
  served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime
  minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was
  appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October
  1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to
  the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's
  appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the
  National Assembly which was elected in March 1996

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275 elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supraassembly of interest groups known as the National Congress) elections: last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: NA; the March 1996 elections were held on a nonparty basis; parties are banned in the new National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: political parties were banned following 30 June 1989 coup, however, political "associations" are allowed under a new law drafted in 1998 and implemented on 1 January

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Islamic Front or
its legal front)

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB,
  AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim MAHAMMAD (recalled to Khartoum in August 1998) chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: US officials at the US Embassy in Khartoum were moved for security reasons in February 1996 and have been relocated to the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Cairo, Egypt; they visit Khartoum monthly, but the Sudanese Government has not allowed such visits since August 1998; the US Embassy in Khartoum (located on Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue; mailing employees; the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya is located temporarily in the USAID Building at The Crescent, Parkland, Nairobi; mailing address—P.O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; Cairo, Egypt is located at (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo; mailing address—Unit 64900, APO AE

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Economy—overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has kept per capita income at low levels. A large foreign debt and huge arrears continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrears to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the civil war and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1998. Hyperinflation has raised consumer prices above the reach of most. In 1998, a top priority was to develop potentially lucrative oilfields in southcentral Sudan; the government is working with foreign partners to exploit the oil sector.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 17% services: 50% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 11 million (1996 est.) note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6%

Budget:
  revenues: $482 million
  expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $30
  million (1996)

Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,
soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 27.76% hydro: 72.24% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame; sheep

Exports—commodities: cotton 23%, sesame 22%, livestock/meat 13%,
gum arabic 5% (1996)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles (1996)

Imports—partners: Saudi Arabia 10%, South Korea 7%, Germany 6%,
Egypt 6% (1996)

Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (LSd) per US$1—1,819.70 (April 1998), 1,873.53 (2d Qtr 1998), 1,575.74 (1997), 1,250.79 (1996), 580.87 (1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993)

Fiscal year: calendar year
  note: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1
  July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year,
  a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July-31 December 1995; the
  new calendar year (1 January-31 December) fiscal year became
  effective 1 January 1996

Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by African
  standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern
  standards
  domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone
  communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite
  system with 14 earth stations
  international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
  and 1 Arabsat

Railways:
  total: 5,516 km
  narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge
  plantation line

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,093 GRT/49,727 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 12
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 51
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
  914 to 1,523 m: 26
  under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,889,557 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp,
bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron
ore

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 96%
  other: 4% (1993 est.)

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, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, most of which lives along the coast

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 72,673; female 69,212)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 135,573; female 130,700)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 10,585; female 12,413) (1999 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.89 years male: 68.32 years female: 73.59 years (1999 est.)

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 15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%

Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%,
Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%

Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang
  Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
  Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
  among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 93%
  male: 95%
  female: 91% (1995 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular—distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
  1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
  1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
  1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
  1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
  the members of the National Assembly
  note: First Advisor of State maintains significant power
  elections: president and vice president elected by the National
  Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
  receives a constitutional majority vote in the National Assembly
  after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869
  representatives from the national, local, and regional councils),
  for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election
  held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
  election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of
  legislative vote—NA; National Assembly failed to elect president;
  results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly—Jules
  WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received
  407 votes

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or National
  Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDP
  16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The Progressive
  Development Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2

Political parties and leaders: The New Front or NF (a coalition
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP,
Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF)

International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,
  FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
  ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Miami

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390

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—overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and utility sectors. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 32% services: 58% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $393 million
  expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum
production, lumbering, food processing, fishing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 19.75% hydro: 80.25% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp

Exports—commodities: alumina, aluminum, crude oil, lumber, shrimp
and fish, rice, bananas

Exports—partners: Norway 24%, Netherlands 22%, US 22%, France
9.5%, Japan 7.6%, UK 6.5% (1997)

Imports—commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs,
cotton, consumer goods

Economic aid—recipient: $76.4 million (1995); note?the
Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and
Suriname in 1996

Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1—850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (1998), 401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994) note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined; during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder

Telephone system: international facilities good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 166 km (single track)
  standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport;
oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many
of the principal waterways

Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo,
Paranam, Wageningen

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 5
  over 3,047 m: 1
  under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 41
  914 to 1,523 m: 7
  under 914 m: 34 (1998 est.)

Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air
Force elements), Civil Police

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 69,842 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: claims area in French Guiana between
Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa
Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined mostly for Europe

Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,
Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Area:
  total: 62,049 sq km
  land: 62,049 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Maritime claims:
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
  not recognized by Russia
  territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
  summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
  north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most
  of the year

Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along
west and north coasts

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
  cloudberry)

Natural hazards: ice floes often block up 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—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of
the total area

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
  Spitzbergen)

Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
  head of government: Governor Ann-Kristin OLSEN (since NA) and
  Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant
  governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
  Justice

Economy—overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.

GDP: $NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $11.7 million
  expenditures: $11.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1—7.4524 (January 1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: local telephone service
  international: satellite earth station—1 of NA type (for
  communication with Norwegian mainland only)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
note: there are five meteorological/radio stations

Disputes—international: Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia

Land boundaries: total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use:
  arable land: 11%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 62%
  forests and woodland: 7%
  other: 20% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 227,675; female 228,733)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 243,853; female 259,950)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 9,866; female 15,258) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 38.11 years male: 36.86 years female: 39.4 years (1999 est.)

Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 76.7%
  male: 78%
  female: 75.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland

Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people; since then a few more outlines for a constitution have been compiled but so far none have been accepted

Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: NA; note—no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
  head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since
  9 August 1996)
  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 (20 seats—10 appointed by the House of
  Assembly and 10 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 NA September and NA October
  1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
  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, judges are appointed by the monarch;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings illegal parties: People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alan R. McKEE embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane

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—overview: In this small landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives nearly all of its imports and to which it sends more than half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the future.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 42% services: 48% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $400 million
  expenditures: $450 million, including capital expenditures of $115
  million (FY96/97)

Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft
drink concentrates

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 49.4% hydro: 50.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity—imports: 571 million kWh (1996)
note: imports about 60% of its electricity from South Africa

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice,
citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Exports—commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp,
cotton yarn, citrus and canned fruit (1996)

Imports—commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1996)

Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1—5.9812 (January 1999), 5.4807 (1998), 4.6032 (1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994); note—the Swazi lilangeni is at par with the South African rand

Telephone system:
  domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and
  low-capacity, microwave radio relay
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are seven repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
total: 297 km; note—includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal
Swaziland Police Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 128,806 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom

Background: Having long lost its military prowess of the 17th century, Sweden has evolved into a prosperous and peaceful constitutional monarchy with a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements. As the 20th century comes to an end, this long successful formula is being undermined by high unemployment; the rising cost of a "cradle to the grave" welfare state; the decline of Sweden's competitive position in world markets; and indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe. A member of the European Union, Sweden chose not to participate in the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999.

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Land boundaries: total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
  territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of
  straits to high seas)

Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool,
partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 68%
  other: 24% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially
in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Environment—current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes;
pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
  Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking
Baltic and North Seas

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 856,819; female 812,958)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 2,896,383; female 2,802,571)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 651,549; female 891,016) (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.29 years male: 76.61 years female: 82.11 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or
first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes,
Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%,
Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1979 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
  conventional short form: Sweden
  local long form: Konungariket Sverige
  local short form: Sverige

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); 6 June 1809
(constitutional monarchy was established)

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir
  Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the
  monarch (born 14 July 1977)
  head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March
  1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
  elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister elected by the
  Parliament; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA
  2002)
  election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister; percent of
  parliamentary vote—131 votes out of 349

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 20 September 1998 (next to be held NA September
  2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—Social Democrats 36.5%,
  Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian Democrats 11.8%, Center
  Party 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%; seats by party—Social
  Democrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43, Christian Democrats 42,
  Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are
appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Goran
formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG]

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
  Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
  FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
  UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rolf EKEUS chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr. embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)

Flag description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy—overview: Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole twentieth century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary difficulties, inflation, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995. Sweden decided not to join the euro system at its outset in January 1999 but plans to hold a referendum in 2000 on whether to join. Annual GDP growth is forecast for 2.2% and 2.6% in 1999 and 2000 respectively. Budgetary problems and shaky business confidence will constrain government plans to reduce unemployment.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 30.5% services: 67.3% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9%, communications 7.2%, construction 7%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $109.4 billion
  expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96)

Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 9.75% hydro: 37.52% nuclear: 52.62% other: 0.11% (1996)

Exports—commodities: machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper
products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals

Exports—partners: EU 55% (Germany 11%, UK 9%, Denmark 6%, Finland
5%), Norway 8%, US 8% (1994)

Imports—commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing

Imports—partners: EU 68% (Germany 19%, UK 10%, Denmark 8%, France
6%), Norway 8%, US 6% (1997)

Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1—7.8193 (January 1999), 7.9499 (1998), 7.6349 (1997), 6.7060 (1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international
  facilities; automatic system
  domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic;
  parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additional
  telephone channels
  international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth
  stations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat
  (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Sweden shares the Inmarsat
  earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland,
  Iceland, and Norway)

Railways:
  total: 13,415 km (includes 3,594 km of privately-owned railways)
  standard gauge: 13,415 km 1.435-m gauge (7,917 km electrified and
  1,152 km double track) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 138,000 km
  paved: 105,018 km (including 1,330 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 32,982 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg,
Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm,
Sundsvall

Merchant marine:
  total: 154 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,894,783
  GRT/1,528,077 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 28, chemical tanker 28, combination
  ore/oil 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 24, railcar carrier 1,
  refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 39, short-sea passenger
  5, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 13 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 145 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 24 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 110 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 105 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,817,554 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for and consumer of narcotics shipped via the CIS and Baltic states; increasing consumer of European amphetamines

Background: Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland did not participate in either World War I or II. The political and economic integration of Europe since World War II may be rendering obsolete Switzerland's concern for neutrality.

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,852 km
  border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,
  Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 28%
  forests and woodland: 32%
  other: 28% (1993 est.)

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
  Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
  Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern
Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains
the highest elevations in Europe

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 639,970; female 611,876)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 2,509,988; female 2,417,580)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 444,482; female 651,571) (1999 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.99 years male: 75.83 years female: 82.32 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, no
religion 8.9% (1990)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99% (1980 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

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)

Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular—canton in
  French; cantoni, singular—cantone in Italian; kantone,
  singular—kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
  Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden,
  Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt
  Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri,
  Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
Confederation, 1 August (1291)

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1999); Vice
  President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 1999); note—the president is
  both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1999);
  Vice President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 1999); note—the president
  is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
  (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal
  Assembly from among its own members for a four-year term
  elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
  Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year
  terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 1998
  (next to be held NA December 1999)
  election results: Ruth DREIFUSS elected president; percent of
  Federal Assembly vote—Ruth DREIFUSS 75%; Adolf OGI elected vice
  president; percent of legislative vote —NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or
  Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French),
  Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or
  Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio
  degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats—members serve four-year terms)
  and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil
  National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200
  seats—members are elected by popular vote on a basis of proportional
  representation to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Council of States—last held throughout 1997 (each canton
  determines when the next election will be held); National
  Council—last held 20 October 1995 (next to be held probably 24
  October 1999)
  election results: Council of States—percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—FDP 17, CVP 16, SVP 5, SPS 5, LPS 2, LdU 1; National
  Council—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—FDP 45, SPS 54,
  CVP 34, SVP 29, Greens 9, LPS 7, FPS 7, LdU 3, EVP 2, SD 3, PdAdS 3,
  Ticino League 1, EDU 1, FRAP 1, CSP 1

Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for
six-year terms by the Federal Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Radical Free Democratic Party
  (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti
  Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale
  Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti
  Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida
  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
  president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP,
  Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or
  Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste
  Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida
  (Landesring der Unabhaengigen or LdU, Alliance des Independants or
  Party (Schweizer Demokraten or SD, Democrates Suisses or DS,
  Democratici Svizzeri or DS), Liberal Party (Liberale Partei der
  Schweiz or LPS, Parti Liberal Suisse or PLS, Partito Liberale
  Svizzero or PLS), Workers' Party (Parti Suisse du Travail or PST,
  Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz or PdAdS, Partito Svizzero del Lavoro
  or PSdL), Evangelical People's Party (Evangelische Volkspartei der
  Schweiz or EVP, Parti Evangelique Suisse or PEV, Partito Evangelico
  Svizzero or PEV), and the Union of Federal Democrats
  (Eidgenossisch-Demokratische Union or EDU, Union Democratique
  Federale or UDF, Unione Democratica Federale or UDF)

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
  Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
  FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO,
  UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Madeleine May KUNIN embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Economy—overview: Switzerland, a fundamentally prosperous and stable modern economy with a per capita GDP 15%-20% above that of the big West European economies, experienced an export-driven upturn in its economy in 1998. The downturn in the global economy, however, will have a cooling effect on the 1998 boom in the Swiss export sector, including financial services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and special-purpose machines. A major downturn in the Swiss economy should still be avoided, as consumer and capital spending have picked up and will keep the economy moving in 1999. GDP growth in 1999 is expected to come in around 1.4%. The growing political and economic union of Europe suggests that Switzerland's time-honored neutral separation is becoming increasingly obsolete. Thus, when the surrounding trade partners launched the euro on 1 January 1999, their firms began prodding Swiss exporters and importers to keep their accounts in euros.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 31.1% services: 66.1% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1982)

Labor force—by occupation: services 67%, manufacturing and construction 29%, agriculture and forestry 4% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $32.66 billion
  expenditures: $34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3
  billion (1998 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 3.99% hydro: 52.73% nuclear: 43.27% other: 0.01% (1996)

Exports—commodities: machinery 29%, chemicals 28%, metals,
watches, agricultural products (1997)

Exports—partners: EU 61% (Germany 23%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK
6%, Austria 3%), US 10%, Japan 4% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery 22%, chemicals 16%, vehicles,
metals, agricultural products, textiles (1997)

Imports—partners: EU 79% (Germany 32%, France 12%, Italy 10%,
Netherlands 5%, UK 5%),, US 7%, Japan 3% (1997)

Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1—1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)

Telephones: 5.24 million (1996 est.); 307,000 cellular telephone subscribers (1994 est.)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 4,479 km (1,564 km double track)
  standard gauge: 3,304 km 1.435-m gauge (3,288 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 1,165 km 1.000-m gauge (1,057 km electrified); 10 km
  0.750-m or 0.800-m gauge (1996)

Highways:
  total: 71,048 km (including 1,613 km of expressways)
  paved: NA km
  unpaved: NA km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes

Merchant marine:
  total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 412,459 GRT/724,995 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 1, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,592,696 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Lebanon and Turkey

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

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,253 km
  border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon
  375 km, Turkey 822 km

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 hitting 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

Land use:
  arable land: 28%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 43%
  forests and woodland: 3%
  other: 22% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil
  erosion; desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage
  and wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable
  water

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
  Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
  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 1998 est.)

Population: 17,213,871 (July 1999 est.)
  note: in addition, there are about 37,200 people living in the
  Israeli-occupied Golan Heights—18,200 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,700
  Alawites) and about 19,000 Israeli settlers (August 1998 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 4,032,620; female 3,840,431)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 4,515,274; female 4,322,415)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 246,812; female 256,319) (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.09 years male: 66.75 years female: 69.48 years (1999 est.)

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: 70.8%
  male: 85.7%
  female: 55.8% (1997 est.)

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)

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)

Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971);
  note—President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed
  presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president
  in the 12 March 1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abd
  al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr
  MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
  head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
  1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March
  1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid
  AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
  referendum/election last held 8 February 1999 (next to be held NA
  2006); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister
  and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
  election results: Hafiz al-ASAD reelected president; percent of
  vote—Hafiz al-ASAD 99%

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or Majlis
  al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA
  2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%;
  seats by party—NPF 167, independents 83; note—the constitution
  guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receive
  one-half of the seats

Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial
Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts

Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Front (NPF) includes: the ruling Arab Socialist
secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National

Political pressure groups and leaders: non-Ba'th parties have
  little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective;
  conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in
  exile in Jordan and Yemen)

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
  CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU,
  WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

Economy—overview: Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a shaky footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic reform. The dominant agricultural sector remains underdeveloped, with roughly 80% of agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed sources. Although Syria has sufficient water supplies in the aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the great distance between major water supplies and population centers poses serious distribution problems. The water problem is exacerbated by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. Private investment is critical to the modernization of the agricultural, energy, and export sectors. Oil production is leveling off, and the efforts of the nonoil sector to penetrate international markets have fallen short. Syria's inadequate infrastructure, outmoded technological base, and weak educational system make it vulnerable to future shocks and hamper competition with neighbors such as Jordan and Israel.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 21% services: 53% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: services 40%, agriculture 40%, industry 20% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.5 billion
  expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages,
tobacco, phosphate rock mining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.73% hydro: 36.27% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk

Exports—commodities: petroleum 65%, textiles 16%, food and live
animals 13%, manufactures 6% (1997 est.)

Exports—partners: Italy 18%, Germany 13%, France 12%, Turkey 10%,
Lebanon 7%, Spain 6% (1997 est.)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 40%, foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)

Imports—partners: Ukraine 14%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%,
France 4%, South Korea 4%, Japan 4%, US 3% (1997 est.)

Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1—46 (1998), 41.9
(January 1997); official fixed rate 11.225

Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Television broadcast stations: 54 (of which 36 are low-power stations and repeaters) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 1,998 km
  broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 41,451 km
  paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 31,876 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,407 GRT/578,081 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 115, livestock carrier 4,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 63 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian
Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security
Force

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,271,539 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $800 million-$1 billion (1997 est.); note—based on official budget data that understate actual spending

Disputes—international: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

Illicit drugs: a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets

Background: In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government that over five decades has gradually democratized and incorporated native Taiwanese within its structure. Throughout this period, the island has prospered as one of East Asia's economic tigers. The dominant political issue continues to be the relationship between Taiwan and Mainland China and the question of eventual reunification.

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

Area:
  total: 35,980 sq km
  land: 32,260 sq km
  water: 3,720 sq km
  note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

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 3,997 m

Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas,
limestone, marble, and asbestos

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 5%
  forests and woodland: 55%
  other: 15%

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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 2,515,398; female 2,338,506)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 7,825,953; female 7,574,836)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 989,040; female 869,517) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.49 years male: 74.38 years female: 80.85 years (1999 est.)

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%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 94% (1998 est.)
  male: 93% (1980 est.)
  female: 79% (1980 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan

Government type: multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly elected president

Administrative divisions: since in the past the authorities
  claimed to be the government of all China, the central
  administrative divisions include the provinces of Fu-chien (some 20
  offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu) and
  Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); note—the
  more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of
  Taiwan Province—16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5
  municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special
  municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,
  Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,
  Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung,
  T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,
  T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at
  Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
  note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization

National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of
the Chinese Revolution)

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President LEE Teng-hui (succeeded to the presidency
  following the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo 13 January 1988,
  elected by the National Assembly 21 March 1990, elected by popular
  vote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March
  1996); Vice President LIEN Chan (since 20 May 1996)
  head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan)
  Vincent SIEW (since 1 September 1997) and Vice Premier (Vice
  President of the Executive Yuan) LIU Chao-shiuan (since 10 December
  1997)
  cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 23 March
  1996 (next to be held NA 2000); premier appointed by the president;
  vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of
  the premier
  election results: LEE Teng-hui elected president; percent of
  vote—LEE Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, and
  CHEN Li-an 10%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats—168
  elected by popular vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion
  of nationwide votes received by participating political parties,
  eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of
  the proportion of nationwide votes received by participating
  political parties, eight elected by popular vote among the
  aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms) and
  unicameral National Assembly (334 seats; members elected by popular
  vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: Legislative Yuan—last held 5 December 1998 (next to be
  held NA December 2001); National Assembly—last held 23 March 1996
  (next to be held NA 2000)
  election results: Legislative Yuan—percent of vote by party—KMT 46%,
  DPP 29%, CNP 7%, independents 10%, other parties 8%; seats by
  party—KMT 123, DPP 70, CNP 11, independents 15, other parties 6;
  National Assembly—percent of vote by party—KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP
  14%, other 1%; seats by party—KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices appointed by the
president with the consent of the National Assembly

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; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually reunify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC,
IOC, WCL, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities

Diplomatic representation from the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia offices in Taipei at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung

Flag description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Economy—overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8.5% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes less than 3% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved off-shore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from "the Asian flu" in 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 35.3% services: 62% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $40 billion
  expenditures: $55 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 est.)

Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.2% hydro: 7.1% nuclear: 29.7% other: 0% (1997)

Agriculture—products: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish

Exports—commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 21.7%, electronic products 14.8%, information/communications 11.8%, textile products 11.6% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 16.5%, electronic products 16.3%, chemicals 10.0%, precision instrument 5.6% (1997)

Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1—32.45 (yearend 1997), 27.5 (1996), 27.4 (1995), 26.2 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: extensive microwave radio relay trunk system on east and
  west coasts
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
  and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa),
  Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia,
  Middle East, and Western Europe

Railways:
  total: 4,600 km (519 km electrified); note—1,108 km belongs to the
  Taiwan Railway Administration and the remaining 3,492 km is
  dedicated to industrial use
  narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m

Highways:
  total: 19,634 km
  paved: 17,171 km (including 548 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 2,463 km (1997)

Merchant marine:
  total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,106,573
  GRT/7,963,834 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 47, cargo 30, combination bulk 3, container 72,
  oil tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998
  est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force,
Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command,
Combined Service Forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,019,737 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: involved in complex dispute over the
  Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and
  possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by
  Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto
  (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China

Illicit drugs: considered an important heroin transit point; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and heroin

Background: Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government and a civil war since it gained independence in September 1991 when the USSR collapsed. A peace agreement was signed in June 1997, but implementation is progressing slowly. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the Tajikistani-Afghan border.

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,651 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
  km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

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: Syrdariya 300 m
highest point: Qullai Kommunizm 7,495 m

Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, some
petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony,
tungsten

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 65% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea suffers from severe overutilization of available water for irrigation and associated pollution

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer
  Protection
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41% (male 1,250,344; female 1,224,355)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 1,661,488; female 1,681,839)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 122,065; female 162,763) (1999 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.28 years male: 61.15 years female: 67.57 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
  conventional short form: Tajikistan
  local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
  local short form: none
  former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular—viloyat) and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati mukhtori); Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshoni* (Khorugh—formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa—formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobod (Khujand—formerly Leninabad) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

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 Yahyo AZIMOV (since 8 February
  1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
  by the Supreme Assembly for approval
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent of
  vote—Emomali RAHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLOJANOV 40%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli
  (181 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
  terms)
  elections: last held 26 February and 12 March 1995 (next to be held
  NA 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; estimated seats by
  party—Communist Party and affiliates 100, People's Party 10, Party
  of People's Unity 6, Party of Economic and Political Renewal 1,
  other 64

Political parties and leaders: Tajik Communist Party or CPT
from the People's Party and Party of People's Unity; United Tajik

International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
  ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Tajikistan does not have an
embassy in the US, but has a mission at the UN: address—136 East
ALIMOV

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Robert FINN
  embassy: temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in Almaty
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: NA
  FAX: NA

Flag description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven five-pointed gold stars is located in the center of the white stripe

Economy—overview: Tajikistan has the lowest per capita GDP among the former Soviet republics. Agriculture dominates the economy, with cotton 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 Tajikistani economy has been gravely weakened by five years of civil conflict and by the loss of subsidies from Moscow and of markets for its products. Tajikistan thus depends on aid from Russia and Uzbekistan and on international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs. Even if the peace agreement of June 1997 is honored, the country faces major problems in integrating refugees and former combatants into the economy. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the continued dominance by former communist officials have impeded the introduction of meaningful economic reforms. Still in a post-conflict status, the future of Tajikistan's economy and the potential for attracting foreign investment depend upon stability and progress in the peace process.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 35% services: 40% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 52%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 17%, services 31% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% includes only officially registered
unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and
unregistered unemployed people (December 1998)

Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers,
cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators
and freezers

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 4.09% hydro: 95.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Imports—commodities: fuel, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, foodstuffs

Exchange rates: Tajikistani rubles (TJR) per US$1—998 (January 1999), 350 (January 1997), 284 (January 1996)

Telephone system: poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not reached by the national network domestic: cable and microwave radio relay international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations—1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat

Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, repeaters that relay programs from Russia, Iran, and Turkey) (1997)

Railways:
total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines (1990)

Highways:
  total: 13,700 km
  paved: 11,330 km (note—these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,
  meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
  unpaved: 2,370 km (1996 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 36 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Presidential National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,211,514 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: most of the boundary with China in dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; opium poppy cultivation negligible in 1998 because of government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Kenya and Mozambique

Area:
  total: 945,090 sq km
  land: 886,040 sq km
  water: 59,050 sq km
  note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,402 km
  border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km,
  Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal,
diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 40%
  forests and woodland: 38%
  other: 18% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

Environment—current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 6,926,149; female 6,967,416)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 8,030,141; female 8,437,978)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 415,074; female 494,062) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.17 years male: 43.85 years female: 48.57 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: mainland—native African 99% (of which 95% are
  Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of
  Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar—Arab, native African, mixed
  Arab and native African

Religions: mainland—Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs
20; Zanzibar—more than 99% Muslim

Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili),
  English, or Arabic
  total population: 67.8%
  male: 79.4%
  female: 56.8% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
  conventional short form: Tanzania
  former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Capital: Dar es Salaam
  note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which
  is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now
  meets there on regular basis

Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam,
  Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro,
  Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma,
  Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar
  North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
  note: Ziwa Magharibi may have been renamed Kagera

Independence: 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

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November
  1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); note
  the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23
  November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November
  1995); 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; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to that
  office on 22 October 1995 in a popular election
  cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are
  appointed by the president from among the members of the National
  Assembly
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot
  by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29
  October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: percent of vote—Benjamin William MKAPA 62%, MREMA
  28%, LIPUMBA 6%, CHEYO 4%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274
  seats—232 elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated
  by the president, five to members of the Zanzibar House of
  Representatives; members serve five-year terms); note —in addition
  to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of
  Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland;
  Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make laws
  especially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has
  50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year
  terms)
  elections: last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA
  October 2000)
  election results: National Assembly: percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3;
  Zanzibar House of Representatives: percent of vote by party—NA;
  seats by party—CCM 26, CUF 24

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
  EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. STITH embassy: 285 Toure Drive, Dar es Salaam (temporary location) mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam

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—overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 56% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 15% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-98 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks promising and production could start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment. Short-term economic progress also depends on curbing corruption.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 56% industry: 15% services: 29% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $700 million
  expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY98/99 est.)

Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 12.09% hydro: 87.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports—commodities: coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew
nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1996)

Exports—partners: India 9.8%, Germany 8.9%, Japan 7.8%, Malaysia
6.5%, Rwanda 5.2%, Netherlands 4.7% (1997)

Imports—commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transportation
equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil

Imports—partners: South Africa 12.9%, Kenya 9.6%, UK 8.7%, Saudi
Arabia 6.6%, Japan 4.9%, China 4.6% (1997)

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1—668.3 (February 1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996), 574.76 (1995), 509.63 (1994)

Telephone system: fair system operating below capacity domestic: open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 3,569 km (1995)
  narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge
  note: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates
  1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and
  Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km
  are in Zambia) is not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation;
  because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to
  Tanzania Railways

Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko,
Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Merchant marine:
  total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,618 GRT/26,321 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 2, passenger-cargo 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 119 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 65 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,120,617 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: dispute with Malawi over the boundary in
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)

Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest and
  Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for
  European and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for
  Southern Africa

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the
Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,863 km
  border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
  Malaysia 506 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

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

Land use:
  arable land: 34%
  permanent crops: 6%
  permanent pastures: 2%
  forests and woodland: 26%
  other: 32% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts

Environment—current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting

Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 7,364,411; female 7,095,428)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 20,878,602; female 21,493,735)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,664,113; female 2,112,757) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.21 years male: 65.58 years female: 73.01 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism
0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)

Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite),
ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 93.8%
  male: 96%
  female: 91.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand

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

Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of
common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
  head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November
  1997)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  note: there is also a Privy Council
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
  designated from among the members of the House of Representatives;
  following a national election for the House of Representatives, the
  leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually
  becomes prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 253-member appointed body which will be phased into a 200-member elected body starting in March 2000; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (currently has 391 members, but will become a 500-member body after the next election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives—last held 17 November 1996 (next scheduled to be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier) election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20, TCP 18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2

Political parties and leaders: Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat
Yoobamrung, SOPHON Petchsavang]

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
  CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard HECKLINGER embassy: 120 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai

Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

Economy—overview: After months of speculative pressure on the Thai baht, the government decided to float the currency in July 1997, the symbolic beginning of the country's current economic crisis. The crisis—which began in the country's financial sector—has spread throughout the economy. After years of rapid economic growth averaging 9% earlier this decade, the Thai economy contracted 0.4% in 1997 and shrunk another 8.5% in 1998. In the years before the crisis, Thailand ran persistent current account deficits. With the depreciation of the Thai baht and the collapse of domestic demand, however, imports have fallen off sharply—by more than 33%—and Thailand posted a trade surplus of approximately $12 billion in 1998. Foreign investment for new projects, the long-time catalyst of Thailand's economic growth, has also slowed. The CHUAN government has closely adhered to the economic recovery program prescribed by the IMF. The cooperation afforded Thailand stability in the value of its currency in the second half of 1998 and helped replenish foreign reserves. Tough measures—including passage of adequate bankruptcy and foreclosure legislation as well as privatization of state-owned companies and recapitalization of the financial sector—remain undone. Bangkok is also trying to establish a social safety net for those displaced by the current economic crisis and is working to increase the quality of Thailand's labor force.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 39% services: 49% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 37.1% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services (including government) 31% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $24 billion
  expenditures: $25 billion, including capital expenditures of $8
  billion (FY96/97)

Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 91.46% hydro: 8.54% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Exports—commodities: manufactures 82% (computers and parts 16%),
agricultural products and fisheries 14% (1997)

Exports—partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong
5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7% (1997)

Imports—commodities: capital goods 50%, intermediate goods and
raw materials 22%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7% (1997)

Imports—partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan
4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1% (1997)

Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1—36.624 (January 1999), 41.359 (1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995), 25.150 (1994)

Telephone system: service to general public adequate, but investments in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0

Television broadcast stations: 5 (all in Bangkok; in addition, there are 131 repeaters) (1997)

Railways: total: 4,623 km narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)

Waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Ports and harbors: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket,
Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla

Merchant marine:
  total: 293 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,848,626
  GRT/2,989,382 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 41, cargo 135, chemical tanker 5, combination
  bulk 1, container 13, liquefied gas tanker 17, multifunction
  large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 61, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo
  11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized
  tanker 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 56 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes
Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 10,536,417 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: parts of the border with Laos are indefinite; maritime boundary with Vietnam resolved, August 1997; parts of border with Cambodia are indefinite; maritime boundary with Cambodia not clearly defined; sporadic conflict with Burma over alignment of border

Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin

Land boundaries: total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

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: Pic Agou 986 m

Land use:
  arable land: 38%
  permanent crops: 7%
  permanent pastures: 4%
  forests and woodland: 17%
  other: 34% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Environment—current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting agriculture

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 1,229,026; female 1,218,956)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 1,223,371; female 1,299,519)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 49,890; female 60,651) (1999 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.25 years male: 56.93 years female: 61.64 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: native African (37 tribes; largest and most
important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and
Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

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: 51.7%
  male: 67%
  female: 37% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Togolese Republic
  conventional short form: Togo
  local long form: Republique Togolaise
  local short form: none
  former: French Togo

Administrative divisions: 5 regions (regions, singular—region);
De La Kara, Des Plateaux, Des Savanes, Du Centre, Maritime

Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High
Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27
September 1992

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
  1967)
  head of government: Prime Minister Kwassi KLUTSE (since August 1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
  prime minister
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 21 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA reelected president; percent of
  vote—Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (81 seats;
  members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to be held NA
  February 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—CAR
  36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1
  note: as a result of defections from the CAR to the RPT and the
  merging of the UJD with the RPT, representation in the National
  Assembly in August 1997 was RPT 42, CAR 32, UTD 5, CFN 1,
  independent 1

Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People or
  FOLLY]; Pan-African Sociodemocrats Group or GSP, an alliance of
  note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA,
  was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was
  legalized 12 April 1991

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
  MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda Brown SCHOONOVER
  embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome
  mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome

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—overview: This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton together generate about 30% of export earnings. Togo is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests are normal, with occasional regional supply difficulties. In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is by far the most important activity, although it has suffered from the collapse of world phosphate prices and increased foreign competition. Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. 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 stalled. Political unrest, including private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of the currency by 50% provided an important impetus to renewed structural adjustment; these efforts were facilitated by the end of strife in 1994 and a return to overt political calm. Progress depends on following through on privatization, increased transparency in government accounting to accommodate increased social service outlays, and possible downsizing of the military, on which the regime has depended to stay in place. However, in late 1998 the EU suspended aid and trade preferences for Togo because of grave doubts over the conduct of the presidential elections. The World Bank also suspended its disbursements at yearend 1998 because Togo was unable to pay its arrears.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 23% services: 45% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $232 million
  expenditures: $252 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement;
handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 93.18% hydro: 6.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Electricity—imports: 320 million kWh (1996)
note: imports electricity from Ghana

Agriculture—products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava
(tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Exports—partners: Canada 7.6%, Taiwan 7.1%, Nigeria 6.8%, South
Africa 5.2% (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods,
petroleum products

Imports—partners: Ghana 19.1%, France 10.8%, China 8.2%, Cameroon
6.8% (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Telephone system: fair system based on network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and cellular system domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 578,109 (1999 est.)

Location: Oceania, group of three islands in the South Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

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

Dependency status: territory of New Zealand; note—Tokelauans are drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with Wellington

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)

Constitution: administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948,
as amended in 1970

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
  and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since
  NA March 1993)
  head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997)
  cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected
  leaders, one from each atoll; 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 (45 seats—15 from
  each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of
  Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note—the Tokelau
  Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono

Judicial branch: Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and
criminal jurisdiction

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 must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, 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.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $430,830
  expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of
  $37,300 (1987 est.)

Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood
work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture—products: coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
  international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa;
  government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with three
  satellite earth stations, established in 1997

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of NA type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December
to May), cool season (May to December)

Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted
coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 43%
  permanent pastures: 6%
  forests and woodland: 11%
  other: 16% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou

Environment—current issues: deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.78 years male: 67.73 years female: 72.22 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
  total population: 98.5%
  male: 98.4%
  female: 98.7% (1996 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
  conventional short form: Tonga
  former: Friendly Islands

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
  head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991)
  and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
  note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch and
  the Cabinet
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
  deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea
  (30 seats—12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine
  for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by
  popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
  elections: last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA March
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—7 proreform, 2
  traditionalist

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
monarch; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the
Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC,
  SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga does not have an
  embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in
  London; address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High
  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—overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 32% to GDP. 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 industrial sector accounts for only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings. The country remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 10% services: 58% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $49 million
  expenditures: $120 million, including capital expenditures of $75
  million (FY96/97 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Exports—partners: Japan 43%, US 19%, Canada 14%, NZ 5%, Australia
5% (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: food products, live animals, machinery and
transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals

Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1—1.6171 (December 1998), 1.4921 (1998), 1.2635 (1997), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Merchant marine:
  total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,754 GRT/25,969 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas
  tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Tonga Defense Services (includes, Royal Tongan
  Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note—a new
  Air Wing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is being
  developed

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: 9%
  permanent pastures: 2%
  forests and woodland: 46%
  other: 28% (1993 est.)

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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 150,862; female 144,589)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 377,894; female 346,375)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 37,001; female 45,375) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.66 years male: 68.19 years female: 73.19 years (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Ethnic groups: black 40%, East Indian (a local term—primarily
immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese
1%, other 3.7%

Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%,
other Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.9%
  male: 98.8%
  female: 97% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1
  ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint
  Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*,
  Tobago**, Victoria

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19
  March 1997)
  head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November
  1995)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
  elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
  of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
  five-year term; election last held NA February 1997 (next to be held
  NA 2002); prime minister appointed from among the members of
  Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the
  majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed
  prime minister
  election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected
  president; percent of electoral college vote—69%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
  (31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of
  five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: House of Representatives—last held 6 November 1995 (next
  to be held by December 2000)
  election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote—PNM 52%,
  UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party—PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1,
  independent 1; note—the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR
  note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
  serving four-year terms

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister); Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
  CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
  ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Michael A. ARNEAUD
  chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III
  embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
  mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain

Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from
the upper hoist side

Economy—overview: Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign investment and trade are flourishing. Unemployment—a main cause of the country's socioeconomic problems—is high, but has decreased to its lowest point in six years. An investment boom in the energy sector led to a surge in imports in 1997. The resulting trade deficit is expected to return to a surplus once construction is completed and the plants come on line. The petrochemical sector has spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the government's commitment to economic diversification. Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner, with 260,000 arrivals in 1995, 80% from Europe.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 44% services: 53.8% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.59 billion
  expenditures: $1.54 billion, including capital expenditures of
  $165.8 million (1997)

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing,
cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Exports—commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Exports—partners: US 39.7%, Caricom countries 24.5%, Latin
America 10.3%, EU 8.2% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, live animals

Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1—6.2761 (January 1999), 6.2840 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (1996), 5.9478 (1995), 5.9249 (1994)

Telephone system: excellent international service; good local
  service
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Railways: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968

Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas,
Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336 GRT/2,567 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes
Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 223,200 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 12 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (scattered bushes)

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Tromelin Island
  local long form: none
  local short form: Ile Tromelin

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

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: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 13%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 44% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 1,513,296; female 1,417,166)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 3,006,029; female 3,018,411)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 283,026; female 275,675) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.35 years male: 71.95 years female: 74.86 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of
commerce), French (commerce)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 66.7%
  male: 78.6%
  female: 54.6% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
  conventional short form: Tunisia
  local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
  local short form: Tunis

Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Al Kaf, Al Mahdiyah,
  Al Munastir, Al Qasrayn, Al Qayrawan, Aryanah, Bajah, Banzart, Bin
  'Arus, Jundubah, Madanin, Nabul, Qabis, Qafsah, Qibili, Safaqis,
  Sidi Bu Zayd, Silyanah, Susah, Tatawin, Tawzar, Tunis, Zaghwan

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
  1987)
  head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September
  1989)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime
  minister appointed by the president
  election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected
  without opposition; percent of vote—Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 99%

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis
  al-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%,
  others 1.3%; seats by party—RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note—the
  government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the
  opposition won seats

Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally
parties are legal, including the Communist Party

Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalist
party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB,
  AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
  ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW,
  OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Noureddine MEJDOUB chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. RAPHEL embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing address: use embassy street address

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—overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 4.0% in 1993-97 and reached 5.0% in 1998. Inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be activated. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 28% services: 58% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 30.7% (1990)

Labor force—by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%,
agriculture 22% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.8 billion
  expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.4
  billion (1998 est.)

Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron
ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.54% hydro: 0.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain, sugar beets, grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products

Exports—commodities: hydrocarbons, textiles, agricultural
products, phosphates and chemicals

Imports—commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%,
hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods

Imports—partners: EU countries 80%, North African countries 5.5%,
Asia 5.5%, US 5% (1996)

Economic aid—recipient: $933.2 million (1995); note?ODA, $90 million (1998 est.)

Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1—1.1027 (December 1998), 1.1393 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995), 1.0116 (1994)

Telephones: 560,000 (1996 est.); 3,185 cellular telephone subscribers (1998 est.)

Telephone system: the system is above the African average and is continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access is available through two private service providers licensed by the government domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel

Television broadcast stations: 19 (these are network stations; there are some additional stations of low power) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 2,260 km
  standard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge
  dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails) (1993
  est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 188,345 GRT/215,749 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas
  tanker 1, oil tanker 3, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
  (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 14
  over 3,047 m: 3
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 18
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 8
  under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,486,964 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Location: southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is
  sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between
  Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the
  Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,627 km
  border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
  Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km

Maritime claims:
  exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary
  agreed upon with the former USSR
  territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in
  Mediterranean Sea

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters;
harsher in interior

Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central
plateau (Anatolia)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m

Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper,
borate, sulfur, iron ore

Land use:
  arable land: 32%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 16%
  forests and woodland: 26%
  other: 22% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northern
Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Environment—current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Environmental Modification

Geography—note: strategic location controlling the Turkish
Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and
Aegean Seas

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 10,148,457; female 9,781,452)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 21,255,506; female 20,560,070)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,775,164; female 2,078,557) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.29 years male: 70.81 years female: 75.88 years (1999 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 82.3%
  male: 91.7%
  female: 72.4% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
  conventional short form: Turkey
  local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
  local short form: Turkiye

Administrative divisions: 80 provinces (iller, singular—il);
  Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya,
  Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik,
  Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum,
  Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,
  Gazi Antep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Igdir,
  Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,
  Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli,
  Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir,
  Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt,
  Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,
  Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak
  note: Karabuk, Kilis, Osmaniye and Yalova are the four newest
  provinces; the US Board on Geographic Names is awaiting an official
  Turkish administrative map for verification of the boundaries

National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic,
29 October (1923)

Legal system: derived from various European continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Bulent ECEVIT (since 11 January
  1999)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  nomination of the prime minister
  note: there is also a National Security Council that serves as an
  advisory body to the president and the cabinet
  elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
  seven-year term; election last held 16 May 1993 (next scheduled to
  be held NA May 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister
  appointed by the president
  election results: Suleyman DEMIREL elected president; percent of
  National Assembly vote—54%

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 24 December 1995 (next to be held 18 April 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—RP 21.38%, DYP 19.18%, ANAP 19.65%, DSP 14.64%, CHP 10.71%, independent 0.48%; seats by party—RP 158, DYP 135, ANAP 133, DSP 75, CHP 49; note—seats held by various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; seating by party as of 1 January 1999: FP 144, ANAP 137, DYP 97, DSP 61, CHP 55, DTP 12, BBP 8, MHP 3, DP 1, DEPAR 1, independents 20, vacant 11

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president; Court of Appeals, judges are elected by the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors

Political parties and leaders: Motherland Party or ANAP [Mesut
outlawed on 22 February 1998

Political pressure groups and leaders: Turkish Confederation of
Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD

International organization participation: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
  CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NATO,
  NEA, OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Baki ILKIN chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark R. PARRIS embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana

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—overview: Turkey has a dynamic economy that is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with traditional village agriculture and crafts. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. Its most important industry—and largest exporter—is textiles and clothing, which is almost entirely in private hands. The economic situation in recent years has been marked by rapid growth coupled with partial success in implementing structural reform measures. Inflation declined to 70% in 1998, down from 99% in 1997, but the public sector fiscal deficit probably remained near 10% of GDP—due in large part to interest payments which accounted for 42% of central government spending in 1998. The government enacted a new tax law and speeded up privatization in 1998 but made no progress on badly needed social security reform. Ankara is trying to increase trade with other countries in the region yet most of Turkey's trade is still with OECD countries. Despite the implementation in January 1996 of a customs union with the EU, foreign direct investment in the country remains low—about $1 billion annually—perhaps because potential investors are concerned about still-high inflation and the unsettled political situation. Economic growth will remain about the same in 1999; inflation should decline further.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14.4% industry: 28.7% services: 56.9% (1998)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 22.7 million (April 1998)
note: about 1.5 million Turks work abroad (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 42.5%, services 34.5%,
industry 23% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $44.4 billion
  expenditures: $58.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.7
  billion (1998)

Industries: textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0.5% (1997)

Agriculture—products: tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock

Exports—commodities: textiles and apparel 30%, foodstuffs 15%,
iron and steel products 13% (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 50%, fuels,
minerals, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports—partners: Germany 16%, Italy 9%, US 9%, Russia 6%, UK 6%,
France 2% (1997)

Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1—331,400 (January 1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994)

Telephones: 17 million (in addition, there are 1.5 million
cellular telephone subscribers) (1997 est.)

Telephone system: fair domestic and international systems;
  undergoing modernization and refurbishment programs
  domestic: cable; AMPS standard cellular system in Ashkhabad with
  plans for expansion
  international: 12 satellite earth stations—Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean), Eutelsat, and Inmarsat (Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions);
  3 submarine fiber-optic cables (1996); connected internationally by
  the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line that became operational in
  1998

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there are 36 national broadcast stations, 108 regional broadcast stations, and 1,058 local broadcast stations (1996)

Television broadcast stations: 69 (in addition, there are 476 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Railways: total: 10,386 km standard gauge: 10,386 km 1.435-m gauge (1,088 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 382,397 km
  paved: 95,599 km (including 1,560 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 286,798 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir,
Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel (Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon

Merchant marine:
  total: 531 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,913,171
  GRT/9,832,994 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 239, chemical tanker 32, combination
  bulk 5, combination ore/oil 6, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 5,
  oil tanker 36, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 3,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker
  3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 81 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and
Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,024,173 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Greece; dispute with downstream riparian states (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Illicit drugs: major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish to Western Europe and—to a far lesser extent the US—via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,736 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379
  km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

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 north eastern Turkmenistan whose water levels fluctuate
  widely; at its shallowest, its level is -110 m; it is presently at
  -60 m, 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya)
  highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 63%
  forests and woodland: 8%
  other: 26% (1993 est.)

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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38% (male 845,584; female 813,223)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 1,243,031; female 1,283,985)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 68,496; female 112,064) (1999 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.11 years male: 57.48 years female: 64.91 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97% (1989 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Turkmenistan
  local long form: none
  local short form: Turkmenistan
  former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular—welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers
  Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct
  presidential election occurred); note—the president is both the
  chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of
  Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first
  direct presidential election occurred); note—the president is both
  the chief of state and head of government; Deputy Chairmen of the
  Cabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Orazgeldy
  AYDOGDIYEV (since NA 1992), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA 1996),
  Rejep SAPAROV (since NA 1992), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA 1993),
  Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA 1993), Ilaman SHIKHIYEV (since NA 1995),
  Yolly GURBANMURADOV (since NA 1997), Saparmurat NURIYEV (since NA
  1997)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently
  on 21 December 1998 at the Second Congress of the Democratic Party,
  to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the status
  would require an amendment to the constitution
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002;
  note—extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five
  years overwhelmingly approved by national referendum held 15 January
  1994); 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 (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular vote and some of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: People's Council—NA; Assembly—last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Democratic Party 45, other 5; note—all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
  ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe

Economy—overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer. It also possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994, Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The economy bottomed out in 1996, but high inflation continued. Furthermore, 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. In 1996, the government set in place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many years to realize. In 1998 Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and obligations on extensive short-term external debt.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 50% services: 32% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.9% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $521 million
  expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.96% hydro: 0.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products,
textiles, electricity, carpets

Imports—commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles

Exchange rates: manats per US$1—5,350 (January 1999), 4,070
(January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)

Telephone system: poorly developed
  domestic: NA
  international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other
  CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the
  Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from
  Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat
  switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;
  satellite earth stations—1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat

Television broadcast stations: 3 (much programming relayed from
Russia and Turkey) (1997)

Highways:
  total: 24,000 km
  paved: 19,488 km (note—these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,
  meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
  unpaved: 4,512 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air
Defense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 901,735 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transshipment point for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 98% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 2,777; female 2,697)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 5,619; female 5,085)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 305; female 380) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.35 years male: 70.4 years female: 74.4 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 98% (1970 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986;
restored and revised 5 March 1988

Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales, with a small
number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),
  represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)
  head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
  1995)
  cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and
  five appointed by the governor from among the members of the
  Legislative Council
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
  the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of
  which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PDM 8,
  PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

International organization participation: Caricom (associate),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau)

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—overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of the 87,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism and financial and other services (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $47 million
  expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997/98 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Imports—commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services
  domestic: NA
  international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station—1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 4
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US

Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

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

Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to
November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones

Environment—current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table

Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 1,870; female 1,799)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 3,062; female 3,360)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 225; female 272) (1999 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.15 years male: 63.01 years female: 65.34 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands

Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began debating republic status in 1992

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
  represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA, M.D. (since NA
  June 1998)
  head of government: Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 23
  December 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Kokeiya MALUA (since 8
  April 1998);
  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 8 April 1998 (next to be held NA
  2002)
  election results: Bikenibeu PAENIU reelected prime minister by a
  vote in Parliament of 10 to 2; Kokeiya MALUA elected deputy prime
  minister; percent of Parliament vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (12 seats—two from each island with more than 1,000 inhabitants, one from all the other inhabited islands; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 26-27 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 12

Judicial branch: eight Island Courts; High Court; note—a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High Court

Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties but
members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)

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—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. Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru has begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resources decline. Substantial income is received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. In an effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu began selling internet addresses in its TV domain and reportedly has derived revenue from use of its area code for "900" lines. Low-lying Tuvalu is particularly vulnerable to any future global warming.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those working abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Budget:
  revenues: $4.3 million
  expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1989 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Imports—commodities: food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Economic aid—recipient: $7.9 million (1995); note?substantial
annual support from an international trust fund

Exchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)

Telephone system:
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: NA

Merchant marine:
  total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,371 GRT/70,137 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1,
  passenger-cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (consists of 56 full- and part-time personnel), Police Force (includes Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance operations)

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

Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 9%
  permanent pastures: 9%
  forests and woodland: 28%
  other: 29% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is widespread

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 51% (male 5,857,254; female 5,820,526)
  15-64 years: 47% (male 5,301,208; female 5,330,005)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 239,434; female 256,546) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: according to the UNHCR, by the end of 1997, Uganda was host to refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including: Sudan 160,000, Democratic Republic of the Congo 14,000, and Rwanda 12,000

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: 0.93 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 43.06 years male: 42.2 years female: 43.94 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%,
Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro 3%,
Batobo 3%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 23%

Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%,
indigenous beliefs 18%

Languages: English (official national language, taught in 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 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: 61.8%
  male: 73.7%
  female: 50.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda

Administrative divisions: 39 districts; Apac, Arua, Bundibugyo,
  Bushenyi, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kalangala,
  Kampala, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum,
  Kotido, Kumi, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto,
  Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pallisa, Rakai,
  Rukungiri, Soroti, Tororo

Constitution: 8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995

Legal system: in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
  seizing power 29 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 Kintu MUSOKE (since
  18 November 1994); 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 elected by popular vote for a NA-year term;
  election last held 9 May 1996 (next to be held by 31 May 2001);
  note—first popular election for president since independence in 1962
  was held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;
  percent of vote—Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 74%, Paul Kawanga
  SSEMOGERERE 24%, Muhammad MAYANJA 2%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (276 members—214
  directly elected by popular vote, 62 nominated by legally
  established special interest groups and approved by the
  president—women 39, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 3; members
  serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 27 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001);
  election results: NA; note—election campaigning by party was not
  permitted

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the
president; High Court, judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: only one political organization, chairman] is recognized; note—this is the party of President MUSEVENI; the president maintains that the NRM is not a political party, but a movement which claims the loyalty of all Ugandans note: of the political parties that exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates, the most important are the Ugandan People's MAYANJA-NKANGI]; the new constitution requires the suspension of political party activity until a referendum is held on the matter in 2000

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
  EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
  embassy: Parliament Avenue, Kampala
  mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala

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—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 is the major export crop and 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. In 1990-98, 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. Continuation of this performance, while possible, appears difficult because of Ugandan involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, growing corruption within the government, and slippage in the government's determination to press reforms.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 44% industry: 17% services: 39% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 33.4% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 86%, industry 4%, services 10% (1980 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $869 million
  expenditures: $985 million, including capital expenditures of $69
  million (FY95/96)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.89% hydro: 99.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

Exports—commodities: coffee 54%, gold, fish and fish products,
cotton, tea, corn (1997)

Exports—partners: Spain 14%, Germany 14%, Netherlands 10%, France
8%, Italy (1997)

Imports—commodities: transportation equipment, petroleum, medical
supplies, iron and steel (1996)

Imports—partners: Kenya 31%, UK 12%, Japan 6%, India 6%, South
Africa 5% (1997)

Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1—1,368.4 (December 1998), 1,240.2 (1998), 1,083.0 (1997), 1,046.1 (1996), 968.9 (1995), 979.4 (1994)

Telephone system: fair system but in serious need of expansion
  and better maintenance; a cellular system has been introduced as a
  stopgap but the communications problems will not be solved without
  substantial investment in the conventional telephone infrastructure;
  e-mail and Internet services are available
  domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and
  radiotelephone communications stations, cellular system for short
  range traffic
  international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 8 (in addition, there is one low-power repeater) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 1,241 km
  narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: a program to rehabilitate the railroad is underway (1995)

Highways:
  total: 27,000 km
  paved: 1,800 km
  unpaved: 25,200 km (of which about 4,800 km are all-weather roads)
  (1990 est.)

Waterways: Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George,
Lake Edward, Victoria Nile, Albert Nile

Merchant marine:
total: 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,611,096 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Ugandan military forces are supporting the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,558 km
  border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km,
  Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia
  1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

Terrain: most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and
plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians),
and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

Natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil,
salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel,
mercury, timber

Land use:
  arable land: 58%
  permanent crops: 2%
  permanent pastures: 13%
  forests and woodland: 18%
  other: 9% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
  Change, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
  Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: strategic position at the crossroads between
Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 4,690,318; female 4,498,239)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 16,136,296; female 17,572,011)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 2,251,664; female 4,662,646) (1999 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: 0.48 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.91 years male: 60.23 years female: 71.87 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox—Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian
Orthodox—Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox,
Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98%
  male: 100%
  female: 97% (1989 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukrayina former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 24 oblasti (singular—oblast'), 1
  autonomous republic* (avtomnaya respublika), and 2 municipalities
  (mista, singular—misto) with oblast status**; Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy),
  Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv), Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi),
  Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k), Donets'ka (Donets'k),
  Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k), Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv),
  Khersons'ka (Kherson), Khmel'nyts'ka (Khmel'nyts'kyy),
  Kirovohrads'ka (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka (Kiev), Luhans'ka
  (Luhans'k), L'vivs'ka (L'viv), Mykolayivs'ka (Mykolayiv), Odes'ka
  (Odesa), Poltavs'ka (Poltava), Avtonomna Respublika Krym*
  (Simferopol'), Rivnens'ka (Rivne), Sevastopol'**, Sums'ka (Sumy),
  Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya), Volyns'ka
  (Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka (Zaporizhzhya),
  Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr)
  note: oblasts have the administrative center name following in
  parentheses

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Valeriy PUSTOVOYTENKO (since 16
  July 1997), First Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr KURATCHENKO (since
  14 January 1999), and three deputy prime ministers
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president and
  approved by the Supreme Council
  note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
  originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but
  significantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; the
  NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
  domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
  Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential edicts and
  provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions
  that serves as an advisory body created by President KUCHMA in
  September 1994 that includes chairmen of the Kyyiv (Kiev) and
  Sevastopol' municipalities and chairmen of the Oblasti
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 26 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA
  October 1999); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed
  by the president and approved by the People's Council
  election results: Leonid D. KUCHMA elected president; percent of
  vote—Leonid KUCHMA 52.15%, Leonid KRAVCHUK 45.06%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada
  (450 seats; under Ukraine's new election law, half of the Rada's
  seats are allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that
  gain 4% of the national electoral vote; the other 225 members are
  elected by popular vote in single-mandate constituencies; all serve
  four-year terms)
  elections: last held 29 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002);
  note—repeat elections continuing to fill vacant seats
  election results: percent of vote by party (for parties clearing 4%
  hurdle on 29 March 1998)—Communist 24.7%, Rukh 9.4%,
  Socialist/Peasant 8.6%, Green 5.3%, People's Democratic Party 5.0%,
  Hromada 4.7%, Progressive Socialist 4.0%, United Social Democratic
  Party 4.0%; seats by party (as of 8 July 1998)—Communist 120,
  People's Democratic Party 88, Rukh 47, Hromada 45, Socialist/Peasant
  33, United Social Democratic 25, Green 24, Progressive Socialist 14,
  independents 26, vacant 28

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Ukraine [Petro
VITRENKO]
note: and numerous smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: New Ukraine (Nova
Ukrayina); Congress of National Democratic Forces

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Anton Denysovych BUTEYKO
  chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Steven Karl PIFER
  embassy: 10 Yuria Kotsubynskoho, 254053 Kiev 53
  mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and
golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky

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 equipment and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially natural gas. Shortly after the implosion of the USSR 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 in 1992-98 fell to less than half the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has pushed economic reforms, maintained financial discipline, and tried to remove almost all remaining controls over prices and foreign trade. The onset of the financial crisis in Russia dashed Ukraine's hopes for its first year of economic growth in 1998 due to a sharp fall in export revenue and reduced domestic demand. Although administrative currency controls will be lifted in early 1999, they are likely to be reimposed when the hryvnia next comes under pressure. The currency is only likely to collapse further if Ukraine abandons tight monetary policies or threatens default. Despite increasing pressure from the IMF to accelerate reform, significant economic restructuring remains unlikely in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 30% services: 56% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 20.8% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 32%, agriculture and forestry 24%, health, education, and culture 17%, trade and distribution 8%, transport and communication 7%, other 12% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 3.7% officially registered; large number of
unregistered or underemployed workers (December 1998)

Budget:
  revenues: $18 billion
  expenditures: $21 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing (especially sugar)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 9.2% nuclear: 43.8% other: 0% (1998)

Agriculture—products: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk

Exports—commodities: ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

Imports—commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals, plastics and rubber

Economic aid—recipient: $637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds
Facility $2.2 billion (1998)

Exchange rates: hryvnia per US$1—3.4270 (February 1999), 2.4495 (1998), 1.8617 (1997), 1.8295 (1996), 1.4731 (1995), 0.3275 (1994) note: in August 1998, Ukraine introduced currency controls in an attempt to fend off the impact of the Russian financial crisis; it created an exchange rate corridor for the hryvnia of 2.5-3.5 hryvnia per US$1

Telephone system: Ukraine's phone systems are administered
  through the State Committee for Communications; Ukraine has a
  telecommunication development plan through 2005; Internet service is
  available in large cities
  domestic: local—Kiev has a digital loop connected to the national
  digital backbone; Kiev has several cellular phone companies
  providing service in the different standards; some companies offer
  intercity roaming and even limited international roaming; cellular
  phone service is offered in at least 100 cities nationwide
  international: foreign investment in the form of joint business
  ventures greatly improved the Ukrainian telephone system; Ukraine's
  two main fiber-optic lines are part of the Trans-Asia-Europe
  Fiber-Optic Line (TAE); these lines connect Ukraine to worldwide
  service through Belarus, Hungary, and Poland; Odesa is a landing
  point for the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia Undersea Fiber-Optic Cable
  (ITUR) giving Ukraine an additional fiber-optic link to worldwide
  service; Ukraine has Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik earth
  stations

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—at
least 25 local broadcast stations of NA type (1998)

Television broadcast stations: at least 33 (in addition 21 repeater stations that relay ORT broadcasts from Russia) (1997)

Railways: total: 23,350 km broad gauge: 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 172,565 km
  paved: 163,937 km (including 1,875 km of expressways); note—these
  roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and
  some are all-weather gravel surfaced
  unpaved: 8,628 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 4,400 km navigable waterways, of which 1,672 km were
on the Pryp''yat' and Dnistr (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil 4,000 km (1995); petroleum products 4,500 km
(1995); natural gas 34,400 km (1998)

Ports and harbors: Berdyans'k, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch,
Kherson, Kiev (Kyyiv), Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni

Merchant marine:
  total: 181 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,022,047
  GRT/1,101,278 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 117, liquefied gas tanker 1, container
  4, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 16, passenger 12,
  passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 10, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 163
  over 3,047 m: 14
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 55
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 57 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 543
  over 3,047 m: 7
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
  914 to 1,523 m: 37
  under 914 m: 476 (1994 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
Internal Troops, National Guard, Border Troops

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 9,740,684 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: dispute with Romania over continental shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation

Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey, and to Europe and Russia; drug-related money laundering a minor, but growing, problem

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

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

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 2%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 98% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

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

Population: 2,344,402 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 1,576,589 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 368,844; female 353,183)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,015,690; female 558,902)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 32,935; female 14,848) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 2.22 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.24 years male: 73.83 years female: 76.72 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Emiri 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)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 79.2%
  male: 78.9%
  female: 79.8% (1995 est.)

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

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

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

Legal system: federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2
  December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966)
  and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October
  1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
  head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum
  (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime
  Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) which is
  composed of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest
  constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies
  and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy
  (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; meets four times a year
  elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group
  of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA
  October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister and deputy
  prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president;
  percent of FSC vote—NA, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin
  Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote—NA, but
  believed to be unanimous

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

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
  OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch); note—work week is Saturday through Wednesday consulate(s) general: Dubai

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

Economy—overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest per capita incomes and with a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for over 100 years. The UAE Government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy. Industrial development has picked up in 1997-98, but lower world oil prices caused GDP to drop 5% in 1998.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 52% services: 45% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.) note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: services 60%, industry 32%, agriculture 8% (1996 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.4 billion
  expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $350
  million (1998 budget est.)

Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction
materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Exports—partners: Japan 36%, South Korea 9%, Singapore 5%, India
5%, Oman 3% (1997)

Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport
equipment, chemicals, food

Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1—central bank mid-point rate: 3.6725 (January 1999), 3.6725 (1998); fixed rate: 3.6710 (1994-1997)

Telephone system: modern system consisting of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia

Ports and harbors: 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan,
Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina'
Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn

Merchant marine:
  total: 74 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,093,795 GRT/1,757,189
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 20, chemical tanker 4, container 8,
  liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 28,
  refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 21
  over 3,047 m: 8
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 20
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 9
  under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, paramilitary (includes Federal Police Force)

Military manpower—availability: males age 15-49: 791,097 (1999 est.) note: includes non-nationals

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 425,248 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)—over which Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions

Illicit drugs: growing role as heroin transshipment and money-laundering center due to its proximity to southwest Asian producing countries and the bustling free trade zone in Dubai

Background: Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the nineteenth century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The British Empire covered approximately one-fourth of the earth's surface at its zenith. In the first half of the twentieth century its strength was seriously depleted by two world wars. Since the end of World War II, the British Empire has been dismantled, and Britain has rebuilt itself into a prosperous, modern European nation with significant international political, cultural, and economic influence. As the twentieth century draws to a close, Britain is debating the degree of its integration with continental Europe. While a member of the EU, for the time being it is staying out of the euro system introduced in January 1999. Constitutional reform, including the House of Lords and the devolution of power to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is an ongoing issue in Great Britain.

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

Area:
  total: 244,820 sq km
  land: 241,590 sq km
  water: 3,230 sq km
  note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
  accordance with agreed upon boundaries
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone,
iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 10%
  other: 19% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants contribute to air pollution; some rivers polluted by agricultural wastes; and coastal waters polluted because of large-scale disposal of sewage at sea

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
  Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
  Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 5,822,901; female 5,522,122)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 19,393,706; female 19,103,882)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 3,821,181; female 5,449,647) (1999 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.37 years male: 74.73 years female: 80.15 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh
1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%

Religions: Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim
1 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000,
Hindu 350,000, Jewish 300,000 (1991 est.)

Languages: English, Welsh (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% (1978 est.)
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Country name:
  conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
  Ireland
  conventional short form: United Kingdom
  abbreviation: UK

Administrative divisions: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties,
  26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands areas; England—39 counties, 7
  metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham,
  Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon,
  Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater London*,
  Greater Manchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Hertford,
  Humberside, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln,
  Merseyside*, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, North Yorkshire,
  Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*,
  Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear*, Warwick, West Midlands*,
  West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire; Northern Ireland—26
  districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge,
  Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown,
  Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn,
  Londonderry, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey,
  North Down, Omagh, Strabane; Scotland—9 regions, 3 islands areas*;
  Borders, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland,
  Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*, Strathclyde, Tayside, Western Isles*;
  Wales—8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan,
  Powys, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan
  note: England may now have 35 counties and Wales 9 counties

Dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean
  Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,
  Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn
  Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
  Turks and Caicos Islands

Independence: England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales was enacted under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284; in the Act of Union of 1707, England and Scotland agreed to permanent union 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: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday in June)

Legal system: common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; British courts and legislation are increasingly subject to review by European Union courts

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 C. L. (Tony) BLAIR (since
  2 May 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the prime minister is
  the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons (assuming
  there is no majority party, a prime minister would have a majority
  coalition or at least a coalition that was not rejected by the
  majority)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords (1,200 seats; four-fifths of the members are hereditary peers, two archbishops, 24 other senior bishops, serving and retired Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, other life peers, Scottish peers) and House of Commons (659 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier) elections: House of Lords—no elections; House of Commons—last held 1 May 1997 (next to be held by NA May 2002); note—in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Parliament; in 1999 there will be elections for a new Scottish parliament and a new Welsh Assembly election results: House of Commons—percent of vote by party—Labor 44.5%, Conservative 31%, Liberal Democratic 17%, other 7.5%; seats by party—Labor 418, Conservative 165, Liberal Democrat 46, other 30

Judicial branch: House of Lords, several Lords of Appeal in
Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life

Political pressure groups and leaders: Trades Union Congress;
Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, CP, EAPC, EBRD,
  ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7,
  G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
  OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNOMSIL, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL,
  WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Christopher J. R. MEYER chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Dallas, Miami, and Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip LADER embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W. 1A1AE mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh

Flag description: blue 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); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, as well as British overseas territories

Economy—overview: The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers, and its essentially capitalistic economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance, now employing only 18% of the work force. Economic growth is slowing, and Britain may experience a short recession in 1999. As a result, unemployment probably will begin to rise again. The BLAIR government has put off the question of participation in the euro system until after the next election, not expected until 2001, but Chancellor of the Exchequer BROWN is committed to preparing the British economy for eventual membership.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 31.5% services: 67% (1997)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 24.7% (1986)

Labor force—by occupation: services 68.9%, manufacturing and construction 17.5%, government 11.3%, energy 1.2%, agriculture 1.1% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $487.7 billion
  expenditures: $492.6 billion, including capital expenditures of
  $23.1 billion (1997 est.)

Industries: production machinery including machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 72.28% hydro: 1.28% nuclear: 26.33% other: 0.11% (1996)

Agriculture—products: cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish

Exports—commodities: manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food,
beverages, tobacco

Exports—partners: EU countries 56% (Germany 12%, France 10%,
Netherlands 8%), US 12% (1997)

Imports—partners: EU countries 53% (Germany 14%, France 10%,
Netherlands 7%, Ireland 5%), US 13% (1997)

Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994)

Telephone system: technologically advanced domestic and
  international system
  domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and
  fiber-optic systems
  international: 40 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
  stations—10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1
  Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large
  international switching centers

Railways:
  total: 16,878 km
  broad gauge: 342 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track); note—all
  1.600-m gauge track, of which 342 km is in common carrier use, is in
  Northern Ireland
  standard gauge: 16,536 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified;
  12,591 km double or multiple track) (1996)

Highways:
  total: 372,000 km
  paved: 372,000 km (including 3,270 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; petroleum
products 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km

Ports and harbors: Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover,
  Falmouth, Felixstowe, Glasgow, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith, Liverpool,
  London, Manchester, Peterhead, Plymouth, Scapa Flow, Sullom Voe,
  Tees, Tyne

Merchant marine:
  total: 155 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,460,361
  GRT/2,517,875 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 29, chemical tanker 6, combination
  ore/oil 1, container 25, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 51,
  passenger 8, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea
  passenger 12, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 356 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 169 914 to 1,523 m: 91 under 914 m: 54 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 141 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 117 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,053,320 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: Northern Ireland issue with Ireland (historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); Gibraltar issue with Spain; Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Mauritius claims island of Diego Garcia in British Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory); Seychelles claims Chagos Archipelago in British Indian Ocean Territory

Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; producer and major consumer of synthetic drugs, synthetic precursor chemicals; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center

Background: 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, low inflation, and rapid advances in technology. The biggest cloud over this affluent society is the distribution of gains—since 1975 most of the increase in national income has gone to the 20% of people at the top of the income ladder.

Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Area:
  total: 9,629,091 sq km
  land: 9,158,960 sq km
  water: 470,131 sq km
  note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia

Area—comparative: about one-half the size of Russia; about
  three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South
  America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than
  China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe

Land boundaries:
  total: 12,248 km
  border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),
  Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km
  note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
  part of Cuba

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in
Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m

Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates,
uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver,
tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 25%
  forests and woodland: 30%
  other: 26% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

Environment—current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
  Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
  Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
  Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 30,097,125; female 28,699,568)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 89,024,052; female 90,379,328)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 14,189,132; female 20,250,403) (1999
  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: 0.7 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.23 years male: 72.95 years female: 79.67 years (1999 est.)

Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other
4%, none 10% (1989)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 97% (1979 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: United States of America
  conventional short form: United States
  abbreviation: US or USA

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 Atoll note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986)

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20
  January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
  1993); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20
  January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
  1993); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each
  state; president and vice president serve four-year terms; election
  last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
  election results: William Jefferson CLINTON reelected president;
  percent of popular vote—William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party)
  49.2%, Robert DOLE (Republican Party) 40.7%, Ross PEROT (Reform
  Party) 8.4%, other 1.7%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of Senate (100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate—last held 2 November 1998 (next to be held 7 November 2000); House of Representatives—last held 2 November 1998 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 45; House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Republican Party 223, Democratic Party 211, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the nine justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate)

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party [Jim NICHOLSON, national committee chairman]; several other groups or parties of minor political significance

International organization participation: AfDB, ANZUS, APEC,
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,
  EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
  MIPONUH, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN,
  UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG,
  UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Flag description: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper 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—overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $31,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government buys needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The years 1994-98 witnessed solid increases in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The outlook for 1999 is for GDP growth somewhat below 1998's, continued low inflation, and about the same level of unemployment. Two shadows for 1999 are the severe financial crises in East Asia and Russia and the exuberant level of stock prices in relation to corporate earnings.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 23% services: 75% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 28.5% (1994)

Labor force—by occupation: managerial and professional 29.6%, technical, sales and administrative support 29.3%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 24.8%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.7% (1998) note: figures exclude the unemployed

Budget:
  revenues: $1.722 trillion
  expenditures: $1.653 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998)

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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 65.1% hydro: 9.6% nuclear: 18.59% other: 6.71% (1996)

Agriculture—products: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish

Exports—commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial
supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products

Exports—partners: Canada 22%, Western Europe 21%, Japan 10%,
Mexico 10% (1997)

Imports—commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages

Imports—partners: Canada, 19%, Western Europe 18%, Japan 14%,
Mexico 10%, China 7% (1997)

Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$—1.5192 (January 1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994); French francs (F) per US$—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994); Italian lire (Lit) per US$—1,668.7 (January 1999), 1,763.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994); Japanese yen (Y) per US$—113.18 (January 1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994); German deutsche marks (DM) per US$—1.69 (January 1999), 1.9692 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994); Euro per US$—0.8597 (January 1999)

Telephone system:
  domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
  relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries conventional
  telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile
  telephone traffic throughout country
  international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth
  stations—61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5
  Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and
  Atlantic Ocean regions) (1990 est.)

Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks—NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)

Railways:
total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)

Highways:
  total: 6.42 million km
  paved: 3,903,360 km (including 88,400 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 2,516,640 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston,
  Chicago, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los
  Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral,
  Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle,
  Tampa, Toledo

Merchant marine:
  total: 385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,123,848
  GRT/15,255,996 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 10, bulk 61, cargo 28, chemical tanker
  13, combination bulk 2, container 83, liquefied gas tanker 9,
  multifunctional large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 114, passenger 7,
  passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 43, short-sea passenger 3,
  specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 5,167
  over 3,047 m: 180
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 219
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,294
  914 to 1,523 m: 2,447
  under 914 m: 1,027 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 9,292
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 156
  914 to 1,523 m: 1,647
  under 914 m: 7,482 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force note: the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy

Disputes—international: maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Marshall Islands claims Wake Atoll

Illicit drugs: consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly methamphetamines from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines; drug-money-laundering center

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Land boundaries: total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond
  12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 77%
  forests and woodland: 6%
  other: 10% (1997 est.)

Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts

Environment—current issues: working with Brazil to monitor and minimize transboundary pollution caused by Brazilian power plant near border; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
  Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine
  Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 407,990; female 388,293)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 1,026,554; female 1,054,513)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 179,331; female 251,842) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.83 years male: 72.69 years female: 79.15 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent

Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%

Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish
mix on the Brazilian frontier)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.3%
  male: 96.9%
  female: 97.7% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
  conventional short form: Uruguay
  local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
  local short form: Uruguay

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

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March
  1995) and Vice President Hugo FERNANDEZ Faingold (since 5 October
  1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  head of government: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March
  1995) and Vice President Hugo FERNANDEZ Faingold (since 5 October
  1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
  parliamentary approval
  elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
  by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 November
  1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999 with run-off election if
  necessary on 28 November 1999)
  election results: Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent
  of vote—23%

Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators—last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999); Chamber of Representatives—last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999) election results: Chamber of Senators—percent of vote by party—Colorado 36%, Blanco 34%, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector/Space 3%; seats by party—Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector/Space 1; Chamber of Representatives—percent of vote by party—Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector/Space 5%; seats by party—Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector/Space 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly

Political parties and leaders: National Party or Blanco [Walter
leader—Gen. Liber SEREGNI]; Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
  Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
  RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ
  chancery: 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher C. ASHBY
  embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
  mailing address: APO AA 34035

Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and
  bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper
  hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as
  the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

Economy—overview: Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower production. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at reducing inflation; other priorities include moving toward a more market-oriented economy, completing reform of the social security system, and increasing investment in education. Economic performance remains sensitive to conditions in Argentina and Brazil, largely because more than half of Uruguay's trade is conducted with its partners in Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common Market).

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $4 billion
  expenditures: $4.3 billion, with capital expenditures of $385
  million (1997 est.)

Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles,
footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 10.18% hydro: 89.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, rice, fish and shellfish, chemicals

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles,
chemicals, minerals, plastics, oil

Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1—11.08 (January 1999), 9.98 (January 1998), 9.4418 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491 (1995), 5.0529 (1994)

Telephone system: some modern facilities domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 26 (in addition, there are ten low-power repeaters for the Montevideo station) (1997)

Railways: total: 2,994 km standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (921 km closed) (1997)

Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira,
Paysandu, Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriapolis

Merchant marine:
total: 2 oil tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 33 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast
Guard, Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 653,796 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute—Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River

Land boundaries: total: 6,221 km border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

Coastline: 0 km
note: Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with
a 420 km shoreline

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, Sirdaryo (Syr Darya), 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: 9%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 46%
  forests and woodland: 3%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: drying up 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 agricultural chemicals, including DDT

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
  Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two
doubly landlocked countries in the world

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37% (male 4,556,973; female 4,413,617)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 6,938,090; female 7,068,839)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 443,604; female 681,350) (1999 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: 0.65 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.91 years male: 60.29 years female: 67.71 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%,
Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99% (yearend 1996)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
  conventional short form: Uzbekistan
  local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
  local short form: none
  former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type: republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch; executive power concentrated in the presidency

Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular—wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

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 Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December
  1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
  approval of the Supreme Assembly
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA January
  2000; note—extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional
  four years overwhelmingly approved—99.6% of total vote in favor—by
  national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and all
  other ministers appointed by the president
  election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of
  vote—Islom KARIMOV 86%, Muhammed SOLIH 12%, other 2%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis
  (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
  1999)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12,
  other 31; note—seating following the final runoff elections were
  held 22 January 1995: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland
  Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120
  note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly

Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party or NDP
YULDASHEV, chairman]; Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party
secretary]

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,
  EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing address: use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110

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—overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more than 60% of its population living in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however, the government began to reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions. Uzbekistan has responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by tightening export and currency controls within its already largely closed economy.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 27% services: 47% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry
20%, services 36% (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $4.4 billion
  expenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1
  billion (1997 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building,
metallurgy, natural gas

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 84.18% hydro: 15.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exports—commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos

Imports—commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer
durables, other foods

Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1—111.9 (February 1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996), 30.2 (1995), 11.4 (1994), 1.0 (1993)

Telephone system: poorly developed; ambitiously engaged in telecommunications modernization domestic: in 1998 there were six cellular networks operating in Uzbekistan; 4 GSM, 1 D-AMPS, 1 AMPS standard international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo (Japan) and Ankara (Turkey) give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations—NA Orbita and NA Intelsat; Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—there are 12 radio broadcast stations including one state-owned broadcast station of NA type and four independent stations

Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two repeater stations that relay Russian ORT programs and Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tadzhik programs) (1997)

Railways:
  total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)

Highways:
  total: 81,600 km
  paved: 71,237 km (note—these roads are said to be hard surfaced,
  meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
  unpaved: 10,363 km dirt (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security
Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,012,944 (1999 est.)

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and very small amounts of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption, almost entirely eradicated by an effective government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe and for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Area:
  total: 14,760 sq km
  land: 14,760 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes more than 80 islands

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 10%
  permanent pastures: 2%
  forests and woodland: 75%
  other: 11% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to
April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes

Environment—current issues: a majority of the population does not
have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 37,040; female 35,760)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 56,649; female 53,799)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 3,125; female 2,663) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.44 years male: 59.41 years female: 63.57 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Pacific Islanders

Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%,
indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of
Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%

Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known
as Bislama or Bichelama)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 53%
  male: 57%
  female: 48% (1979 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
  conventional short form: Vanuatu
  former: New Hebrides

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma,
Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Legal system: unified system being created from former dual
French and British systems

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 30 March
  1998); Deputy Prime Minister Willie JIMMY (since 19 October 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
  responsible to Parliament
  elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
  Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a
  five-year term; election for president last held 2 March 1994 (next
  to be held NA 1999); 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 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
  election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of
  electoral college vote—NA; Donald KALPOKAS elected prime minister by
  Parliament with a total of 35 votes; other candidate, Rialuth Serge
  VOHOR, received 17 votes
  note: the general legislative elections in November 1995 did not
  give a majority to any of the political parties; since the election,
  there have been four changes of government—all of which have been
  coalitions formed by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR was
  prime minister from November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996
  when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime Carlot
  KORMAN was then elected prime minister and served until he was
  ousted in a no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR was
  then elected prime minister for a second time; as a result of
  legislative elections in March 1998, KALPOKAS was elected prime
  minister and formed a coalition government with Father LINI's
  National United Party (NUP)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note—political party associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government since the November 1995 elections note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land

Judicial branch: 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

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC,
  SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Vanuatu 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—overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 13% services: 64% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $94.4 million
  expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef

Exports—partners: Japan 28%, Spain 21%, Germany 14%, UK 7%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, Australia, New Caledonia (1996 est.)

Imports—commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages,
basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals

Imports—partners: Japan 47%, Australia 23%, Singapore 8%, New
Zealand 6%, France 3%, Fiji (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1—129.66 (January 1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Merchant marine:
  total: 82 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,327,078 GRT/1,764,558
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 31, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combination
  bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 11,
  vehicle carrier 6
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15
  countries among which are ships of Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece
  3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998
  est.)

Airports—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 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 29
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 11
  under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)

Military branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police
Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)

Disputes—international: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of
New Caledonia

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 15 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

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: 4%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 20%
  forests and woodland: 34%
  other: 41% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 3,988,499; female 3,741,568)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 7,231,546; female 7,184,769)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 484,071; female 573,013) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.95 years male: 69.97 years female: 76.16 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German,
African, indigenous people

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 91.1%
  male: 91.8%
  female: 90.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela
  conventional short form: Venezuela
  local long form: Republica de Venezuela
  local short form: Venezuela

Administrative divisions: 22 states (estados, singular—estado),1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
  1999); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
  government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)
  election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of
  vote—NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic or
  Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats,
  two from each state and the federal district (46), one for each of
  the retired presidents, and others representing minorities (6);
  members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
  Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: Senate—last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA
  December 2003); Chamber of Deputies—last held 6 December 1998 (next
  to be held NA December 2003)
  election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3,
  independents 5; note—two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI)
  hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by
  party—AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%,
  Causa R 19.3%; seats by party—AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22,
  National Convergence 18, other 23

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session
for a nine-year term, one-third are reelected every three years

Political parties and leaders: National Convergence or
Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general];
ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS

Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a
  conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or
  CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS
  groups

International organization participation: CAN, Caricom
  (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
  chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
  New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John Francis MAISTO
  embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas
  1060
  mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Economy—overview: The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. As a result, the steep downturn in international oil prices has had a severe impact on the economy; fiscal cuts spurred by the loss of revenues, high interest rates, and the sharp downturn in export earnings drove the economy into recession in 1998. The recession continued into 1999 with oil prices forecast to stay relatively low, but rising. Although the government has pursued moderate austerity measures to address the downturn in revenues, Venezuela's ongoing reform program has largely stalled. Pressure on the bolivar—overvalued by as much as 40%—was also significant through much of 1998, increasing the probability of an adjustment of the currency in 1999. Newly elected President Hugo CHAVEZ will be hard pressed to address Venezuela's many economic ills. He has promised to strike a balance between reforms designed to address the structural deformities of the economy and addressing declining living standards. CHAVEZ has sought to play down the populism that marked his political campaign for the presidency in an effort to allay investor concerns. The wide range of viewpoints represented on CHAVEZ's economic team is likely to make rapid implementation of a coherent policy difficult.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 63% services: 33% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)

Labor force—by occupation: services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $11.99 billion
  expenditures: $11.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $3
  billion (1996 est.)

Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials,
food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 20.55% hydro: 79.45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Exports—commodities: petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures (1998)

Imports—commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials (1998)

Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1—570.267 (January 1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995), 148.503 (1994)

Telephone system: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
total: 584 km (248 km privately owned)
standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge

Waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept
oceangoing vessels

Ports and harbors: Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La
Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz,
Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon

Merchant marine:
  total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 535,882 GRT/937,461 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 9, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas
  tanker 2, oil tanker 8, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5,
  short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 122 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 249 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 94 under 914 m: 145 (1998 est.)

Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas
  Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas
  Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada),
  Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation
  or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia
  Nacional)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,522,757 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering hub; active eradication program primarily targeting opium

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

Land boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

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

Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)

Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m

Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite,
chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 4%
  permanent pastures: 1%
  forests and woodland: 30%
  other: 48% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: logging and slash-and-burn
  agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil
  degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life
  populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply;
  growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly
  degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
  Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 13,377,315; female 12,603,906)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 22,934,553; female 24,277,488)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 1,645,288; female 2,472,660) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.1 years male: 65.71 years female: 70.64 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo,
Khmer, Man, Cham

Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,
Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao

Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French,
Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 93.7%
  male: 96.5%
  female: 91.2% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
  conventional short form: Vietnam
  local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
  local short form: Viet Nam
  abbreviation: SRV

Administrative divisions: 58 provinces (tinh, singular and
  plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang,
  Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre,
  Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao
  Bang, Dac Lac, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai
  Duong, Hai Phong*, Ha Nam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Ho
  Chi Minh*, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam
  Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh
  Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang
  Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai
  Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen
  Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997)
  and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992)
  head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September
  1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29
  September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29
  September 1997), Ngo Xuan LOC (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen Manh
  CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29
  September 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the
  prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
  elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
  members for a five-year term; election last held 25 September 1997
  (next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative
  elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president
  from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime
  ministers appointed by the prime minister
  election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of
  National Assembly vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for election); seats by party—CPV or CPV-approved 450

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

International organization participation: ACCT, APEC, AsDB,
  ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400 consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas B. "Pete" Peterson embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Economy—overview: Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress has been achieved over the past 10 years in moving forward from an extremely low starting point, though the regional downturn is now limiting that progress. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 4% in 1998. These numbers masked some major difficulties that are emerging in economic performance. Many domestic industries, including coal, cement, steel, and paper, have reported large stockpiles of inventory and tough competition from more efficient foreign producers, giving Vietnam a trade deficit of $3.3 billion in 1997. While disbursements of aid and foreign direct investment have risen, they are not large enough to finance the rapid increase in imports; and it is widely believed that Vietnam may be using short-term trade credits to bridge the gap—a risky strategy that could result in a foreign exchange crunch. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities continue to move slowly toward implementing the structural reforms needed to revitalize the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Privatization of state enterprises remains bogged down in political controversy, while the country's dynamic private sector is denied both financing and access to markets. Reform of the banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to maintain current high levels of growth. Administrative and legal barriers are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and are raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital. Ideological bias in favor of state intervention and control of the economy is slowing progress toward a more liberalized investment environment.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 30% services: 42% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry and services 35% (1990 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.6 billion
  expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7
  billion (1996 est.)

Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 12.1% hydro: 84% nuclear: 0% other: 3.9% (1996)

Agriculture—products: paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish

Exports—commodities: crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee,
rubber, tea, garments, shoes

Exports—partners: Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
France, South Korea

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Debt—external: $7.3 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts primarily to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion nonconvertible debt (former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)

Economic aid—recipient: $2.2 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 1999

Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1—13,900 (December 1998), 11,100 (December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991)

Telephone system: while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lags
  far behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made
  considerable progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam
  has digitized all provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic and
  microwave transmission systems have been extended from Hanoi, Da
  Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces; the density of
  telephone receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but is
  still far behind other countries in the region; Vietnam's
  telecommunications strategy aims to increase telephone density to 30
  per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and authorities estimate that
  approximately $2.7 billion will be spent on telecommunications
  upgrades through the end of the decade
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
  region)

Railways:
  total: 2,835 km (in addition, there are 224 km not restored to
  service after war damage)
  standard gauge: 151 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 2,454 km 1.000-m gauge
  dual gauge: 230 km NA-m gauges (three rails)

Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft

Ports and harbors: Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City,
Hong Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang

Merchant marine:
  total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,920 GRT/820,515 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 98, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
  1, oil tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 4 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

Military branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes
Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,933,945 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary with Thailand resolved, August 1997; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of boundary with Cambodia are in dispute; sections of land border with China are indefinite

Illicit drugs: minor producer of opium poppy with 3,000 hectares cultivated in 1998, capable of producing 20 metric tons of opium; probably minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe; growing opium/heroin addiction; possible small-scale heroin production

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds,
relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation;
rainy season May to November

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: 6%
  permanent pastures: 26%
  forests and woodland: 6%
  other: 47% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

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

Population: 119,827 (July 1999 est.)
  note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born
  elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%,
  other 8%

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 17,454; female 16,585)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 34,712; female 41,325)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 4,237; female 5,514) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.74 years male: 74.04 years female: 81.67 years (1999 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
  conventional short form: Virgin Islands
  former: Danish West Indies

Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note—indigenous inhabitants
are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
  20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
  1993)
  head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5
  January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gerald LUZ James II (since 5
  January 1999)
  cabinet: NA
  elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
  ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
  by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November
  1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)
  election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor;
  percent of vote—Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, former
  Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%

Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
  elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
  2000)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
  party—Democratic Party 6, independents 5, Republican Party 2,
  Independent Citizens Movement 2
  note: the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of
  Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held
  NA November 2000); results—Dr. Donna GREEN (Democrat) 80%, Victor O.
  FRAZER (ICM) 20%

Judicial branch: US District Court (judges are appointed by the
president); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor)

International organization participation: ECLAC (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC

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—overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The number of US tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. A major economic problem at the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental arrears, income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 62%, other 17% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $364.4 million
  expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1990 est.)

Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum
distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Imports—commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Telephone system:
  domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
  international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
  satellite earth stations—NA

Airports: 2
note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix; there
is an airfield on St. John (1998 est.)

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography—note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: US military personnel have left the island, but some civilian personnel remain (1999 est.)

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Department of the Interior; occasional activities on the island are managed by the US Army under a US Air Force contract

Economy—overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
  Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
  domestic: NA
  international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite

Transportation—note: formerly an important commercial aviation
base, now occasionally used by US military, some commercial cargo
planes, and for emergency landings

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 20%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: 75% (1993 est.)

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

Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 50%
  male: 50%
  female: 50% (1969 est.)

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

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
  1995), represented by High Administrator Claude PIERRET (since NA)
  head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Victor
  BRIAL (since 1 June 1997)
  cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
  members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the
  Territorial Assembly
  note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
  elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
  term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the
  advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the
  Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by
  the members of the assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
  Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA
  note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
  one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate—elections
  last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2007);
  results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats—RPR 1; French National
  Assembly—elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held by
  NA March 2002); results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats—RPR 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

Flag description: a large white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy—overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood 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. Wallis and Futuna imports food—particularly flour, sugar, rice, and beef—fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting mostly of breadfruit, yams, and taro root.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $20 million
  expenditures: $20 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing

Highways:
  total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
  paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)
  unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,160 GRT/41,656 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, passenger 1 (1998 est.)

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

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

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 32%
  forests and woodland: 1%
  other: 40%

Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for
  Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 216 Israeli settlements and
  civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem
  (August 1998 est.)

Population: 1,611,109 (July 1999 est.)
note: in addition, there are some 166,000 Israeli settlers in the
West Bank and about 176,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1998 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 370,770; female 352,803)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 422,209; female 411,597)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 22,376; female 31,354) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.83 years male: 70.96 years female: 74.79 years (1999 est.)

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Economy—overview: Economic conditions in the West Bank?where economic activity is governed by the Paris Economic Protocol of April 1994 between Israel and the Palestinian Authority—have deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36.1% between 1992 and 1996 owing to the combined effect of falling aggregate incomes and robust population growth. The downturn in economic activity was largely the result of Israeli closure policies—the imposition of generalized border closures in response to security incidents in Israel—which disrupted previously established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative social effect of this downturn has been the emergence of chronic unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were generally under 5%, by the mid-1990s this level had risen to over 20%. Since 1997 Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor. These positive changes to the conduct of economic activity, combined with international donor pledges of over $3 billion made to the Palestinian Authority in November, may fuel a moderate economic recovery in 1999.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 13%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12%, construction 8%, other services 54% (1996)

Budget:
  revenues: $816 million
  expenditures: $866 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1997 est.)
  note: includes Gaza Strip

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

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; at the same time, some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1
Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1—4.2260 (November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1—0.7090 (January 1999), 0.7090 (1998), 0.7090 (1997), 0.7090 (1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: NA
  note: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are
  responsible for communication services in the West Bank

Televisions: NA; note—54% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)

Highways:
  total: 4,500 km
  paved: 2,700 km
  unpaved: 1,800 km (1997 est.)
  note: Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish
  settlements

Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco

Land boundaries: total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

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

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 19%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 81%

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—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.1 years male: 47.98 years female: 50.57 years (1999 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara

Government type: legal status of territory and question 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); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991

Suffrage: none; a UN sponsored voter identification campaign has yet to be completed

Economy—overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and lacking sufficient rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%-45% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)

Exports—partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Imports—partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1—9.320 (January 1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994)

Telephone system: sparse and limited system
  domestic: NA
  international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay,
  tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations—2
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 9
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Disputes—international: claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991

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

Land boundaries: the land boundaries in the world total 251,480.24 km (not counting shared boundaries twice)

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm claimed by most, but can vary
  continental shelf: 200-m depth claimed by most or to depth of
  exploitation; others claim 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
  margin
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm claimed by most, but can vary
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm claimed by most, but can vary
  territorial sea: 12 nm claimed by most, but can vary
  note: boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many
  countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full
  200 nm; 43 nations and other areas that are landlocked include
  Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan,
  Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic,
  Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary,
  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
  Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San
  Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former
  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan,
  West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

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

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 26%
  forests and woodland: 32%
  other: 31% (1993 est.)

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

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

Environment—international agreements: selected international environmental agreements are included under the Environment—international agreements entry for each country and in the Selected International Environmental Agreements appendix

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 934,816,288; female 884,097,095)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 1,905,701,066; female 1,861,265,079)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 179,094,601; female 230,570,707) (1999
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63 years male: 61 years female: 65 years (1999 est.)

Data code: none; there is no FIPS 10-4 country code for the
  World, so the Factbook uses the "W" data code from DIAM 65-18
  "Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features," Data Standard No.
  3, March 1984, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency; see the
  Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes appendix

Administrative divisions: 266 nations, dependent areas, other,
and miscellaneous entries

Legal system: all members of the UN (excluding Yugoslavia) plus
Nauru and Switzerland are parties to the statute that established
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court

Economy—overview: Growth in global output (gross world product, GWP) dropped to 2% in 1998 from 4% in 1997 because of continued recession in Japan, severe financial difficulties in other East Asian countries, and widespread dislocations in the Russian economy. The US economy continued its remarkable sustained prosperity, growing at 3.9% in 1998, and accounted for 22% of GWP. Western Europe's economies grew at roughly 2.5%, not enough to cut deeply into the region's high unemployment; these economies produced 21% of GWP. China, the second largest economy in the world, continued its rapid growth and accounted for 11% of GWP. Japan posted a decline of 2.6% in 1998 and its share in GWP dropped to 7.4%. As usual, the 15 successor nations of the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations experienced widely different rates of growth. Russia's national product dropped by 5% whereas the nations of central and eastern Europe grew by 3.4% on average. The developing nations varied widely in their growth results, with many countries facing population increases that eat up 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 finds its control over resources slipping as separatist regional movements—typically based on ethnicity—gain momentum, e.g., in the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in India, and in Canada. 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 more than 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, the industrialized countries have inadequate resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from the economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. In 1998, serious financial difficulties in several high-growth East Asia countries cast a shadow over short-term global economic prospects. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999 poses serious economic risks because of varying levels of income and cultural and political differences among the participating nations. (For specific economic developments in each country of the world in 1998, see the individual country entries.)

GDP: GWP (gross world product)—purchasing power parity?$39 trillion (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): all countries 25%; developed
  countries 2% to 4% typically; developing countries 10% to 60%
  typically (1998 est.)
  note: national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from
  stable prices in Japan to hyperinflation in a number of Third World
  countries

Unemployment rate: 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 5%-12% unemployment (1998 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

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exports—commodities: the whole range of industrial and
agricultural goods and services

Imports—commodities: the whole range of industrial and
agricultural goods and services

Economic aid—recipient: traditional worldwide foreign aid $50
billion (1995 est.)

Railways:
  total: 1,201,337 km includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of
  electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km in
  the Far East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in South America, and
  4,160 km in North America; note—fastest speed in daily service is
  300 km/hr attained by France's Societe Nationale des Chemins-de-Fer
  Francais (SNCF) Le Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV)—Atlantique line
  broad gauge: 251,153 km
  standard gauge: 710,754 km
  narrow gauge: 239,430 km

Ports and harbors: Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille,
Mina' al Ahmadi (Kuwait), New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama

Merchant marine:
  total: 28,310 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 495,299,489
  GRT/764,129,056 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 23, bulk 5,745, cargo 8,766, chemical
  tanker 1,326, combination bulk 319, combination ore/oil 227,
  container 2,615, liquefied gas tanker 802, livestock carrier 60,
  multifunction large-load carrier 90, oil tanker 4,521, passenger
  392, passenger-cargo 126, railcar carrier 19, refrigerated cargo
  1,067, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,117, short-sea passenger 484,
  specialized tanker 118, vehicle carrier 493 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: aggregate real expenditure on arms worldwide in 1998 remained at approximately the 1997 level, about three-quarters of a trillion dollars (1998 est.)

Military expenditures—percent of GDP: roughly 2% of gross world product (1998 est.)

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

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)

Land boundaries: total: 1,746 km border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 18 nm in the North; 24 nm in the South
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate
in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily
hot, dry, harsh desert in east

Terrain: narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and
rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope
into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small
deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in
west

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 30%
  forests and woodland: 4%
  other: 63% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography—note: strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 4,118,292; female 3,971,886)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 4,243,809; female 4,065,429)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 278,133; female 264,681) (1999 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.98 years male: 58.17 years female: 61.88 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in
western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small
European communities in major metropolitan areas

Religions: Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a),
small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 38%
  male: 53%
  female: 26% (1990 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
  conventional short form: Yemen
  local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
  local short form: Al Yaman

Administrative divisions: 17 governorates (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz note: there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa

Independence: 22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established with and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lt. Gen. 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 NA October 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Abd al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI
  (since NA April 1998)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
  advice of the prime minister
  elections: President SALIH was elected by the House of
  Representatives for a five-year term, however, future presidents
  will be elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms;
  election last held 1 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); 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
  House of Representatives vote—NA

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 April 1997 (next to be held NA April 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—GPC 189, Islah 52, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Baath Party 2, independents 54, election pending 1 note: in May 1997, the president created a consultative council, sometimes referred to as the upper house of Parliament; its 59 members are all appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: there are over 12 political
  parties active in Yemen, some of the more prominent are: General
  SALAAM]
  note: President SALIH's General People's Congress or GPC won a
  landslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election and no
  longer governs in coalition with Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn
  al-AHMAR's Islamic Reform Grouping or Islaah—the two parties had
  been in coalition since the end of the civil war in 1994; the YSP, a
  loyal opposition party, boycotted the April 1997 legislative election

International organization participation: ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF,
  CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC,
  OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahhab Abdallah al-HAJRI chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara K. BODINE embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa

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 symbolic eagle centered in the white band

Economy—overview: Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported strong growth in the mid-1990s with the onset of oil production, but was harmed by low oil prices in 1998. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to foreign debt relief and restructuring. Yemen will work in 1999 to maintain tight control over spending and implement additional components of the IMF program. The high population growth rate of 3.3%, internal political dissension, and continued low prices make the government's task especially difficult.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 16% industry: 46% services: 38% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 30.8% (1992)

Labor force—by occupation: most people are employed in agriculture and herding or as expatriate laborers; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-half of the labor force

Budget:
  revenues: $2.3 billion
  expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1998 budget est.)

Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, poultry, beef; fish

Exports—partners: China 31%, South Korea 19%, Thailand 17%,
Thailand 5%, Brazil 5%, Japan 5% (1997)

Imports—commodities: food and live animals, machinery and
equipment, manufactured goods

Exchange rates: Yemeni rials (YRl) per US$1—140.940 (October 1998), 129.286 (1997), 94.157 (1996), 40.839 (1995), 12.010 (official fixed rate 1991-94)

Telephone system: since unification in 1990, efforts have been
  made to create a national telecommunications network
  domestic: the network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, and
  tropospheric scatter
  international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean
  and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2
  Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti

Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are several low-power repeaters) (1997)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,059 GRT/18,563 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 2 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
  total: 12
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
  total: 36
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
  914 to 1,523 m: 12
  under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, paramilitary (includes Police)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,119,308 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: a large section of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not defined; Hanish Islands dispute with Eritrea resolved by arbitral tribunal in October 1998

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds,
gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 40%
  forests and woodland: 39%
  other: 14% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain
  in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously
  threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil
  erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents
  human health risks

Environment—international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 49% (male 2,381,937; female 2,355,807)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 2,308,715; female 2,379,994)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 107,427; female 129,655) (1999 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.96 years male: 36.72 years female: 37.21 years (1999 est.)

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: 78.2%
  male: 85.6%
  female: 71.3% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
  conventional short form: Zambia
  former: Northern Rhodesia

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt,
Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991);
  Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October
  1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997);
  note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
  of the National Assembly
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October
  2001); vice president appointed by the president
  election results: Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of
  vote—Frederick CHILUBA 70%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%, Humphrey MULEMBA 6%,
  Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%, others 5%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats;
  members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October
  2001)
  election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—MMD
  130, NP 5, ZADECO 2, AZ 2, independents 11

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU,
  OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka

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—overview: Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Inflation, while slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA government. Zambia's copper mining sector, which accounts for over 80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling. Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Aid cuts by Zambia's donors, arising out of concern for the November 1996 flawed election, also have damaged Zambia's economic prospects. Urged by the World Bank, Zambia has embarked on a privatization program which is to include the all-important copper industry. Until a deal on the copper sector is concluded, perhaps by mid-1999, economic prospects will remain clouded.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 40% services: 37% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 31.3% (1993)

Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%

Budget:
  revenues: $888 million
  expenditures: $835 million, including capital expenditures of $110
  million (1995 est.)

Industries: copper mining and processing, construction,
foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.51% hydro: 99.49% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, beef, pork, poultry meat, milk, eggs, hides

Exports—partners: Japan, South Africa, US, Saudi Arabia, India,
Thailand, Malaysia (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
foodstuffs, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer

Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1—1,428 (October 1998), 1,333.81 (1997), 1,203.71 (1996), 857.23 (1995), 669.37 (1994)

Telephone system: facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan
  Africa
  domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger
  towns and cities
  international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
  and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 2,164 km (1995)
  narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)
  note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway
  Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge
  track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to
  the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways

Highways:
  total: 39,700 km
  paved: 7,265 km (including 60 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 32,435 km (1996 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 100 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 66 under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,113,174 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zimbabwe is in disagreement

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional money-laundering center

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,066 km
  border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa
  225 km, Zambia 797 km

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: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 13%
  forests and woodland: 23%
  other: 57% (1993 est.)

Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land
  degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd—once
  the largest concentration of the species in the world—has been
  significantly reduced by poaching

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 2,432,785; female 2,389,029)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 2,986,531; female 3,059,186)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 132,532; female 163,097) (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South
Africa in search of better paid employment

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: 0.81 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 38.86 years male: 38.77 years female: 38.94 years (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%),
white 1%, mixed and Asian 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: 85%
  male: 90%
  female: 80% (1995 est.)

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
  conventional short form: Zimbabwe
  former: Southern Rhodesia

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31
  December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31
  December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); 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); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31
  December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note—the
  president is both the chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the
  House of Assembly
  elections: president nominated by the House of Assembly for a
  six-year term (if more than one nomination, an electoral college
  consisting of members of the House of Assembly elects the
  president); election last held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA
  March 2002); co-vice presidents appointed by the president
  election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent
  of electoral college vote—Robert Gabriel MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA
  4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral parliament, called House of Assembly (150 seats—120 elected by popular vote for six-year terms, 12 nominated by the president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied by provincial governors) elections: last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—ZANU-PF 117, ZANU-Ndonga 2, independent 1

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
  MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas McDONALD
  embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
  mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare

Flag description: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow,
  red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle
  edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is
  superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle

Economy—overview: The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of difficult economic problems as it struggles to consolidate earlier progress in developing a market-oriented economy. Its involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, has already drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF suffers delays in part because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals. Inflation rose from an annual rate of 25% in January 1998 to 47% in December and will almost certainly continue to increase in 1999. The economy is being steadily weakened by AIDS; Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of infection in the world. Per capita GDP, which is twice the average of the poorer sub-Saharan nations, will increase little if any in the near-term, and Zimbabwe will suffer continued frustrations in developing its agricultural and mineral resources.

GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 32% services: 40% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 46.9% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.5 billion
  expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $279
  million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: mining (coal, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), copper, steel, nickel, tin, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 71.76% hydro: 28.24% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Agriculture—products: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs

Exports—partners: South Africa 12%, UK 11%, Germany 8%, Japan 6%,
US 6% (1997 est.)

Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39%, other
manufactures 18%, chemicals 15%, fuels 10% (1997 est.)

Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1—39.3701 (January 1999), 21.4133 (1998), 11.8906 (1997), 9.9206 (1996), 8.6580 (1995), 8.1500 (1994)

Telephone system: system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
  total: 2,759 km (1995)
  narrow gauge: 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km
  double track) (1995 est.)

Waterways: the Mazoe and Zambezi rivers are used for transporting
chrome ore from Harare to Mozambique

Airports—with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 449 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 220 under 914 m: 225 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe,
Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary
Police)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,707,348 (1999 est.)

Disputes—international: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zambia is in disagreement

Illicit drugs: significant transit point for African cannabis and
South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the
South African and European markets

A ABEDA Arab Bank for Economic Development
                         in Africa
        ACC Arab Cooperation Council
        ACCT Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et
                         Technique; see Agency for Cultural
                         and Technical Cooperation; changed
                         name in 1996 to Agence de la
                         francophonie or Agency for the
                         French-Speaking Community
        ACP Group African, Caribbean, and Pacific
                         Group of States
        AfDB African Development Bank
        AFESD Arab Fund for Economic and Social
                         Development
        AG Andean Group; see Andean Community
                         of Nations (CAN)
        Air Pollution Convention on Long-Range
                         Transboundary Air Pollution
        Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
        Nitrogen Oxides Long-Range Transboundary Air
                         Pollution Concerning the Control of
                         Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
                         Their Transboundary Fluxes
        Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
        Persistent Long-Range Transboundary Air
        Organic Pollution on Persistent Organic
        Pollutants Pollutants
        Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
        Sulphur 85 Long-Range Transboundary Air
                         Pollution on the Reduction of
                         Sulphur Emissions or Their
                         Transboundary Fluxes by at Least
                         30%
        Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
        Sulphur 94 Long-Range Transboundary Air
                         Pollution on Further Reduction of
                         Sulphur Emissions
        Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
        Volatile Organic Long-Range Transboundary Air
        Compounds Pollution Concerning the Control of
                         Emissions of Volatile Organic
                         Compounds or Their Transboundary
                         Fluxes
        AL Arab League
        ALADI Asociacion Latinoamericana de
                         Integracion; see Latin American
                         Integration Association (LAIA)
        AMF Arab Monetary Fund
        AMU Arab Maghreb Union
        Ancom Andean Common Market; see Andean
                         Community ofNations (CAN)
        Antarctic- Protocol on Environmental
        Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
        Protocol
        ANZUS Australia-New Zealand-United States
                         Security Treaty
        APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
        Arabsat Arab Satellite Communications
                         Organization
        AsDB Asian Development Bank
        ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian
                         Nations
        Autodin Automatic Digital Network
B BAD Banque africaine de developpement;
                         see African Development Bank (AfDB)
        BADEA Banque Arabe de Developpement
                         Economique en Afrique; see Arab
                         Bank for Economic Development in
                         Africa (ABEDA)
        BCIE Banco Centroamericano de
                         Integracion Economico; see Central
                         American Bank for Economic
                         Integration (BCIE)
        BDEAC Banque de Developpment des Etats de
                         l'Afrique Centrale; see Central
                         African States Development Bank
                         (BDEAC)
        Benelux Benelux Economic Union
        BID Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo;
                         see Inter-American Development Bank
                         (IADB) Biodiversity Convention on
                         Biological Diversity
        BIS Bank for International Settlements
        BOAD Banque Ouest-Africaine de
                         Developpement; see West African
                         Development Bank (WADB)
        BSEC Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone
C C Commonwealth
        CACM Central American Common Market
        CAEU Council of Arab Economic Unity
        CAN Andean Community of Nations
        Caricom Caribbean Community and Common
                         Market
        CB citizen's band mobile radio
                         communications
        CBSS Council of the Baltic Sea States
        CCC Customs Cooperation Council
        CDB Caribbean Development Bank
        CE Council of Europe
        CEAO Communaute Economique de l'Afrique
                         de l'Ouest; see West African
                         Economic Community (CEAO)
        CEEAC Communaute Economique des Etats de
                         l'Afrique Centrale; see Economic
                         Community of Central African States
                         (CEEAC)
        CEI Central European Initiative
        CEMA Council for Mutual Economic
                         Assistance; also known as CMEA or
                         Comecon
        CEPGL Communaute Economique des Pays des
                         Grands Lacs; see Economic Community
                         of the Great Lakes Countries
                         (CEPGL)
        CERN Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche
                         Nucleaire; see European
                         Organization for Nuclear Research
                         (CERN)
        CG Contadora Group
        c.i.f. cost, insurance, and freight
        CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
        CITES see Endangered Species
        Climate Change United Nations Framework Convention
                         on Climate Change
        Climate Change- Kyoto Protocol to the United
        Kyoto Protocol Nations Framework Convention on
                         Climate Change
        CMEA Council for Mutual Economic
                         Assistance (CEMA); also known as
                         Comecon
        COCOM Coordinating Committee on Export
                         Controls
        Comecon Council for Mutual Economic
                         Assistance (CEMA); also known as
                         CMEA
        Comsat Communications Satellite
                         Corporation
        CP Colombo Plan
        CSCE Conference on Security and
                         Cooperation in Europe; see
                         Organization on Security and
                         Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
        CY calendar year
D DC developed country
        Desertification United Nations Convention to Combat
                         Desertification in Those Countries
                         Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
                         Desertification, Particularly in
                         Africa
        DSN Defense Switched Network
        DWT deadweight ton
E EADB East African Development Bank
        EAPC Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
        EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction
                         and Development
        EC European Community; see European
                         Union (EU)
        ECA Economic Commission for Africa
        ECAFE Economic Commission for Asia and
                         the Far East; see Economic and
                         Social Commission for Asia and the
                         Pacific (ESCAP)
        ECE Economic Commission for Europe
        ECLA Economic Commission for Latin
                         America; see Economic Commission
                         for Latin America and the Caribbean
                         (ECLAC)
        ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin
                         America and the Caribbean
        ECO Economic Cooperation Organization
        ECOSOC Economic and Social Council
        ECOWAS Economic Community of West African
                         States
        ECSC European Coal and Steel Community;
                         see European Union (EU)
        ECWA Economic Commission for Western
                         Asia; see Economic and Social
                         Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
        EEC European Economic Community; see
                         European Union (EU)
        EFTA European Free Trade Association
        EIB European Investment Bank
        EMU European Monetary Union
        Endangered Convention on the International
        Species Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
                         Flora and Fauna (CITES)
        Entente Council of the Entente
        Environmental Convention on the Prohibition of
        Modification Military or Any Other Hostile Use
                         of Environmental Modification
                         Techniques
        ESA European Space Agency
        ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for
                         Asia and the Pacific
        ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for
                         Western Asia
        est. estimate
        EU European Union
        Euratom European Atomic Energy Community;
                         see European Community (EC)
        Eutelsat European Telecommunications
                         Satellite Organization
        Ex-Im Export-Import Bank of the United
                         States
F FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
        FAX facsimile
        f.o.b. free on board
        FLS Front Line States
        FRG Federal Republic of Germany (West
                         Germany); used for information
                         dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
        FSU former Soviet Union
        FY fiscal year (FY93/94, for example,
                         began in calendar year 1993 and
                         ended in calendar year 1994)
        FYROM The Former Yugoslav Republic of
                         Macedonia
        FZ Franc Zone
G G-2 Group of 2
        G-3 Group of 3
        G-5 Group of 5
        G-6 Group of 6 (not to be confused with
                         the Big Six)
        G-7 Group of 7
        G-8 Group of 8
        G-9 Group of 9
        G-10 Group of 10
        G-11 Group of 11
        G-15 Group of 15
        G-19 Group of 19
        G-24 Group of 24
        G-30 Group of 30
        G-33 Group of 33
        G-77 Group of 77
        GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and
                         Trade; subsumed by the World Trade
                         Organization (WTrO) on 1 January
                         1995
        GCC Gulf Cooperation Council
        GDP gross domestic product
        GDR German Democratic Republic (East
                         Germany); used for information
                         dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
        GNP gross national product
        GRT gross register ton
        GWP gross world product
H Hazardous Wastes Basel Convention on the Control of
                         Transboundary Movements of
                         Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
        HF high-frequency
I IADB Inter-American Development Bank
        IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
        IBEC International Bank for Economic
                         Cooperation
        IBRD International Bank for
                         Reconstruction and Development
                         (World Bank)
        ICAO International Civil Aviation
                         Organization
        ICC International Chamber of Commerce
        ICEM Intergovernmental Committee for
                         European Migration; see
                         International Organization for
                         Migration (IOM)
        ICFTU International Confederation of Free
                         Trade Unions; see World
                         Confederation of Labor (WCL)
        ICJ International Court of Justice
        ICM Intergovernmental Committee for
                         Migration; see International
                         Organization for Migration (IOM)
        ICRC International Committee of the Red
                         Cross
        ICRM International Red Cross and Red
                         Crescent Movement
        IDA International Development
                         Association
        IDB Islamic Development Bank
        IEA International Energy Agency
        IFAD International Fund for Agricultural
                         Development
        IFC International Finance Corporation
        IFCTU International Federation of
                         Christian Trade Unions
        IFRCS International Federation of Red
                         Cross and Red Crescent Societies
        IGAD Inter-Governmental Authority on
                         Development
        IGADD Inter-Governmental Authority on
                         Drought and Development
        IHO International Hydrographic
                         Organization
        IIB International Investment Bank
        ILO International Labor Organization
        IMCO Intergovernmental Maritime
                         Consultative Organization; see
                         International Maritime Organization
                         (IMO)
        IMF International Monetary Fund
        IMO International Maritime Organization
        Inmarsat International Mobile Satellite
                         Organization
        InOC Indian Ocean Commission
        Intelsat International Telecommunications
                         Satellite Organization
        Interpol International Criminal Police
                         Organization
        Intersputnik International Organization of Space
                         Communications
        IOC International Olympic Committee
        IOM International Organization for
                         Migration
        ISO International Organization for
                         Standardization
        ITU International Telecommunication
                         Union
K kHz kilohertz
        km kilometer
        kW kilowatt
        kWh kilowatt hour
L LAES Latin American Economic System
        LAIA Latin American Integration
                         Association
        LAS League of Arab States; see Arab
                         League (AL)
        Law of the Sea United Nations Convention on the
                         Law of the Sea (LOS)
        LDC less developed country
        LLDC least developed country
        London see Marine Dumping
        Convention
        LORCS League of Red Cross and Red
                         Crescent Societies; see
                         International Federation of Red
                         Cross and Red Crescent Societies
                         (IFRCS)
        LOS see Law of the Sea
M m meter
        Marecs Maritime European Communications
                         Satellite
        Marine Dumping Convention on the Prevention of
                         Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes
                         and Other Matter
        Marine Life Convention on Fishing and
        Conservation Conservation of Living Resources of
                         the High Seas
        MARPOL see Ship Pollution
        Medarabtel Middle East Telecommunications
                         Project of the International
                         Telecommunications Union
        Mercosur Mercado Comun del Cono Sur; see
                         Southern Cone Common Market
        MHz megahertz
        MINURSO United Nations Mission for the
                         Referendum in Western Sahara
        MINUGUA United Nations Verification Mission
                         in Guatemala
        MIPONUH United Nations Civilian Police
                         Mission in Haiti
        MONUA United Nations Observer Mission in
                         Angola
        MTCR Missile Technology Control Regime
N NA not available
        NACC North Atlantic Cooperation Council;
                         see Euro-Atlantic Partnership
                         Council (EAPC)
        NAM Nonaligned Movement
        NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
        NC Nordic Council
        NEA Nuclear Energy Agency
        NEGL negligible
        NIB Nordic Investment Bank
        NIC newly industrializing country; see
                         newly industrializing economy (NIE)
        NIE newly industrializing economy
        nm nautical mile
        NMT Nordic Mobile Telephone
        NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group
        Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons
                         Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer
                         Space, and Under Water
        NZ New Zealand
O OAPEC Organization of Arab Petroleum
                         Exporting Countries
        OAS Organization of American States
        OAU Organization of African Unity
        ODA official development assistance
        OECD Organization for Economic
                         Cooperation and Development
        OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean
                         States
        OIC Organization of the Islamic
                         Conference
        ONUMOZ see United Nations Operation in
                         Mozambique (UNOMOZ)
        ONUSAL United Nations Observer Mission in
                         El Salvador
        OOF other official flows
        OPANAL Organismo para la Proscripcion de
                         las Armas Nucleares en la America
                         Latina y el Caribe; see Agency for
                         the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
                         in Latin America and the Caribbean
        OPCW Organization for the Prohibition of
                         Chemical Weapons
        OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting
                         Countries
        OSCE Organization on Security and
                         Cooperation in Europe Ozone Layer
                         Protection Montreal Protocol on
                         Substances That Deplete the Ozone
                         Layer
P PCA Permanent Court of Arbitration
        PDRY People's Democratic Republic of
                         Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South
                         Yemen]; used for information dated
                         before 22 May 1990 or CY91
        PFP Partnership for Peace
R Ramsar see Wetlands
        RG Rio Group
S SAARC South Asian Association for
                         Regional Cooperation
        SACU Southern African Customs Union
        SADC Southern African Development
                         Community
        SADCC Southern African Development
                         Coordination Conference; see
                         Southern African Development
                         Community (SADC)
        SELA Sistema Economico Latinoamericana;
                         see Latin American Economic System
                         (LAES)
        SFRY Socialist Federal Republic of
                         Yugoslavia; dissolved 5 December
                         1991
        SHF super-high-frequency
        Ship Pollution Protocol of 1978 Relating to the
                         International Convention for the
                         Prevention of Pollution From Ships,
                         1973 (MARPOL)
        Sparteca South Pacific Regional Trade and
                         Economic Cooperation Agreement
        SPC South Pacific Commission
        SPF South Pacific Forum
        sq km square kilometer
        sq mi square mile
T TAT Trans-Atlantic Telephone
        Tropical Timber International Tropical Timber
        83 Agreement, 1983
        Tropical Timber International Tropical Timber
        94 Agreement, 1994
U UAE United Arab Emirates
        UDEAC Union Douaniere et Economique de
                         l'Afrique Centrale; see Central
                         African Customs and Economic Union
                         (UDEAC)
        UEMOA Union economique et monetaire Ouest
                         africaine; see West African
                         Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
        UHF ultra-high-frequency
        UK United Kingdom
        UN United Nations
        UNAMIR United Nations Assistance Mission
                         for Rwanda
        UNAVEM III United Nations Angola Verification
                         Mission III
        UNCRO United Nations Confidence
                         Restoration Operation in Croatia
        UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade
                         and Development
        UNDOF United Nations Disengagement
                         Observer Force
        UNDP United Nations Development Program
        UNEP United Nations Environment Program
        UNESCO United Nations Educational,
                         Scientific, and Cultural
                         Organization
        UNFICYP United Nations Peace-keeping Force
                         in Cyprus
        UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population
                         Activities; see UN Population Fund
                         (UNFPA)
        UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner
                         for Refugees
        UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
        UNIDO United Nations Industrial
                         Development Organization
        UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in
                         Lebanon
        UNIKOM United Nations Iraq-Kuwait
                         Observation Mission
        UNITAR United Nations Institute for
                         Training and Research
        UNMIH United Nations Mission in Haiti
        UNMIBH United Nations Mission in Bosnia
                         and Herzegovina
        UNMOGIP United Nations Military Observer
                         Group in India and Pakistan
        UNMOP United Nations Mission of Observers
                         in Prevlaka
        UNMOT United Nations Mission of Observers
                         in Tajikistan
        UNOMIG United Nations Observer Mission in
                         Georgia
        UNOMIL United Nations Observer Mission in
                         Liberia
        UNOMOZ United Nations Operation in
                         Mozambique
        UNOMSIL United Nations Mission of Observers
                         in Sierra Leone
        UNOMUR United Nations Observer Mission
                         Uganda-Rwanda
        UNOSOM II United Nations Operation in Somalia
                         II
        UNPREDEP United Nations Preventive
                         Deployment Force
        UNPROFOR United Nations Protection Force
        UNRISD United Nations Research Institute
                         for Social Development
        UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works
                         Agency for Palestine Refugees in
                         the Near East
        UNSMIH United Nations Support Mission in
                         Haiti
        UNTAC United Nations Transitional
                         Authority in Cambodia
        UNTAES United Nations Transitional
                         Administration in Eastern Slavonia,
                         Baranja, and Western Sirmium
        UNTSO United Nations Truce Supervision
                         Organization
        UNU United Nations University
        UPU Universal Postal Union
        US United States
        USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
                         (Soviet Union); used for
                         information dated before 25
                         December 1991
        USSR/EE Union of Soviet Socialist
                         Republics/Eastern Europe
V VHF very-high-frequency
W WADB West African Development Bank
        WAEMU West African Economic and Monetary
                         Union
        WCL World Confederation of Labor
        WCO World Customs Organization; see
                         Customs Cooperation Council
        Wetlands Convention on Wetlands of
                         International Importance Especially
                         As Waterfowl Habitat
        WEU Western European Union
        WFC World Food Council
        WFP World Food Program
        WFTU World Federation of Trade Unions
        Whaling International Convention for the
                         Regulation of Whaling
        WHO World Health Organization
        WIPO World Intellectual Property
                         Organization
        WMO World Meteorological Organization
        WP Warsaw Pact
        WTO see WToO for World Tourism
                         Organization or WTrO for World
                         Trade Organization
        WToO World Tourism Organization
        WTrO World Trade Organization
Y YAR Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa)
                         or North Yemen]; used for
                         information dated before 22 May
                         1990 or CY91
Z ZC Zangger Committee

Transcriber's note: this appeared to be an empty appendix, possibly under development. It does not appear in later editions of the Factbook.

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

opened for signature—1 December 1959 entered into force—23 June 1961 objective—to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, such as, for international cooperation in scientific research, and that it does not become the scene or object of international discord parties—(43) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal

note—abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes opened for signature—22 March 1989 entered into force—5 May 1992 objective—to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate parties—(123) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(3) Afghanistan, Haiti, US

note—abbreviated as Biodiversity
opened for signature—5 June 1992
entered into force—29 December 1993
objective—to develop national strategies for the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity
parties—(175) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(12) Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Liberia, Libya, Malta, Sao Tome and Principe,
Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, US, former Yugoslavia

note—abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation opened for signature—29 April 1958 entered into force—20 March 1966 objective—to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited parties—(37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, former Yugoslavia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(21) Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay

note—abbreviated as Air Pollution opened for signature—13 November 1979 entered into force—16 March 1983 objective—to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution parties—(44) Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, former Yugoslavia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(2) Holy See, San Marino

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Flora and Fauna (CITES)

note—abbreviated as Endangered Species
opened for signature—3 March 1973
entered into force—1 July 1975
objective—to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation
by means of a system of import/export permits
parties—(137) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Latvia, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, UAE, UK,
US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(3) Ireland, Kuwait,
Lesotho

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and
Other Matter (London Convention)

note—abbreviated as Marine Dumping opened for signature—29 December 1972 entered into force—30 August 1975 objective—to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention parties—(75) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, former Yugoslavia

Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of
Environmental Modification Techniques

note—abbreviated as Environmental Modification opened for signature—10 December 1976 entered into force—5 October 1978 objective—to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations parties—(64) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(17) Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as
Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

note—abbreviated as Wetlands opened for signature—2 February 1971 entered into force—21 December 1975 objective—to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value parties—(101) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia, Zambia

see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques

see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

note—abbreviated as Whaling opened for signature—2 December 1946 entered into force—10 November 1948 objective—to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks parties—(51) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

note—abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83 opened for signature—18 November 1983 entered into force—1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force objective—to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources parties—(54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela

note—abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94 opened for signature—26 January 1994 entered into force—1 January 1997 objective—to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective parties—(54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(2) Ireland, Portugal

note—abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol opened for signature—16 March 1998, but not yet in force objective—to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by establishing percentage reduction targets for the developed countries parties—(7) Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Fiji, Maldives, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(72) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkmenistan, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia

see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)

note—abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection
opened for signature—16 September 1987
entered into force—1 January 1989
objective—to protect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of
substances that deplete it
parties—(168) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal (Portugal has also extended the protocol to Macau),
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, former
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water

Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

note—abbreviated as Ship Pollution opened for signature—17 February 1978 entered into force—2 October 1983 objective—to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances parties—(100) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia

note—abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol opened for signature—4 October 1991 entered into force—14 January 1998 objective—to enhance the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems parties—(28) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, UK, US, Uruguay countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(15) Austria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
Their Transboundary Fluxes

note—abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides opened for signature—31 October 1988 entered into force—14 February 1991 objective—to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes parties—(26) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(2) Belgium, Poland

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

note—abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds opened for signature—18 November 1991 entered into force—29 September 1997 objective—to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects parties—(17) Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(7) Belgium, Canada, EU, Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

note—abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 opened for signature—14 June 1994 entered into force—5 August 1998 objective—to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes parties—(21) Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(7) Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants

note—abbreviated as Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants opened for signature—24 June 1998, but not yet in force objective—to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of persistent organic pollutants in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects

partie—(1) Canada
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(35) Armenia, Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary
Fluxes by at Least 30%

note—abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 opened for signature—8 July 1985 entered into force—2 September 1987 objective—to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993 parties—(21) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine

see Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water

note—abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban opened for signature—5 August 1963 entered into force—10 October 1963 objective—to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons parties—(122) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(12) Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Vietnam

note—abbreviated as Law of the Sea opened for signature—10 December 1982 entered into force—16 November 1994 objective—to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment parties—(130) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(40) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iran, North Korea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Qatar, Rwanda, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, Vanuatu

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa

note—abbreviated as Desertification opened for signature—14 October 1994 entered into force—26 December 1996 objective—to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements parties—(148) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(9) Australia, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Georgia, South Korea, Philippines, US, Vanuatu

note—abbreviated as Climate Change
opened for signature—9 May 1992
entered into force—21 March 1994
objective—to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in
the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system
parties—(177) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified—(7) Afghanistan,
Angola, Belarus, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Sao Tome and Principe

see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

10^18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 one quintillion 10^15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000 one quadrillion 10^12 or 1,000,000,000,000 one trillion 10^9 or 1,000,000,000 one billion 10^6 or 1,000,000 one million 10^3 or 1,000 one thousand 10^2 or 100 one hundred 10^1 or 10 ten 10^0 or 1 one 10^-1 or 0.1 one tenth 10^-2 or 0.01 one hundredth 10^-3 or 0.001 one thousandth 10^-6 or 0.000 001 one millionth 10^-9 or 0.000 000 001 one billionth 10^-12 or 0.000 000 000 001 one trillionth 10^-15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001 one quadrillionth 10^-18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 001 one quintillionth

exa E 1018 1036 1054 peta P 1015 1030 1045 tera T 1012 1024 1036 giga G 109 1018 1027 mega M 106 1012 1018 hectokilo hk 105 1010 1015 myria ma 104 108 1012 kilo k 103 106 109 hecto h 102 104 106 basic unit — 1 meter, 1 gram, 1 liter 1 meter2 1 meter3 deci d 10-1 10-2 10-3 centi c 10-2 10-4 10-6 milli m 10-3 10-6 10-9 decimilli dm 10-4 10-8 10-12 centimilli cm 10-5 10-10 10-15 micro u 10-6 10-12 10-18 nano n 10-9 10-18 10-27 pico p 10-12 10-24 10-36 femto f 10-15 10-30 10-45 atto a 10-18 10-36 10-54

acres ares 40.468 564 224 acres hectares 0.404 685 642 24 acres square feet 43,560 acres square kilometers 0.004 046 856 422 4 acres square meters 4,046.856 422 4 acres square miles (statute) 0.001 562 50 acres square yards 4,840 ares square meters 100 ares square yards 119.599 barrels, US beer gallons 31 barrels, US beer liters 117.347 77 barrels, US gallons (British) 34.97 petroleum barrels, US gallons (US) 42 petroleum barrels, US liters 158.987 29 petroleum barrels, US proof gallons 40 spirits barrels, US proof liters 151.416 47 spirits bushels (US) bushels (British) 0.968 9 bushels (US) cubic feet 1.244 456 bushels (US) cubic inches 2,150.42 bushels (US) cubic meters 0.035 239 07 bushels (US) cubic yards 0.046 090 96 bushels (US) dekaliters 3.523 907 bushels (US) dry pints 64 bushels (US) dry quarts 32 bushels (US) liters 35.239 070 17 bushels (US) pecks 4 cables fathoms 120 cables meters 219.456 cables yards 240 carat milligrams 200 centimeters feet 0.032 808 40 centimeters inches 0.393 700 8 centimeters meters 0.01 centimeters yards 0.010 936 13 centimeters, cubic inches 0.061 023 744 cubic centimeters, square feet 0.001 076 39 square centimeters, square inches 0.155 000 31 square centimeters, square meters 0.000 1 square centimeters, square yards 0.000 119 599 square chains, square ares 4.046 86 surveyor's chains, square square feet 4,356 surveyor's chains, feet 66 surveyor's chains, meters 20.116 8 surveyor's chains, rods 4 surveyor's cords of wood cubic feet 128 cords of wood cubic meters 3.624 556 cords of wood cubic yards 4.740 7 cups liquid ounces (US) 8 cups liters 0.236 588 2 degrees Celsius degrees Fahrenheit multiply by 1.8 and add 32 degrees degrees Celsius subtract 32 and Fahrenheit divide by 1.8 dekaliters bushels 0.283 775 9 dekaliters cubic feet 0.353 146 7 dekaliters cubic inches 610.237 4 dekaliters dry pints 18.161 66 dekaliters dry quarts 9.080 829 8 dekaliters liters 10 dekaliters pecks 1.135 104 drams, avoirdupois ounces 0.062 55 avoirdupois drams, grains 27.344 avoirdupois drams, grams 1.771 845 2 avoirdupois drams, troy grains 60 drams, troy grams 3.887 934 6 drams, troy scruples 3 drams, troy troy ounces 0.125 drams, liquid cubic inches 0.226 (US) drams, liquid liquid drams (British) 1.041 (US) drams, liquid liquid ounces 0.125 (US) drams, liquid milliliters 3.696 69 (US) drams, liquid minims 60 (US) fathoms feet 6 fathoms meters 1.828 8 feet centimeters 30.48 feet inches 12 feet kilometers 0.000 304 8 feet meters 0.304 8 feet statute miles 0.000 189 39 feet yards 0.333 333 3 feet, cubic bushels 0.803 563 95 feet, cubic cubic decimeters 28.316 847 feet, cubic cubic inches 1,728 feet, cubic cubic meters 0.028 316 846 592 feet, cubic cubic yards 0.037 037 04 feet, cubic dry pints 51.428 09 feet, cubic dry quarts 25.714 05 feet, cubic gallons 7.480 519 feet, cubic gills 239.376 6 feet, cubic liquid ounces 957.506 5 feet, cubic liquid pints 59.844 16 feet, cubic liquid quarts 29.922 08 feet, cubic liters 28.316 846 592 feet, cubic pecks 3.214 256 feet, square acres 0.000 022 956 8 feet, square square centimeters 929.030 4 feet, square square decimeters 9.290 304 feet, square square inches 144 feet, square square meters 0.092 903 04 feet, square square yards 0.111 111 1 furlongs feet 660 furlongs inches 7,920 furlongs meters 201.168 furlongs statute miles 0.125 furlongs yards 220 gallons, liquid cubic feet 0.133 680 6 (US) gallons, liquid cubic inches 231 (US) gallons, liquid cubic meters 0.003 785 411 784 (US) gallons, liquid cubic yards 0.004 951 13 (US) gallons, liquid gills (US) 32 (US) gallons, liquid liquid gallons (British) 0.832 67 (US) gallons, liquid liquid ounces 128 (US) gallons, liquid liquid pints 8 (US) gallons, liquid liquid quarts 4 (US) gallons, liquid liters 3.785 411 784 (US) gallons, liquid milliliters 3,785.411 784 (US) gallons, liquid minims 61,440 (US) gills (US) centiliters 11.829 4 gills (US) cubic feet 0.004 177 517 gills (US) cubic inches 7.218 75 gills (US) gallons 0.031 25 gills (US) gills (British) 0.832 67 gills (US) liquid ounces 4 gills (US) liquid pints 0.25 gills (US) liquid quarts 0.125 gills (US) liters 0.118 294 118 25 gills (US) milliliters 118.294 118 25 gills (US) minims 1,920 grains avoirdupois drams 0.036 571 43 grains avoirdupois ounces 0.002 285 71 grains avoirdupois pounds 0.000 142 86 grains grams 0.064 798 91 grains kilograms 0.000 064 798 91 grains milligrams 64.798 910 grains pennyweights 0.042 grains scruples 0.05 grains troy drams 0.016 6 grains troy ounces 0.002 083 33 grains troy pounds 0.000 173 61 grams avoirdupois drams 0.564 383 39 grams avoirdupois ounces 0.035 273 961 grams avoirdupois pounds 0.002 204 622 6 grams grains 15.432 361 grams kilograms 0.001 grams milligrams 1,000 grams troy ounces 0.032 150 746 6 grams troy pounds 0.002 679 23 hands (height of centimeters 10.16 horse) hands (height of inches 4 horse) hectares acres 2.471 053 8 hectares square feet 107,639.1 hectares square kilometers 0.01 hectares square meters 10,000 hectares square miles 0.003 861 02 hectares square yards 11,959.90 hundredweights, avoirdupois pounds 112 long hundredweights, kilograms 50.802 345 long hundredweights, long tons 0.05 long hundredweights, metric tons 0.050 802 345 long hundredweights, short tons 0.056 long hundredweights, avoirdupois pounds 100 short hundredweights, kilograms 45.359 237 short hundredweights, long tons 0.044 642 86 short hundredweights, metric tons 0.045 359 237 short hundredweights, short tons 0.05 short inches centimeters 2.54 inches feet 0.083 333 33 inches meters 0.025 4 inches millimeters 25.4 inches yards 0.027 777 78 inches, cubic bushels 0.000 465 025 inches, cubic cubic centimeters 16.387 064 inches, cubic cubic feet 0.000 578 703 7 inches, cubic cubic meters 0.000 016 387 064 inches, cubic cubic yards 0.000 021 433 47 inches, cubic dry pints 0.029 761 6 inches, cubic dry quarts 0.014 880 8 inches, cubic gallons 0.004 329 0 inches, cubic gills 0.138 528 1 inches, cubic liquid ounces 0.554 112 6 inches, cubic liquid pints 0.034 632 03 inches, cubic liquid quarts 0.017 316 02 inches, cubic liters 0.016 387 064 inches, cubic milliliters 16.387 064 inches, cubic minims (US) 265.974 0 inches, cubic pecks 0.001 860 10 inches, square square centimeters 6.451 600 inches, square square feet 0.006 944 44 inches, square square meters 0.000 645 16 inches, square square yards 0.000 771 605 kilograms avoirdupois drams 564.383 4 kilograms avoirdupois ounces 35.273 962 kilograms avoirdupois pounds 2.204 622 622 kilograms grains 15,432.36 kilograms grams 1,000 kilograms long tons 0.000 984 2 kilograms metric tons 0.001 kilograms short hundredweights 0.022 046 23 kilograms short tons 0.001 102 31 kilograms troy ounces 32.150 75 kilograms troy pounds 2.679 229 kilometers meters 1,000 kilometers statute miles 0.621 371 192 kilometers, acres 247.105 38 square kilometers, hectares 100 square kilometers, square meters 1,000,000 square kilometers, statute miles 0.386 102 16 square knots (nautical kilometers/hour 1.852 mi/hr) knots (nautical statute miles/hour 1.151 mi/hr) leagues, nautical kilometers 5.556 leagues, nautical nautical miles 3 leagues, statute kilometers 4.828 032 leagues, statute statute miles 3 links, square square centimeters 404.686 surveyor's links, square square inches 62.726 4 surveyor's links, surveyor's centimeters 20.116 8 links, surveyor's chains 0.01 links, surveyor's inches 7.92 liters bushels 0.028 377 59 liters cubic feet 0.035 314 67 liters cubic inches 61.023 74 liters cubic meters 0.001 liters cubic yards 0.001 307 95 liters dekaliters 0.1 liters dry pints 1.816 166 liters dry quarts 0.908 082 98 liters gallons 0.264 172 052 liters gills (US) 8.453 506 liters liquid ounces 33.814 02 liters liquid pints 2.113 376 liters liquid quarts 1.056 688 2 liters milliliters 1,000 liters pecks 0.113 510 4 meters centimeters 100 meters feet 3.280 839 895 meters inches 39.370 079 meters kilometers 0.001 meters millimeters 1,000 meters statute miles 0.000 621 371 meters yards 1.093 613 298 meters, cubic bushels 28.377 59 meters, cubic cubic feet 35.314 666 7 meters, cubic cubic inches 61,023.744 meters, cubic cubic yards 1.307 950 619 meters, cubic gallons 264.172 05 meters, cubic liters 1,000 meters, cubic pecks 113.510 4 meters, square acres 0.000 247 105 38 meters, square hectares 0.000 1 meters, square square centimeters 10,000 meters, square square feet 10.763 910 4 meters, square square inches 1,550.003 1 meters, square square yards 1.195 990 046 microns meters 0.000 001 microns inches 0.000 039 4 mils inches 0.001 mils millimeters 0.025 4 miles, nautical kilometers 1.852 0 miles, nautical statute miles 1.150 779 4 miles, statute centimeters 160,934.4 miles, statute feet 5,280 miles, statute furlongs 8 miles, statute inches 63,360 miles, statute kilometers 1.609 344 miles, statute meters 1,609.344 miles, statute rods 320 miles, statute yards 1,760 miles, square square kilometers 3.429 904 nautical miles, square square statute miles 1.325 nautical miles, square acres 640 statute miles, square hectares 258.998 811 033 6 statute miles, square sections 1 statute miles, square square kilometers 2.589 988 110 336 statute miles, square square nautical miles 0.755 miles statute miles, square square rods 102,400 statute milligrams grains 0.015 432 358 35 milliliters cubic inches 0.061 023 744 milliliters gallons 0.000 264 17 milliliters gills (US) 0.008 453 5 milliliters liquid ounces 0.033 814 02 milliliters liquid pints 0.002 113 4 milliliters liquid quarts 0.001 056 7 milliliters liters 0.001 milliliters minims 16.230 73 millimeters inches 0.039 370 078 7 minims (US) cubic inches 0.003 759 77 minims (US) gills (US) 0.000 520 83 minims (US) liquid ounces 0.002 083 33 minims (US) milliliters 0.061 611 52 minims (US) minims (British) 1.041 ounces, avoirdupois drams 16 avoirdupois ounces, avoirdupois pounds 0.062 5 avoirdupois ounces, grains 437.5 avoirdupois ounces, grams 28.349 523 125 avoirdupois ounces, kilograms 0.028 349 523 125 avoirdupois ounces, troy ounces 0.911 458 3 avoirdupois ounces, troy pounds 0.075 954 86 avoirdupois ounces, liquid cubic feet 0.001 044 38 (US) ounces, liquid centiliters 2.957 35 (US) ounces, liquid cubic inches 1.804 687 5 (US) ounces, liquid gallons 0.007 812 5 (US) ounces, liquid gills (US) 0.25 (US) ounces, liquid liquid drams 8 (US) ounces, liquid liquid ounces (British) 1.041 (US) ounces, liquid liquid pints 0.062 5 (US) ounces, liquid liquid quarts 0.031 25 (US) ounces, liquid liters 0.029 573 53 (US) ounces, liquid milliliters 29.573 529 6 (US) ounces, liquid minims 480 (US) ounces, troy avoirdupois drams 17.554 29 ounces, troy avoirdupois ounces 1.097 143 ounces, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.068 571 43 ounces, troy grains 480 ounces, troy grams 31.103 476 8 ounces, troy pennyweights 20 ounces, troy troy drams 8 ounces, troy troy pounds 0.083 333 3 paces (US) centimeters 76.2 paces (US) inches 30 pecks (US) bushels 0.25 pecks (US) cubic feet 0.311 114 pecks (US) cubic inches 537.605 pecks (US) cubic meters 0.008 809 77 pecks (US) cubic yards 0.011 522 74 pecks (US) dekaliters 0.880 976 75 pecks (US) dry pints 16 pecks (US) dry quarts 8 pecks (US) liters 8.809 767 5 pecks (US) pecks (British) 0.968 9 pennyweights grains 24 pennyweights grams 1.555 173 84 pennyweights troy ounces 0.05 pints, dry (US) bushels 0.015 625 pints, dry (US) cubic feet 0.019 444 63 pints, dry (US) cubic inches 33.600 312 5 pints, dry (US) dekaliters 0.055 061 05 pints, dry (US) dry pints (British) 0.968 9 pints, dry (US) dry quarts 0.5 pints, dry (US) liters 0.550 610 47 pints, liquid cubic feet 0.016 710 07 (US) pints, liquid cubic inches 28.875 (US) pints, liquid deciliters 4.731 76 (US) pints, liquid gallons 0.125 (US) pints, liquid gills (US) 4 (US) pints, liquid liquid ounces 16 (US) pints, liquid liquid pints (British) 0.832 67 (US) pints, liquid liquid quarts 0.5 (US) pints, liquid liters 0.473 176 473 (US) pints, liquid milliliters 473.176 473 (US) pints, liquid minims 7,680 (US) points inches 0.013 837 (typographical) points millimeters 0.351 459 8 (typographical) pounds, avoirdupois drams 256 avoirdupois pounds, avoirdupois ounces 16 avoirdupois pounds, grains 7,000 avoirdupois pounds, grams 453.592 37 avoirdupois pounds, kilograms 0.453 592 37 avoirdupois pounds, long tons 0.000 446 428 6 avoirdupois pounds, metric tons 0.000 453 592 37 avoirdupois pounds, quintals 0.004 535 92 avoirdupois pounds, short tons 0.000 5 avoirdupois pounds, troy ounces 14.583 33 avoirdupois pounds, troy pounds 1.215 278 avoirdupois pounds, troy avoirdupois drams 210.651 4 pounds, troy avoirdupois ounces 13.165 71 pounds, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.822 857 1 pounds, troy grains 5,760 pounds, troy grams 373.241 721 6 pounds, troy kilograms 0.373 241 721 6 pounds, troy pennyweights 240 pounds, troy troy ounces 12 quarts, dry (US) bushels 0.031 25 quarts, dry (US) cubic feet 0.038 889 25 quarts, dry (US) cubic inches 67.200 625 quarts, dry (US) dekaliters 0.110 122 1 quarts, dry (US) dry pints 2 quarts, dry (US) dry quarts (British) 0.968 9 quarts, dry (US) liters 1.101 221 quarts, dry (US) pecks 0.125 quarts, dry (US) pints, dry (US) 2 quarts, liquid cubic feet 0.033 420 14 (US) quarts, liquid cubic inches 57.75 (US) quarts, liquid deciliters 9.463 53 (US) quarts, liquid gallons 0.25 (US) quarts, liquid gills (US) 8 (US) quarts, liquid liquid ounces 32 (US) quarts, liquid liquid pints (US) 2 (US) quarts, liquid liquid quarts (British) 0.832 67 (US) quarts, liquid liters 0.946 352 946 (US) quarts, liquid milliliters 946.352 946 (US) quarts, liquid minims 15,360 (US) quintals avoirdupois pounds 220.462 26 quintals kilograms 100 quintals metric tons 0.1 rods feet 16.5 rods meters 5.029 2 rods yards 5.5 rods, square acres 0.006 25 rods, square square meters 25.292 85 rods, square square yards 30.25 scruples grains 20 scruples grams 1.295 978 2 scruples troy drams 0.333 sections (US) square kilometers 2.589 988 1 sections (US) square statute miles 1 spans centimeters 22.86 spans inches 9 steres cubic meters 1 steres cubic yards 1.307 95 tablespoons milliliters 14.786 76 tablespoons teaspoons 3 teaspoons milliliters 4.928 922 teaspoons tablespoons 0.333 333 ton-miles, long metric ton-kilometers 1.635 169 ton-miles, short metric ton-kilometers 1.459 972 tons, gross cubic feet of permanently enclosed 100 register space tons, gross cubic meters of permanently 2.831 684 7 register enclosed space tons, long avoirdupois ounces 35,840 (deadweight) tons, long avoirdupois pounds 2,240 (deadweight) tons, long kilograms 1,016.046 909 8 (deadweight) tons, long long hundredweights 20 (deadweight) tons, long metric tons 1.016 046 908 8 (deadweight) tons, long short hundredweights 22.4 (deadweight) tons, long short tons 1.12 (deadweight) tons, metric avoirdupois pounds 2,204.623 tons, metric kilograms 1,000 tons, metric long hundredweights 19.684 130 3 tons, metric long tons 0.984 206 5 tons, metric quintals 10 tons, metric short hundredweights 22.046 23 tons, metric short tons 1.102 311 3 tons, metric troy ounces 32,150.75 tons, net cubic feet of permanently enclosed 100 register space for cargo and passengers tons, net cubic meters of permanently 2.831 684 7 register enclosed space for cargo and passengers tons, shipping cubic feet of permanently enclosed 42 cargo space tons, shipping cubic meters of permanently 1.189 307 574 enclosed cargo space tons, short avoirdupois pounds 2,000 tons, short kilograms 907.184 74 tons, short long hundredweights 17.857 14 tons, short long tons 0.892 857 1 tons, short metric tons 0.907 184 74 tons, short short hundredweights 20 townships (US) sections 36 townships (US) square kilometers 93.239 572 townships (US) square statute miles 36 miles, square acres 640 statute miles, square hectares 258.998 811 033 6 statute miles, square square feet 27,878,400 statute miles, square square meters 2,589,988.110 336 statute miles, square square yards 3,097,600 statute yards centimeters 91.44 yards feet 3 yards inches 36 yards meters 0.914 4 yards miles 0.000 568 18 yards, cubic bushels 21.696 227 yards, cubic cubic feet 27 yards, cubic cubic inches 46,656 yards, cubic cubic meters 0.764 554 857 984 yards, cubic gallons 201.974 0 yards, cubic liters 764.554 857 984 yards, cubic pecks 86.784 91 yards, square acres 0.000 206 611 6 yards, square hectares 0.000 083 612 736 yards, square square centimeters 8,361.273 6 yards, square square feet 9 yards, square square inches 1,296 yards, square square meters 0.836 127 36 yards, square square miles 0.000 000 322 830 6

Note: At this time, only three countries—Burma, Liberia, and the US—have not adopted the International System of Units (SI, or metric system) as their official system of weights and measures. Although use of the metric system has been sanctioned by law in the US since 1866, it has been slow in displacing the American adaptation of the British Imperial System known as the US Customary System. The US is the only industrialized nation that does not mainly use the metric system in its commercial and standards activities, but there is increasing acceptance in science, medicine, government, and many sectors of industry.

FIPS 10-4: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions (FIPS PUB 10-4) is maintained by the Office of the Geographer and Global Issues (Department of State) and published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce). These two-character alphabetic codes are included in the text of the Factbook in the Data code entry under the Government category. FIPS 10-4 codes are intended for general use throughout the US Government, especially in activities associated with the mission of the Department of State and national defense programs.

ISO 3166: Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries (ISO 3166) is prepared by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO 3166 includes two- and three-character alphabetic codes and three-digit numeric codes that may be needed for activities involving exchange of data with international organizations that have adopted that standard. Except for the numeric codes, ISO 3166 codes have been adopted in the US as FIPS 104-1: American National Standard Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries, Dependencies, and Areas of Special Sovereignty for Information Interchange.

Internet: This is a provisional compilation that generally agrees with the ISO 3166 two-character alphabetic codes.

Entity FIPS ISO ISO ISO Interne Comment
             10-4 316 316 316 t
                 6 6 6
Afghanistan AF AF AFG 004 AF
Albania AL AL ALB 008 AL
Algeria AG DZ DZA 012 DZ
American AQ AS ASM 016 AS
Samoa
Andorra AN AD AND 020 AD
Angola AO AO AGO 024 AO
Anguilla AV AI AIA 660 AI
Antarctica AY AQ ATA 010 AQ ISO defines as the
                                     territory south of 60
                                     degrees south latitude
Antigua and AC AG ATG 028 AG
Barbuda
Argentina AR AR ARG 032 AR
Armenia AM AM ARM 051 AM
Aruba AA AW ABW 533 AW
Ashmore and AT — — — — ISO includes with
Cartier Australia
Australia AS AU AUS 036 AU ISO includes Ashmore
                                     and Cartier
                                     Islands,Coral Sea
                                     Islands
Austria AU AT AUT 040 AT
Azerbaijan AJ AZ AZE 031 AZ
The Bahamas BF BS BHS 044 BS
Bahrain BA BH BHR 048 BH
Baker Island FQ — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Bangladesh BG BD BGD 050 BD
Barbados BB BB BRB 052 BB
Bassas da BS — — — — ISO includes with the
India Miscellaneous (French)
                                     Indian Ocean Islands
Belarus BO BY BLR 112 BY
Belgium BE BE BEL 056 BE
Belize BH BZ BLZ 084 BZ
Benin BN BJ BEN 204 BJ
Bermuda BD BM BMU 060 BM
Bhutan BT BT BTN 064 BT
Bolivia BL BO BOL 068 BO
Bosnia and BK BA BIH 070 BA
Herzegovina
Botswana BC BW BWA 072 BW
Bouvet Island BV BV BVT 074 BV
Brazil BR BR BRA 076 BR
British IO IO IOT 086 IO
Indian Ocean
Territory
British VI VG VGB 092 VG
Virgin
Islands
Brunei BX BN BRN 096 BN
Bulgaria BU BG BGR 100 BG
Burkina Faso UV BF BFA 854 BF
Burma BM MM MMR 104 MM ISO uses the name
                                     Myanmar
Burundi BY BI BDI 108 BI
Cambodia CB KH KHM 116 KH
Cameroon CM CM CMR 120 CM
Canada CA CA CAN 124 CA
Cape Verde CV CV CPV 132 CV
Cayman CJ KY CYM 136 KY
Islands
Central CT CF CAF 140 CF
African
Republic
Chad CD TD TCD 148 TD
Chile CI CL CHL 152 CL
China CH CN CHN 156 CN see also Taiwan
Christmas KT CX CXR 162 CX
Island
Clipperton IP — — — — ISO includes with
Island French Polynesia
Cocos CK CC CCK 166 CC
(Keeling)
Islands
Colombia CO CO COL 170 CO
Comoros CN KM COM 174 KM
Congo, CG ZR ZAR 180 ZR formerly Zaire
Democratic
Republic of
the
Congo, CF CG COG 178 CG
Republic of
the
Cook Islands CW CK COK 184 CK
Coral Sea CR — — — — ISO includes with
Islands Australia
Costa Rica CS CR CRI 188 CR
Cote d'Ivoire IV CI CIV 384 CI
Croatia HR HR HRV 191 HR
Cuba CU CU CUB 192 CU
Cyprus CY CY CYP 196 CY
Czech EZ CZ CZE 203 CZ
Republic
Denmark DA DK DNK 208 DK
Djibouti DJ DJ DJI 262 DJ
Dominica DO DM DMA 212 DM
Dominican DR DO DOM 214 DO
Republic
East Timor — TP TMP 626 TP FIPS includes with
                                     Indonesia
Ecuador EC EC ECU 218 EC
Egypt EG EG EGY 818 EG
El Salvador ES SV SLV 222 SV
Equatorial EK GQ GNQ 226 GQ
Guinea
Eritrea ER ER ERI 232 ER
Estonia EN EE EST 233 EE
Ethiopia ET ET ETH 231 ET
Europa Island EU — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     Miscellaneous (French)
                                     Indian Ocean Islands
Falkland FA FK FLK 238 FK
Islands
(Islas
Malvinas)
Faroe Islands FO FO FRO 234 FO
Fiji FJ FJ FJI 242 FJ
Finland FI FI FIN 246 FI
France FR FR FRA 250 FR
France, — FX FXX 249 FX ISO limits to the
Metropolitan European part of
                                     France, excluding
                                     French Guiana, French
                                     Polynesia, French
                                     Southern and Antarctic
                                     Lands, Guadeloupe,
                                     Martinique, Mayotte,
                                     New Caledonia, Reunion,
                                     Saint Pierre and
                                     Miquelon, Wallis and
                                     Futuna
French Guiana FG GF GUF 254 GF
French FP PF PYF 258 PF ISO includes Clipperton
Polynesia Island
French FS TF ATF 260 — FIPS 10-4 does not
Southern and include the French-
Antarctic claimed portion of
Lands Antarctica (Terre
                                     Adelie)
Gabon GB GA GAB 266 GA
The Gambia GA GM GMB 270 GM
Gaza Strip GZ — — — —
Georgia GG GE GEO 268 GE
Germany GM DE DEU 276 DE
Ghana GH GH GHA 288 GH
Gibraltar GI GI GIB 292 GI
Glorioso GO — — — — ISO includes with the
Islands Miscellaneous (French)
                                     Indian Ocean Islands
Greece GR GR GRC 300 GR
Greenland GL GL GRL 304 GL
Grenada GJ GD GRD 308 GD
Guadeloupe GP GP GLP 312 GP
Guam GQ GU GUM 316 GU
Guatemala GT GT GTM 320 GT
Guernsey GK — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     United Kingdom
Guinea GV GN GIN 324 GN
Guinea-Bissau PU GW GNB 624 GW
Guyana GY GY GUY 328 GY
Haiti HA HT HTI 332 HT
Heard Island HM HM HMD 334 HM
and McDonald
Islands
Holy See VT VA VAT 336 VA
(Vatican
City)
Honduras HO HN HND 340 HN
Hong Kong HK HK HKG 344 HK
Howland HQ — — — — ISO includes with the
Island US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Hungary HU HU HUN 348 HU
Iceland IC IS ISL 352 IS
India IN IN IND 356 IN
Indonesia ID ID IDN 360 ID
Iran IR IR IRN 364 IR
Iraq IZ IQ IRQ 368 IQ
Ireland EI IE IRL 372 IE
Israel IS IL ISR 376 IL
Italy IT IT ITA 380 IT
Jamaica JM JM JAM 388 JM
Jan Mayen JN — — — — ISO includes with
                                     Svalbard
Japan JA JP JPN 392 JP
Jarvis Island DQ — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Jersey JE — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     United Kingdom
Johnston JQ — — — — ISO includes with the
Atoll US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Jordan JO JO JOR 400 JO
Juan de Nova JU — — — — ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
                                     Indian Ocean Islands
Kazakhstan KZ KZ KAZ 398 KZ
Kenya KE KE KEN 404 KE
Kingman Reef KQ — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Kiribati KR KI KIR 296 KI
Korea, North KN KP PRK 408 KP
Korea, South KS KR KOR 410 KR
Kuwait KU KW KWT 414 KW
Kyrgyzstan KG KG KGZ 417 KG
Laos LA LA LAO 418 LA
Latvia LG LV LVA 428 LV
Lebanon LE LB LBN 422 LB
Lesotho LT LS LSO 426 LS
Liberia LI LR LBR 430 LR
Libya LY LY LBY 434 LY
Liechtenstein LS LI LIE 438 LI
Lithuania LH LT LTU 440 LT
Luxembourg LU LU LUX 442 LU
Macau MC MO MAC 446 MO
Macedonia, MK MK MKD 807 MK
The Former
Yugoslav
Republic of
Madagascar MA MG MDG 450 MG
Malawi MI MW MWI 454 MW
Malaysia MY MY MYS 458 MY
Maldives MV MV MDV 462 MV
Mali ML ML MLI 466 ML
Malta MT MT MLT 470 MT
Man, Isle of IM — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     United Kingdom
Marshall RM MH MHL 584 MH
Islands
Martinique MB MQ MTQ 474 MQ
Mauritania MR MR MRT 478 MR
Mauritius MP MU MUS 480 MU
Mayotte MF YT MYT 175 YT
Mexico MX MX MEX 484 MX
Micronesia, FM FSM 583 FM
Federated
States of
Midway MQ — — — — ISO includes with the
Islands US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Miscellaneous — — — — ISO includes Bassas da
(French) India, Europa Island,
                                     Glorioso Islands, Juan
                                     de Nova Island,
                                     Tromelin Island
Moldova MD MD MDA 498 MD
Monaco MN MC MCO 492 MC
Mongolia MG MN MNG 496 MN
Montenegro* MW — — — — see footnote at end of
                                     table
Montserrat MH MS MSR 500 MS
Morocco MO MA MAR 504 MA
Mozambique MZ MZ MOZ 508 MZ
Myanmar — — — — — see Burma
Namibia WA NA NAM 516 NA
Nauru NR NR NRU 520 NR
Navassa BQ — — — —
Island
Nepal NP NP NPL 524 NP
Netherlands NL NL NLD 528 NL
Netherlands NT AN ANT 530 AN
Antilles
New Caledonia NC NC NCL 540 NC
New Zealand NZ NZ NZL 554 NZ
Nicaragua NU NI NIC 558 NI
Niger NG NE NER 562 NE
Nigeria NI NG NGA 566 NG
Niue NE NU NIU 570 NU
Norfolk NF NF NFK 574 NF
Island
Northern CQ MP MNP 580 MP
Mariana
Islands
Norway NO NO NOR 578 NO
Oman MU OM OMN 512 OM
Pakistan PK PK PAK 586 PK
Palau PS PW PLW 585 PW
Palmyra Atoll LQ — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Panama PM PA PAN 591 PA
Papua New PP PG PNG 598 PG
Guinea
Paracel PF — — — —
Islands
Paraguay PA PY PRY 600 PY
Peru PE PE PER 604 PE
Philippines RP PH PHL 608 PH
Pitcairn PC PN PCN 612 PN
Islands
Poland PL PL POL 616 PL
Portugal PO PT PRT 620 PT
Puerto Rico RQ PR PRI 630 PR
Qatar QA QA QAT 634 QA
Reunion RE RE REU 638 RE
Romania RO RO ROM 642 RO
Russia RS RU RUS 643 RU
Rwanda RW RW RWA 646 RW
Saint Helena SH SH SHN 654 SH
Saint Kitts SC KN KNA 659 KN
and Nevis
Saint Lucia ST LC LCA 662 LC
Saint Pierre SB PM SPM 666 PM
and Miquelon
Saint Vincent VC VC VCT 670 VC
and the
Grenadines
Samoa WS WS WSM 882 WS —
San Marino SM SM SMR 674 SM
Sao Tome and TP ST STP 678 ST
Principe
Saudi Arabia SA SA SAU 682 SA
Senegal SG SN SEN 686 SN
Serbia* SR — — — — see footnote at end of
                                     table
Serbia and — — — — — see footnote at end of
Montenegro* table
Seychelles SE SC SYC 690 SC
Sierra Leone SL SL SLE 694 SL
Singapore SN SG SGP 702 SG
Slovakia LO SK SVK 703 SK
Slovenia SI SI SVN 705 SI
Solomon BP SB SLB 090 SB
Islands
Somalia SO SO SOM 706 SO
South Africa SF ZA ZAF 710 ZA
South Georgia SX GS SGS 239 GS
and the South
Sandwich
Islands
Spain SP ES ESP 724 ES
Spratly PG — — — —
Islands
Sri Lanka CE LK LKA 144 LK
Sudan SU SD SDN 736 SD
Suriname NS SR SUR 740 SR
Svalbard SV SJ SJM 744 SJ ISO includes Jan Mayen
Swaziland WZ SZ SWZ 748 SZ
Sweden SW SE SWE 752 SE
Switzerland SZ CH CHE 756 CH
Syria SY SY SYR 760 SY
Taiwan TW TW TWN 158 TW
Tajikistan TI TJ TJK 762 TJ
Tanzania TZ TZ TZA 834 TZ
Thailand TH TH THA 764 TH
Togo TO TG TGO 768 TG
Tokelau TL TK TKL 772 TK
Tonga TN TO TON 776 TO
Trinidad and TD TT TTO 780 TT
Tobago
Tromelin TE — — — — ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
                                     Indian Ocean Islands
Tunisia TS TN TUN 788 TN
Turkey TU TR TUR 792 TR
Turkmenistan TX TM TKM 795 TM
Turks and TK TC TCA 796 TC
Caicos
Islands
Tuvalu TV TV TUV 798 TV
Uganda UG UG UGA 800 UG
Ukraine UP UA UKR 804 UA
United Arab TC AE ARE 784 AE
Emirates
United UK GB GBR 826 UK/GB ISO includes Guernsey,
Kingdom Isle of Man, Jersey
United States US US USA 840 US
United States — UM UMI 581 UM ISO includes Baker
Minor Island, Howland Island,
Outlying Jarvis Island, Johnston
Islands Atoll, Kingman Reef,
                                     Midway Islands, Palmyra
                                     Atoll, Wake Island
Uruguay UY UY URY 858 UY
Uzbekistan UZ UZ UZB 860 UZ
Vanuatu NH VU VUT 548 VU
Venezuela VE VE VEN 862 UE
Vietnam VM VN VNM 704 VN
Virgin VQ VI VIR 850 VI
Islands
Virgin — — — — — see British Virgin
Islands (UK) Islands
Virgin — — — — — see Virgin Islands
Islands (US)
Wake Atoll WQ — — — — ISO includes with the
                                     US Minor Outlying
                                     Islands
Wallis and WF WF WLF 876 WF
Futuna
West Bank WE — — — —
Western WI EH ESH 732 EH
Sahara
Western Samoa — — — — — see Samoa
World — — — — — the Factbook uses the W
                                     data code from DIAM 65-
                                     -18 Geopolitical Data
                                     Elements and Related
                                     Features, Data Standard
                                     No. 3, December 1994,
                                     published by the
                                     Defense Intelligence
                                     Agency
Yemen YM YE YEM 887 YE
Yugoslavia* — YU YUG 891 YU see footnote at end of
                                     table
Zaire — — — — — see Democratic Republic
                                     of the Congo
Zambia ZA ZM ZWB 894 ZM
Zimbabwe ZI ZW ZWE 716 ZW

Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state,but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US; the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.

Internet: This is a provisional compilation that generally agrees with the ISO 3166 two-character alphabetic codes.

Entity FIPS ISO ISO ISO Interne Comment
             10-4 3166 3166 3166 t
Afghanistan AF AF AFG 004 AF
Albania AL AL ALB 008 AL
Algeria AG DZ DZA 012 DZ
American AQ AS ASM 016 AS
Samoa
Andorra AN AD AND 020 AD
Angola AO AO AGO 024 AO
Anguilla AV AI AIA 660 AI
Antarctica AY AQ ATA 010 AQ ISO defines as the territory
                                         south of 60 degrees south
                                         latitude
Antigua and AC AG ATG 028 AG
Barbuda
Argentina AR AR ARG 032 AR
Armenia AM AM ARM 051 AM
Aruba AA AW ABW 533 AW
Ashmore and AT — — — — ISO includes with Australia
Cartier
Australia AS AU AUS 036 AU ISO includes Ashmore and
                                         Cartier Islands,Coral Sea
                                         Islands
Austria AU AT AUT 040 AT
Azerbaijan AJ AZ AZE 031 AZ
The Bahamas BF BS BHS 044 BS
Bahrain BA BH BHR 048 BH
Baker Island FQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
                                         Minor Outlying Islands
Bangladesh BG BD BGD 050 BD
Barbados BB BB BRB 052 BB
Bassas da BS — — — — ISO includes with the
India Miscellaneous (French)
                                         Indian Ocean Islands
Belarus BO BY BLR 112 BY
Belgium BE BE BEL 056 BE
Belize BH BZ BLZ 084 BZ
Benin BN BJ BEN 204 BJ
Bermuda BD BM BMU 060 BM
Bhutan BT BT BTN 064 BT
Bolivia BL BO BOL 068 BO
Bosnia and BK BA BIH 070 BA
Herzegovina
Botswana BC BW BWA 072 BW
Bouvet Island BV BV BVT 074 BV
Brazil BR BR BRA 076 BR
British IO IO IOT 086 IO
Indian Ocean
Territory
British VI VG VGB 092 VG
Virgin
Islands
Brunei BX BN BRN 096 BN
Bulgaria BU BG BGR 100 BG
Burkina Faso UV BF BFA 854 BF
Burma BM MM MMR 104 MM ISO uses the name Myanmar
Burundi BY BI BDI 108 BI
Cambodia CB KH KHM 116 KH
Cameroon CM CM CMR 120 CM
Canada CA CA CAN 124 CA
Cape Verde CV CV CPV 132 CV
Cayman CJ KY CYM 136 KY
Islands
Central CT CF CAF 140 CF
African
Republic
Chad CD TD TCD 148 TD
Chile CI CL CHL 152 CL
China CH CN CHN 156 CN see also Taiwan
Christmas KT CX CXR 162 CX
Island
Clipperton IP — — — — ISO includes with French
Island Polynesia
Cocos CK CC CCK 166 CC
(Keeling)
Islands
Colombia CO CO COL 170 CO
Comoros CN KM COM 174 KM
Congo, CG ZR ZAR 180 ZR formerly Zaire
Democratic
Republic of
the
Congo, CF CG COG 178 CG
Republic of
the
Cook Islands CW CK COK 184 CK
Coral Sea CR — — — — ISO includes with Australia
Islands
Costa Rica CS CR CRI 188 CR
Cote d'Ivoire IV CI CIV 384 CI
Croatia HR HR HRV 191 HR
Cuba CU CU CUB 192 CU
Cyprus CY CY CYP 196 CY
Czech EZ CZ CZE 203 CZ
Republic
Denmark DA DK DNK 208 DK
Djibouti DJ DJ DJI 262 DJ
Dominica DO DM DMA 212 DM
Dominican DR DO DOM 214 DO
Republic
East Timor — TP TMP 626 TP FIPS includes with Indonesia
Ecuador EC EC ECU 218 EC
Egypt EG EG EGY 818 EG
El Salvador ES SV SLV 222 SV
Equatorial EK GQ GNQ 226 GQ
Guinea
Eritrea ER ER ERI 232 ER
Estonia EN EE EST 233 EE
Ethiopia ET ET ETH 231 ET
Europa Island EU — — — — ISO includes with the
                                         Miscellaneous (French)
                                         Indian Ocean Islands
Falkland FA FK FLK 238 FK
Islands
(Islas
Malvinas)
Faroe Islands FO FO FRO 234 FO
Fiji FJ FJ FJI 242 FJ
Finland FI FI FIN 246 FI
France FR FR FRA 250 FR
France, — FX FXX 249 FX ISO limits to the European
Metropolitan part of France, excluding
                                         French Guiana, French
                                         Polynesia, French Southern
                                         and Antarctic Lands,
                                         Guadeloupe, Martinique,
                                         Mayotte, New Caledonia,
                                         Reunion, Saint Pierre and
                                         Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna
French Guiana FG GF GUF 254 GF
French FP PF PYF 258 PF ISO includes Clipperton
Polynesia Island
French FS TF ATF 260 — FIPS 10-4 does not include
Southern and the French-claimed portion
Antarctic of Antarctica (Terre Adelie)
Lands
Gabon GB GA GAB 266 GA
The Gambia GA GM GMB 270 GM
Gaza Strip GZ — — — —
Georgia GG GE GEO 268 GE
Germany GM DE DEU 276 DE
Ghana GH GH GHA 288 GH
Gibraltar GI GI GIB 292 GI
Glorioso GO — — — — ISO includes with the
Islands Miscellaneous (French)
                                         Indian Ocean Islands
Greece GR GR GRC 300 GR
Greenland GL GL GRL 304 GL
Grenada GJ GD GRD 308 GD
Guadeloupe GP GP GLP 312 GP
Guam GQ GU GUM 316 GU
Guatemala GT GT GTM 320 GT
Guernsey GK — — — — ISO includes with the United
                                         Kingdom
Guinea GV GN GIN 324 GN
Guinea-Bissau PU GW GNB 624 GW
Guyana GY GY GUY 328 GY
Haiti HA HT HTI 332 HT
Heard Island HM HM HMD 334 HM
and McDonald
Islands
Holy See VT VA VAT 336 VA
(Vatican
City)
Honduras HO HN HND 340 HN
Hong Kong HK HK HKG 344 HK
Howland HQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
Island Minor Outlying Islands
Hungary HU HU HUN 348 HU
Iceland IC IS ISL 352 IS
India IN IN IND 356 IN
Indonesia ID ID IDN 360 ID
Iran IR IR IRN 364 IR
Iraq IZ IQ IRQ 368 IQ
Ireland EI IE IRL 372 IE
Israel IS IL ISR 376 IL
Italy IT IT ITA 380 IT
Jamaica JM JM JAM 388 JM
Jan Mayen JN — — — — ISO includes with Svalbard
Japan JA JP JPN 392 JP
Jarvis Island DQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
                                         Minor Outlying Islands
Jersey JE — — — — ISO includes with the United
                                         Kingdom
Johnston JQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
Atoll Minor Outlying Islands
Jordan JO JO JOR 400 JO
Juan de Nova JU — — — — ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
                                         Indian Ocean Islands
Kazakhstan KZ KZ KAZ 398 KZ
Kenya KE KE KEN 404 KE
Kingman Reef KQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
                                         Minor Outlying Islands
Kiribati KR KI KIR 296 KI
Korea, North KN KP PRK 408 KP
Korea, South KS KR KOR 410 KR
Kuwait KU KW KWT 414 KW
Kyrgyzstan KG KG KGZ 417 KG
Laos LA LA LAO 418 LA
Latvia LG LV LVA 428 LV
Lebanon LE LB LBN 422 LB
Lesotho LT LS LSO 426 LS
Liberia LI LR LBR 430 LR
Libya LY LY LBY 434 LY
Liechtenstein LS LI LIE 438 LI
Lithuania LH LT LTU 440 LT
Luxembourg LU LU LUX 442 LU
Macau MC MO MAC 446 MO
Macedonia, MK MK MKD 807 MK
The Former
Yugoslav
Republic of
Madagascar MA MG MDG 450 MG
Malawi MI MW MWI 454 MW
Malaysia MY MY MYS 458 MY
Maldives MV MV MDV 462 MV
Mali ML ML MLI 466 ML
Malta MT MT MLT 470 MT
Man, Isle of IM — — — — ISO includes with the United
                                         Kingdom
Marshall RM MH MHL 584 MH
Islands
Martinique MB MQ MTQ 474 MQ
Mauritania MR MR MRT 478 MR
Mauritius MP MU MUS 480 MU
Mayotte MF YT MYT 175 YT
Mexico MX MX MEX 484 MX
Micronesia, FM FSM 583 FM
Federated
States of
Midway MQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
Islands Minor Outlying Islands
Miscellaneous — — — — ISO includes Bassas da
(French) India, Europa Island,
                                         Glorioso Islands, Juan de
                                         Nova Island, Tromelin Island
Moldova MD MD MDA 498 MD
Monaco MN MC MCO 492 MC
Mongolia MG MN MNG 496 MN
Montenegro* MW — — — — see footnote at end of table
Montserrat MH MS MSR 500 MS
Morocco MO MA MAR 504 MA
Mozambique MZ MZ MOZ 508 MZ
Myanmar — — — — — see Burma
Namibia WA NA NAM 516 NA
Nauru NR NR NRU 520 NR
Navassa BQ — — — —
Island
Nepal NP NP NPL 524 NP
Netherlands NL NL NLD 528 NL
Netherlands NT AN ANT 530 AN
Antilles
New Caledonia NC NC NCL 540 NC
New Zealand NZ NZ NZL 554 NZ
Nicaragua NU NI NIC 558 NI
Niger NG NE NER 562 NE
Nigeria NI NG NGA 566 NG
Niue NE NU NIU 570 NU
Norfolk NF NF NFK 574 NF
Island
Northern CQ MP MNP 580 MP
Mariana
Islands
Norway NO NO NOR 578 NO
Oman MU OM OMN 512 OM
Pakistan PK PK PAK 586 PK
Palau PS PW PLW 585 PW
Palmyra Atoll LQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
                                         Minor Outlying Islands
Panama PM PA PAN 591 PA
Papua New PP PG PNG 598 PG
Guinea
Paracel PF — — — —
Islands
Paraguay PA PY PRY 600 PY
Peru PE PE PER 604 PE
Philippines RP PH PHL 608 PH
Pitcairn PC PN PCN 612 PN
Islands
Poland PL PL POL 616 PL
Portugal PO PT PRT 620 PT
Puerto Rico RQ PR PRI 630 PR
Qatar QA QA QAT 634 QA
Reunion RE RE REU 638 RE
Romania RO RO ROM 642 RO
Russia RS RU RUS 643 RU
Rwanda RW RW RWA 646 RW
Saint Helena SH SH SHN 654 SH
Saint Kitts SC KN KNA 659 KN
and Nevis
Saint Lucia ST LC LCA 662 LC
Saint Pierre SB PM SPM 666 PM
and Miquelon
Saint Vincent VC VC VCT 670 VC
and the
Grenadines
Samoa WS WS WSM 882 WS —
San Marino SM SM SMR 674 SM
Sao Tome and TP ST STP 678 ST
Principe
Saudi Arabia SA SA SAU 682 SA
Senegal SG SN SEN 686 SN
Serbia* SR — — — — see footnote at end of table
Serbia and — — — — — see footnote at end of table
Montenegro*
Seychelles SE SC SYC 690 SC
Sierra Leone SL SL SLE 694 SL
Singapore SN SG SGP 702 SG
Slovakia LO SK SVK 703 SK
Slovenia SI SI SVN 705 SI
Solomon BP SB SLB 090 SB
Islands
Somalia SO SO SOM 706 SO
South Africa SF ZA ZAF 710 ZA
South Georgia SX GS SGS 239 GS
and the South
Sandwich
Islands
Spain SP ES ESP 724 ES
Spratly PG — — — —
Islands
Sri Lanka CE LK LKA 144 LK
Sudan SU SD SDN 736 SD
Suriname NS SR SUR 740 SR
Svalbard SV SJ SJM 744 SJ ISO includes Jan Mayen
Swaziland WZ SZ SWZ 748 SZ
Sweden SW SE SWE 752 SE
Switzerland SZ CH CHE 756 CH
Syria SY SY SYR 760 SY
Taiwan TW TW TWN 158 TW
Tajikistan TI TJ TJK 762 TJ
Tanzania TZ TZ TZA 834 TZ
Thailand TH TH THA 764 TH
Togo TO TG TGO 768 TG
Tokelau TL TK TKL 772 TK
Tonga TN TO TON 776 TO
Trinidad and TD TT TTO 780 TT
Tobago
Tromelin TE — — — — ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
                                         Indian Ocean Islands
Tunisia TS TN TUN 788 TN
Turkey TU TR TUR 792 TR
Turkmenistan TX TM TKM 795 TM
Turks and TK TC TCA 796 TC
Caicos
Islands
Tuvalu TV TV TUV 798 TV
Uganda UG UG UGA 800 UG
Ukraine UP UA UKR 804 UA
United Arab TC AE ARE 784 AE
Emirates
United UK GB GBR 826 UK/GB ISO includes Guernsey, Isle
Kingdom of Man, Jersey
United States US US USA 840 US
United States — UM UMI 581 UM ISO includes Baker Island,
Minor Howland Island, Jarvis
Outlying Island, Johnston Atoll,
Islands Kingman Reef, Midway
                                         Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Wake
                                         Island
Uruguay UY UY URY 858 UY
Uzbekistan UZ UZ UZB 860 UZ
Vanuatu NH VU VUT 548 VU
Venezuela VE VE VEN 862 UE
Vietnam VM VN VNM 704 VN
Virgin VQ VI VIR 850 VI
Islands
Virgin — — — — — see British Virgin Islands
Islands (UK)
Virgin — — — — — see Virgin Islands
Islands (US)
Wake Atoll WQ — — — — ISO includes with the US
                                         Minor Outlying Islands
Wallis and WF WF WLF 876 WF
Futuna
West Bank WE — — — —
Western WI EH ESH 732 EH
Sahara
Western Samoa — — — — — see Samoa
World — — — — — the Factbook uses the W data
                                         code from DIAM 65—18
                                         Geopolitical Data Elements
                                         and Related Features, Data
                                         Standard No. 3, December
                                         1994, published by the
                                         Defense Intelligence Agency
Yemen YM YE YEM 887 YE
Yugoslavia* — YU YUG 891 YU see footnote at end of table
Zaire — — — — — see Democratic Republic of
                                         the Congo
Zambia ZA ZM ZWB 894 ZM
Zimbabwe ZI ZW ZWE 716 ZW

Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US; the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.

IHO 23-4th: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, Draft 4th Edition 1986, published by the International Hydrographic Bureau of the International Hydrographic Organization

IHO 23-3rd: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, 3rd
Edition 1953, published by the International Hydrographic Organization

ACIC M 49-1: Chart of Limits of Seas and Oceans, revised January 1958,
published by the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC),
United States Air Force; note—ACIC is now part of the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)

DIAM 65-18: Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features, Data Standard No. 4, Defense Intelligence Agency Manual 65-18, December 1994, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency

The US Government has not yet adopted a standard for hydrographic codes similar to the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 10-4 country codes. The names and limits of the following oceans and seas are not always directly comparable because of differences in the customers, needs, and requirements of the individual organizations. Even the number of principal water bodies varies from organization to organization. Factbook users, for example, find the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean entries useful, but none of the following standards include those oceans in their entirety. Nor is there any provision for combining codes or overcodes to aggregate water bodies.

Arctic Ocean 9 17 A 5A
Atlantic Ocean — — — —
North Atlantic Ocean 1 23 B 1A
South Atlantic Ocean 4 32 C 2A
Baltic Sea 2 1 B26 7B
Indian Ocean 5 45 F 6A
Mediterranean Sea 3.1 28 B11 —
Eastern Mediterranean 3.1.2 28 B — 8E
Western Mediterranean 3.1.1 28 A — 8W
Pacific Ocean — — — —
North Pacific Ocean 7 57 D 3A
South Pacific Ocean 8 61 E 4A
South China and Eastern 6 49 and 48 D18 plus 3U plus
Archipelagic Seas others others

ARCTIC OCEAN 9 17 A 5A
East Siberian Sea 9.1 11 A6 5S
Laptev Sea 9.2 10 A5 5P
Kara Sea 9.3 9 A4 5K
Barents Sea 9.4 7 A2 5B
White Sea 9.5 8 A3 5W
North Greenland Sea 9.6 — — —
Norwegian Sea 9.7 6 B30 5N
Iceland Sea 9.8 — — —
Davis Strait 9.9 15 B2 1V
Hudson Strait 9.10 16 A A15 1U
Hudson Bay 9.11 16 A10 1H
Baffin Bay 9.12 14 A A12 1P
Lincoln Sea 9.13 17 A A13 5L
Northwest Passages (Northwest 9.14 14 A9 5T
Passage, Northwestern
Passages)
Beaufort Sea 9.15 13 A8 5U
Chukchi Sea 9.16 12 A7 5C
James Bay — — A11 —
Kane Basin — — A14 —

ATLANTIC OCEAN (see North — — — —
Atlantic Ocean and South
Atlantic Ocean)

BALTIC SEA 2 1 B26 7B
Gulf of Bothnia 2.1 1 (a) B29 7T
Gulf of Finland 2.2 1 (b) B28 7F
Gulf of Riga 2.3 1 (c) B27 7H
The Sound 2.4 2 — —
The Great Belt 2.5 2 — —
The Little Belt 2.6 2 — —
Kattegat 2.7 2 B25 7K

INDIAN OCEAN 5 45 F 6A
Mozambique Channel 5.1 45 A F1 6Z
Gulf of Suez 5.2 35 F5 6W
Gulf of Aqaba 5.3 36 — 6Q
Red Sea 5.4 37 F4 6E
Gulf of Aden 5.5 38 F3 6D
Persian Gulf (Gulf of Iran) 5.6 41 F7 6P
Gulf of Oman 5.7 40 F6 6M
Arabian Sea 5.8 39 F2 6R
Laccadive Sea (Ladshadweep 5.9 42 F9 6L
Sea)
Gulf of Mannar 5.10 — F8 —
Palk Strait and Palk Bay 5.11 — — —
Bay of Bengal 5.12 43 F10 6B
Andaman Sea (Burma Sea) 5.13 44 F11 6N
Strait of Malacca (Malacca 5.14 46 (a) F12 6C
Strait)
Great Australian Bight 5.15 62 F21 6G
Suez Canal — — — 6U

MEDITERRANEAN REGION 3 — — —
Mediterranean Sea 3.1 28 B11 —
Mediterranean Sea, Western 3.1.1 28 A — 8W
Basin
Strait of Gibraltar 3.1.1.1 28 (a) B7 8S
Alboran Sea 3.1.1.2 28 (b) — 8Y
Balearic Sea (Balear Sea, 3.1.1.3 28 (c) B9 8J
Iberian Sea)
Ligurian Sea (Ligure Sea) 3.1.1.4 28 (d) B10 8L
Tyrrhenian Sea (Tirreno Sea) 3.1.1.5 28 (e) B12 8T
Mediterranean Sea, Eastern 3.1.2 28 B — 8E
Basin
Adriatic Sea 3.1.2.1 28 (g) B14 8D
Strait of Sicily (Strait of 3.1.2.2 — — —
Sicilia)
Ionian Sea 3.1.2.3 28 (f) B13 8N
Aegean Sea 3.1.2.4 28 (h) B15 8G
Sea of Marmara 3.2 29 B16 8M
Black Sea 3.3 30 B17 8B
Sea of Azov 3.4 31 B18 8Z
Gulf of Lion (Gulf of Lions) — — B8 8X
Aral Sea — — — 8R
Bosporus — — — 8P
Caspian Sea — — — 8C
Dardanelles — — — 8U

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN 1 23 B 1A
Skagerrak 1.1 3 B24 1S
North Sea 1.2 4 B23 1N
Inner Seas off the West Coast 1.3 18 — 1K
of Scotland
Irish Sea and Saint Georges 1.4 19 B22 1R, 1Q
Channel
Bristol Channel 1.5 20 B21 1C
Celtic Sea 1.6 21 A — —
English Channel 1.7 21 B20 1E
Bay of Biscay 1.8 22 B19 1B
Canarias Sea 1.9 — — —
Gulf of Guinea 1.10 34 C4 1G
Caribbean Sea 1.11 27 B6 1X
Gulf of Mexico 1.12 26 B5 1M
Bay of Fundy 1.13 25 B4 1F
Gulf of Saint Lawrence 1.14 24 B3 1T
Labrador Sea 1.15 15 A — 1L
Greenland Sea 1.16 5 A1 5G
Denmark Strait — — B1 1D
Lake Erie — — — 9E
Lake Huron — — — 9H
Lake Michigan — — — 9M
Lake Ontario — — — 9N
Lake Superior — — — 9S
Panama Canal — — — 1J
Saint Lawrence Seaway — — — 9L

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN 7 57 D 3A
Philippine Sea 7.1 56 D26 3P
Taiwan Strait (Formosa 7.2 — D17 3F
Strait)
East China Sea (Tung Hai) 7.3 50 D13 3E
Yellow Sea (Huang Hai, Hwang 7.4 51 D14 3Y
Hai)
Bo Hai (Bo Sea, Gulf of 7.5 — D16 3X
Chihli)
Liaodong Wan (Liaodong Gulf) 7.6 — — —
Inland Sea of Japan (Seto 7.7 53 — 3N
Naikai)
Sea of Japan (Japan Sea) 7.8 52 D11 3J
Gulf of Tartary 7.9 — D10 —
Sea of Okhotsk 7.10 54 D8 3Q
Bering Sea 7.11 55 D6 5D
Anadyrskiy Zaliv (Anadyrskiy 7.12 — — 5Y
Gulf)
Gulf of Alaska 7.13 58 D4 5F
Coastal Waters of Southeast 7.14 59 D3 5E
Alaska and British Columbia
Gulf of California 7.15 60 D2 3L
Gulf of Panama 7.16 — D1 —
Amurskiy Liman — — D27 —
Bering Strait — — D7 5R
Bristol Bay — — D5 —
Korea Bay — — D15 3R
Korea Strait — — D12 —
Sakhalinskiy Zaliv — — D28 3B
Zaliv Shelikhova (Zaliv — — D9 3K
Shelekhova)
Luzon Strait — — — 3I
Tatar Strait — — — 3D

SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN 4 32 C 2A
Rio de la Plata 4.1 33 C1 2R
Drake Passage — — C5 2D
Golfo San Matias — — C2 2M
Golfo San Jorge — — C3 2J
Scotia Sea — — C6 2S
Weddell Sea — — C7 2W

SOUTH CHINA AND EASTERN 6 49 and 48 D18 plus 3U plus
ARCHIPELAGIC SEAS others others
South China Sea (Nan Hai) 6.1 49 D18 3U
Gulf of Tonkin 6.2 — D19 3G
Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of 6.3 47 D20 3T
Siam)
Natuna Sea 6.4 — — —
Singapore Strait 6.5 46 (b) — 3Z
Sunda Strait 6.6 — — —
Java Sea (Jawa Sea) 6.7 48 (n) F13 4J
Makassar Strait (Makasar 6.8 48 (m) E1 4M
Strait)
Bali Sea 6.9 48 (l) F14 4L
Flores Sea 6.10 48 (j) F16 4F
Sumba Strait 6.11 — — —
Savu Sea (Sawu Sea) 6.12 48 (o) F15 6S
Timor Sea 6.13 48 (i) F19 6T
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf 6.14 — F20 —
Gulf of Carpentaria 6.15 — E4 4P
Arafura Sea 6.16 48 (h) E3 4U
Aru Sea 6.17 — — —
Banda Sea 6.18 48 (g) E2 4B
Teluk Bone (Gulf of Bone, 6.19 48 (k) F17 4E
Gulf of Boni)
Ceram Sea (Seram Sea) 6.20 48 (f) D25 4Q
Gulf of Berau 6.21 — — —
Halmahera Sea 6.22 48 (e) D24 3H
Molucca Sea (Molukka Sea, 6.23 48 (c) D23 3M
Maluku Sea)
Teluk Tomini (Gulf of Tomini) 6.24 48 (d) F18 3V
Sulawesi Sea 6.25 — — —
Mindanao Sea 6.26 — — —
Sulu Sea 6.27 48 (a) D21 3S
Celebes Sea — 48 (b) D22 3C

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN 8 61 E 4A
Bismarck Sea 8.1 66 E6 4K
Solomon Sea 8.2 65 E7 4S
Torres Strait 8.3 — E5 —
Coastal Waters of Great 8.4 — — —
Barrier Reefs
Coral Sea 8.5 64 E9 4C
Tasman Sea 8.6 63 E10 4T
Bass Strait 8.7 62 A F22 6F
Amundsen Sea — — E12 4D
Bellingshausen Sea — — E13 4G
Cook Strait — — E8 —
Ross Sea — — E11 4R

This list indicates where various geographic names—including the location of all United States Foreign Service Posts, alternate names of countries, former names, and political or geographical portions of larger entities—can be found in The World Factbook. Spellings are normally those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Additional information is included in brackets.

A Abidjan [US Embassy] Cote d'Ivoire 5 19 N 4 02 W
   Abkhazia [region] Georgia 43 00 N 41 00 E
   Abu Dhabi [US Embassy] United Arab 24 28 N 54 22 E
                            Emirates
   Abu Musa [island] Iran 25 52 N 55 03 E
   Abuja [US Embassy Branch Nigeria 9 12 N 7 11 E
   Office]
   Abyssinia Ethiopia 8 00 N 38 00 E
   Acapulco Mexico 16 51 N 99 55 W
   Accra [US Embassy] Ghana 5 33 N 0 13 W
   Adamstown Pitcairn Islands 25 04 S 130 05 W
   Adana [US Consulate] Turkey 37 01 N 35 18 E
   Addis Ababa [US Embassy] Ethiopia 9 02 N 38 42 E
   Adelie Land (Terre Antarctica 66 30 S 139 00 E
   Adelie) [claimed by
   France]
   Aden Yemen 12 46 N 45 01 E
   Aden, Gulf of Indian Ocean 12 30 N 48 00 E
   Admiralty Island United States 57 44 N 134 20 W
                            (Alaska)
   Admiralty Islands Papua New Guinea 2 10 S 147 00 E
   Adriatic Sea Atlantic Ocean 42 30 N 16 00 E
   Aegean Islands Greece 38 00 N 25 00 E
   Aegean Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 25 00 E
   Afars and Issas, French Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E
   Territory of the
   (F.T.A.I.)
   Agalega Islands Mauritius 10 25 S 56 40 E
   Agana (see Hagatna) Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E
   Ajaccio France (Corsica) 41 55 N 8 44 E
   Akmola (see Astana) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
   Aland Islands Finland 60 15 N 20 00 E
   Alaska United States 65 00 N 153 00 W
   Alaska, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 58 00 N 145 00 W
   Aldabra Islands (Groupe Seychelles 9 25 S 46 22 E
   d'Aldabra)
   Alderney [island] Guernsey 49 43 N 2 12 W
   Aleutian Islands United States 52 00 N 176 00 W
                            (Alaska)
   Alexander Archipelago United States 57 00 N 134 00 W
                            (Alaska)
   Alexander Island Antarctica 71 00 S 70 00 W
   Alexandria Egypt 31 12 N 29 54 E
   Algiers [US Embassy] Algeria 36 47 N 2 03 E
   Alhucemas, Penon de Spain 35 13 N 3 53 W
   Alma-Ata (see Almaty) Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E
   Almaty [US Embassy] Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E
   Alofi Niue 19 01 S 169 55 E
   Alphonse Island Seychelles 7 01 S 52 45 E
   Amami Strait Pacific Ocean 28 40 N 129 30 E
   Amindivi Islands India 11 30 N 72 30 E
   Amirante Isles (Les Seychelles 6 00 S 53 10 E
   Amirantes)
   Amman [US Embassy] Jordan 31 57 N 35 56 E
   Amsterdam [US Consulate Netherlands 52 22 N 4 54 E
   General]
   Amsterdam Island (Ile French Southern 37 52 S 77 32 E
   Amsterdam) and Antarctic
                            Lands
   Amundsen Sea Pacific Ocean 72 30 S 112 00 W
   Amur River China, Russia 52 56 N 141 10 E
   Anatolia [region] Turkey 39 00 N 35 00 E
   Andaman Islands India 12 00 N 92 45 E
   Andaman Sea Indian Ocean 10 00 N 95 00 E
   Andorra la Vella Andorra 42 30 N 1 30 E
   Andros [island] Greece 37 45 N 24 42 E
   Andros Island The Bahamas 24 26 N 77 57 W
   Anegada Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 63 40 W
   Angkor Wat [ruins] Cambodia 13 26 N 103 50 E
   Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Sudan 15 00 N 30 00 E
   Anjouan [island] Comoros 12 15 S 44 25 E
   Ankara [US Embassy] Turkey 39 56 N 32 52 E
   Annobon [island] Equatorial 1 25 S 5 36 E
                            Guinea
   Antananarivo [US Madagascar 18 52 S 47 30 E
   Embassy]
   Antigua [island] Antigua and 14 34 N 90 44 W
                            Barbuda
   Antipodes Islands New Zealand 49 41 S 178 43 E
   Antwerp [European Belgium 51 13 N 4 25 E
   Logistical Support
   Office]
   Aozou Strip Chad 22 00 N 18 00 E
   Apia [US Embassy] Samoa 13 50 S 171 44 N
   Aqaba, Gulf of Indian Ocean 29 00 N 34 30 E
   Aqmola (see Astana) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
   Arab, Shatt al [river] Iran, Iraq 29 57 N 48 34 E
   Arabian Sea Indian Ocean 15 00 N 65 00 E
   Arafura Sea Pacific Ocean 9 00 S 133 00 E
   Aral Sea Kazakhstan, 45 00 N 60 00 E
                            Uzbekistan
   Argun River China, Russia 53 20 N 121 28 E
   Ascension Island Saint Helena 7 57 S 14 22 W
   Ashgabat [US Embassy] Kozakhstan 51 00 N 71 30 E
   Ashkhabad (see Ashgabat) Turkmenistan 37 57 N 58 23 E
   Asmara [US Embassy] Eritrea 15 20 N 38 53 E
   Asmera (see Asmara) Eritrea 15 20 N 38 53 E
   Assumption Island Seychelles 9 46 S 46 34 E
   Astana (Akmola) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
   Asuncion [US Embassy] Paraguay 25 16 S 57 40 W
   Asuncion Island Northern Mariana 19 40 N 145 24 E
                            Islands
   Atacama [region] Chile 24 30 S 69 15 W
   Athens [US Embassy] Greece 37 59 N 23 44 E
   Attu Island United States 52 55 N 172 57 E
   Auckland [US Consulate New Zealand 36 52 S 174 46 E
   General]
   Auckland Islands New Zealand 51 00 S 166 30 E
   Australes, Iles (Iles French Polynesia 23 20 S 151 00 W
   Tubuai)
   Avarua Cook Islands 21 12 S 159 46 W
   Axel Heiberg Island Canada 79 30 N 90 00 W
   Azad Kashmir Pakistan 34 30 N 74 00 E
   Azores [islands] Portugal 38 30 N 28 00 W
   Azov, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 49 00 N 36 00 E

B Bab el Mandeb [strait] Indian Ocean 12 40 N 43 20 E
   Babuyan Channel Pacific Ocean 18 44 N 121 40 E
   Babuyan Islands Philippines 19 10 N 121 40 E
   Baffin Bay Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 66 00 W
   Baffin Island Canada 68 00 N 70 00 W
   Baghdad [US Embassy Iraq 33 21 N 44 25 E
   temporarily suspended;
   US Interests Section
   located in Poland's
   embassy in Baghdad]
   Baki (see Baku) Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
   Baku [US Embassy] Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
   Baky (see Baku) Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
   Balabac Strait Pacific Ocean 7 35 N 117 00 E
   Balearic Islands Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
   Balearic Sea (Iberian Atlantic Ocean 40 30 N 2 00 E
   Sea)
   Bali [island] Indonesia 8 20 S 115 00 E
   Bali Sea Indian Ocean 7 45 S 115 30 E
   Balintang Channel Pacific Ocean 19 49 N 121 40 E
   Balintang Islands Philippines 19 55 N 122 10 E
   Balkan Peninsula Albania, Bosnia 42 00 N 23 00 E
                            and Herzegovina,
                            Bulgaria,
                            Croatia, Greece,
                            Romania, Serbia
                            and Montenegro,
                            Slovenia, The
                            Former Yugoslav
                            Republic of
                            Macedonia,
                            Turkey (European
                            part)
   Balleny Islands Antarctica 67 00 S 163 00 E
   Balochistan [region] Pakistan 28 00 N 63 00 E
   Baltic Sea Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 19 00 E
   Bamako [US Embassy] Mali 12 39 N 8 00 W
   Banaba (Ocean Island) Kiribati 0 52 S 169 35 E
   Bandar Seri Begawan [US Brunei 4 52 S 114 55 E
   Embassy]
   Banda Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 128 00 E
   Bangkok [US Embassy] Thailand 13 45 N 100 31 E
   Bangui [US Embassy] Central African 4 22 N 18 35 E
                            Republic
   Banjul [US Embassy] The Gambia 13 28 N 16 39 W
   Banks Island Australia 10 12 S 142 16 E
   Banks Island Canada 75 15 N 121 30 W
   Banks Islands (Iles Vanuatu 14 00 S 167 30 E
   Banks)
   Barbuda [island] Antigua and 17 38 N 61 48 W
                            Barbuda
   Barcelona [US Consulate Spain 41 23 N 2 11 E
   General]
   Barents Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 36 00 E
   Barranquilla Colombia 10 59 N 74 48 W
   Bashi Channel Pacific Ocean 22 00 N 121 00 E
   Basilan Strait Pacific Ocean 6 49 N 122 05 E
   Basque Provinces Spain 43 00 N 2 30 W
   Bass Strait Pacific Ocean 39 20 S 145 30 E
   Basse-Terre Guadeloupe 16 00 N 61 44 W
   Basseterre Saint Kitts and 17 18 N 62 43 W
                            Nevis
   Bastia France (Corsica) 42 42 N 9 27 E
   Basutoland Lesotho 29 30 S 28 30 E
   Batan Islands Philippines 20 30 N 121 50 E
   Bavaria (Bayern) Germany 48 30 N 11 30 E
   Beagle Channel Atlantic Ocean 54 53 S 68 10 W
   Bear Island (see Svalbard 74 26 N 19 5 E
   Bjornoya)
   Beaufort Sea Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 140 00 W
   Bechuanaland Botswana 22 00 S 24 00 E
   Beijing [US Embassy] China 39 56 N 116 24 E
   Beirut [US Embassy] Lebanon 33 53 N 35 30 E
   Belau (Palau Islands) Palau 7 30 N 134 30 E
   Belem [US Consular Brazil 1 27 S 48 29 W
   Agency]
   Belep Islands (Iles New Caledonia 19 45 S 163 40 E
   Belep)
   Belfast [US Consulate United Kingdom 54 35 N 5 55 W
   General]
   Belgian Congo Democratic 0 00 N 25 00 E
                            Republic of the
                            Congo
   Belgrade Serbia and 44 50 N 20 30 E
                            Montenegro
   Belize City [US Embassy] Belize 17 30 N 88 12 W
   Belle Isle, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 35 N 56 30 W
   Bellingshausen Sea Pacific Ocean 71 00 S 85 00 W
   Belmopan Belize 17 15 N 88 46 W
   Belorussia Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E
   Bengal, Bay of Indian Ocean 15 00 N 90 00 E
   Bering Sea Pacific Ocean 60 00 N 175 00 W
   Bering Island Russia 55 00 N 166 30 E
   Bering Strait Pacific Ocean 65 30 N 169 00 W
   Berkner Island Antarctica 79 30 S 49 30 W
   Berlin [US Branch Germany 52 31 N 13 24 E
   Office]
   Berlin, East Germany 52 30 N 13 33 E
   Berlin, West Germany 52 30 N 12 20 E
   Bern [US Embassy] Switzerland 46 57 N 7 26 E
   Bessarabia [region] Romania, 47 00 N 28 30 E
                            Moldova, Ukraine
   Bhopal India 23 16 N 77 24 E
   Biafra [region] Nigeria 5 30 N 7 30 E
   Big Diomede Island Russia 65 46 N 169 06 W
   Bijagos, Arquipelago dos Guinea-Bissau 11 25 N 16 20 W
   Bikini Atoll Marshall Islands 11 35 N 165 23 E
   Bilbao Spain 43 15 N 2 58 W
   Bioko [island] Equatorial 3 30 N 8 42 E
                            Guinea
   Biscay, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 44 00 N 4 00 W
   Bishkek [US Embassy] Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E
   Bishop Rock United Kingdom 49 52 N 6 27 W
   Bismarck Archipelago Papua New Guinea 5 00 S 150 00 E
   Bismarck Sea Pacific Ocean 4 00 S 148 00 E
   Bissau [US Embassy] Guinea-Bissau 11 51 N 15 35 W
   Bjornoya (Bear Island) Svalbard 74 26 N 19 5 E
   Black Forest Germany 48 00 N 8 15 E
   Black Rock South Georgia 53 39 S 41 48 W
                            and the South
                            Sandwich Islands
   Black Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 00 N 35 00 E
   Bloemfontein South Africa 29 12 S 26 07 E
   Boa Vista [island] Cape Verde 16 05 N 22 50 W
   Bogota [US Embassy] Colombia 4 36 N 74 05 W
   Bohemia [region] Czech Republic 50 00 N 14 30 E
   Bombay (see Mumbai) India 18 58 N 72 50 E
   Bonaire [island] Netherlands 12 10 N 68 15 W
                            Antilles
   Bonifacio, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 41 01 N 14 00 E
   Bonin Islands Japan 27 00 N 140 10 E
   Bonn [US Embassy] Germany 50 44 N 7 05 E
   Bophuthatswana South Africa 26 30 S 25 30 E
   Bora-Bora [island] French Polynesia 16 30 S 151 45 W
   Bordeaux France 44 50 N 0 34 W
   Borneo [island] Brunei, 0 30 N 114 00 E
                            Indonesia,
                            Malaysia
   Bornholm [island] Denmark 55 10 N 15 00 E
   Bosnia Bosnia and 44 00 N 18 00 E
                            Herzegovina
   Bosporus [strait] Atlantic Ocean 41 00 N 29 00 E
   Bothnia, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 63 00 N 20 00 E
   Bougainville [island] Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 155 00 E
   Bougainville Strait Pacific Ocean 6 40 S 156 10 E
   Bounty Islands New Zealand 47 43 S 174 00 E
   Brasilia [US Embassy] Brazil 15 47 S 47 55 W
   Bratislava [US Embassy] Slovakia 48 09 N 17 07 E
   Brazzaville [US Embassy] Republic of the 4 16 S 15 17 E
                            Congo
   Bridgetown [US Embassy] Barbados 13 06 N 59 37 W
   Brisbane Australia 27 28 S 153 02 E
   Britain (see Great United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W
   Britain)
   British East Africa Kenya, Tanzania, 1 00 N 38 00 E
                            Uganda
   British Guiana Guyana 5 00 N 59 00 W
   British Honduras Belize 17 15 N 88 45 W
   British Solomon Islands Solomon Islands 8 00 S 159 00 E
   British Somaliland Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E
   Brussels [US Embassy, US Belgium 50 50 N 4 20 E
   Mission to European
   Union (USEU), US Mission
   to the North Atlantic
   Treaty Organization
   (USNATO)]
   Bubiyan [island] Kuwait 29 47 N 48 10 E
   Bucharest [US Embassy] Romania 44 26 N 26 06 E
   Budapest [US Embassy] Hungary 47 30 N 19 05 E
   Buenos Aires [US Argentina 34 36 S 58 27 W
   Embassy]
   Bujumbura [US Embassy] Burundi 3 23 S 29 22 E
   Burnt Pine Norfolk Island 29 02 S 167 56 E
   Byelorussia Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E

C Cabinda [province] Angola 5 33 S 12 12 E
   Cabot Strait Atlantic Ocean 47 20 N 59 30 W
   Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos 21 56 N 71 58 W
                            Islands
   Cairo [US Embassy] Egypt 30 03 N 31 15 E
   Calcutta [US Consulate India 22 32 N 88 22 E
   General]
   Calgary [US Consulate Canada 51 03 N 114 05 W
   General]
   California, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 28 00 N 112 00 W
   Campbell Island New Zealand 52 33 S 169 09 E
   Canal Zone Panama 9 00 N 79 45 W
   Canary Islands Spain 28 00 N 15 30 W
   Canberra [US Embassy] Australia 35 17 S 149 08 E
   Canton (Guangzhou) China 23 06 N 113 16 E
   Canton Island (Kanton Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W
   Island)
   Cape Town [US Consulate South Africa 33 55 S 18 22 E
   General]
   Caracas [US Embassy] Venezuela 10 30 N 66 56 W
   Cargados Carajos Shoals Mauritius 16 25 S 59 38 E
   Caroline Islands Federated States 7 30 N 148 00 E
                            of Micronesia,
                            Palau
   Caribbean Sea Atlantic Ocean 15 00 N 73 00 W
   Carpentaria, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 14 00 S 139 00 E
   Casablanca [US Consulate Morocco 33 39 N 7 35 W
   General]
   Castries Saint Lucia 14 01 N 61 00 W
   Catalonia [region] Spain 42 00 N 2 00 E
   Cato Island Australia 23 15 S 155 32 E
   Caucasus [region] Russia 42 00 N 45 00 E
   Cayenne French Guiana 4 56 N 52 20 W
   Cebu [US Consular Philippines 10 18 N 123 54 E
   Agency]
   Celebes [island] Indonesia 2 00 S 121 00 E
   Celebes Sea Pacific Ocean 3 00 N 122 00 E
   Celtic Sea Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 6 30 W
   Central African Empire Central African 7 00 N 21 00 E
                            Republic
   Ceuta Spain 35 53 N 5 19 W
   Ceylon Sri Lanka 7 00 N 81 00 E
   Chafarinas, Islas Spain 35 12 N 2 26 W
   Chagos Archipelago (Oil British Indian 6 00 S 71 30 E
   Islands) Ocean Territory
   Channel Islands Guernsey, Jersey 49 20 N 2 20 W
   Charlotte Amalie Virgin Islands 18 21 N 64 56 W
   Chatham Islands New Zealand 44 00 S 176 30 W
   Chechnya (Chechnia) Russia 43 15 N 45 40 E
   Cheju-do [island] Korea, South 33 20 N 126 30 E
   Cheju Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 126 30 E
   Chengdu [US Consulate China 39 39 N 104 04 E
   General]
   Chennai (Madras) [US India 13 04 N 80 16 E
   Consulate General]
   Chesterfield Islands New Caledonia 19 52 S 158 15 E
   (Iles Chesterfield)
   Chiang Mai [US Consulate Thailand 18 47 N 98 59 E
   General]
   Chihli, Gulf of (see Bo Pacific Ocean 38 30 N 120 00 E
   Hai)
   China, People's Republic China 35 00 N 105 00 E
   of
   China, Republic of Taiwan 23 30 N 105 00 E
   Chisinau [US Embassy] Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E
   Choiseul [island] Solomon Islands 7 05 S 121 00 E
   Christmas Island [Indian Australia 10 25 S 105 39 E
   Ocean]
   Christmas Island Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W
   (Kiritimati) [Pacific
   Ocean]
   Chukchi Sea Arctic Ocean 69 00 N 171 00 W
   Ciskei South Africa 33 00 S 27 00 E
   Ciudad Juarez [US Mexico 31 44 N 106 29 W
   Consulate General]
   Cluj-Napoca [US Branch Romania 46 47 N 23 36 E
   Office]
   Cochin China [region] Vietnam 11 00 N 107 00 E
   Coco, Isla del Costa Rica 5 32 N 87 04 W
   Cocos Islands Cocos (Keeling) 12 30 S 96 50 E
                            Islands
   Colombo [US Embassy] Sri Lanka 6 56 N 79 51 E
   Colon, Archipielago de Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W
   (Galapagos Islands)
   Commander Islands Russia 55 00 N 167 00 E
   (Komandorskiye Ostrova)
   Conakry [US Embassy] Guinea 9 31 N 13 43 W
   Congo (Leopoldville) Democratic 15 00 S 30 00 E
                            Republic of the
                            Congo
   Con Son [Islands] Vietnam 8 43 N 106 36 E
   Cook Strait Pacific Ocean 41 15 S 174 30 E
   Copenhagen [US Embassy] Denmark 55 40 N 12 35 E
   Coral Sea Pacific Ocean 15 00 S 150 00 E
   Corfu [island] Greece 39 40 N 19 45 E
   Corinth Greece 37 56 N 22 56 E
   Corn Islands (Islas del Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W
   Maiz)
   Corocoro Island Guyana, 3 38 N 66 50 W
                            Venezuela
   Corsica (Corse) [island] France 42 00 N 9 00 E
   Corsico [island] Equatorial 0 55 N 9 19 E
                            Guinea
   Cosmoledo Group (Atoll Seychelles 9 43 S 47 35 E
   de Cosmoledo)
   Cotonou [US Embassy] Benin 6 21 N 2 26 E
   Courantyne River Guyana, Suriname 5 57 N 57 06 W
   Crete [island] Greece 35 15 N 24 45 E
   Crimea [region] Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E
   Crimean Peninsula Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E
   Crooked Island Passage Atlantic Ocean 22 55 N 74 35 W
   Crozet Islands (Iles French Southern 46 30 S 51 00 E
   Crozet) and Antarctic
                            Lands
   Curacao [US Consulate Netherlands 12 11 N 69 00 W
   General] Antilles
   Cyclades [islands] Greece 37 00 N 25 10 E
   Czechoslovakia Czech Republic, 49 00 N 18 00 E
                            Slovakia

D Dahomey Benin 9 30 N 2 15 E
   Daito Islands Japan 43 00 N 17 00 E
   Dakar [US Embassy] Senegal 14 40 N 17 26 W
   Dalmatia [region] Croatia 43 00 N 17 00 E
   Daman (Damao) India 20 10 N 73 00 E
   Damascus [US Embassy] Syria 33 30 N 36 18 E
   Danger Islands (see Cook Islands 10 53 S 165 49 W
   Pukapuka Atoll)
   Danish Straits Atlantic Ocean 58 00 N 11 00 E
   Danish West Indies Virgin Islands 18 20 N 64 50 W
   Danzig (Gdansk) Poland 54 23 N 18 40 E
   Dao Bach Long Vi Vietnam 20 08 N 107 44 E
   [island]
   Dardanelles [strait] Atlantic Ocean 40 15 N 26 25 E
   Dar es Salaam [US Tanzania 6 48 S 39 17 E
   Embassy]
   Davis Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 57 00 W
   Dead Sea Israel, Jordan, 32 30 N 35 30 E
                            West Bank
   Deception Island Antarctica 62 56 S 60 34 W
   Denmark Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 24 00 W
   D'Entrecasteaux Islands Papua New Guinea 9 30 S 150 40 E
   Desolation Islands French Southern 49 30 S 69 30 E
   (Isles Kerguelen) and Antarctic
                            Lands
   Devils Island (Ile du French Guiana 5 17 N 52 35 W
   Diable)
   Devon Island Canada 76 00 N 87 00 W
   Dhahran [US Consulate Saudi Arabia 26 18 N 50 08 E
   General]
   Dhaka [US Embassy] Bangladesh 23 43 N 90 25 E
   Dhofar [region] Oman 17 00 N 54 10 E
   Diego Garcia [island] British Indian 7 20 S 72 25 E
                            Ocean Territory
   Diego Ramirez [islands] Chile 56 30 S 68 43 W
   Diomede Islands Russia [Big 65 47 N 169 00 W
                            Diomede], United
                            States [Little
                            Diomede]
   Diu India 20 42 N 70 59 E
   Djibouti [US Embassy] Djibouti 11 30 N 43 15 E
   Dnieper [river] Belarus, Russia, 46 30 N 32 18 E
   (Dnyapro, Dnepr, Dnipro) Ukraine
   Dniester [river] Moldova, Ukraine 46 18 N 30 17 E
   (Nistru, Dnister)
   Dodecanese [islands] Greece 36 00 N 27 05 E
   Dodoma Tanzania 6 11 S 35 45 E
   Doha [US Embassy] Qatar 25 17 N 51 32 E
   Donets Basin Russia, Ukraine 48 15 N 38 30 E
   Douala Cameroon 4 03 N 9 42 E
   Douglas Man, Isle of 54 09 N 4 28 W
   Dover, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 1 30 E
   Drake Passage Atlantic Ocean 60 00 S 60 00 W
   Dubai [US Consulate United Arab 25 18 N 55 18 E
   General] Emirates
   Dubayy (see Dubai) United Arab 25 18 N 55 18 E
                            Emirates
   Dublin [US Embassy] Ireland 53 20 N 6 15 W
   Durban [US Consulate South Africa 29 55 S 30 56 E
   General]
   Dushanbe [US Embassy] Tajikistan 38 35 N 68 48 E
   Dutch Antilles Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E
                            Antilles
   Dutch East Indies Indonesia 5 00 S 120 00 E
   Dutch Guiana Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W
   Dutch West Indies Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E
                            Antilles
   Dzungarian Gate China, 45 25 N 82 25 E
                            Kazakhstan

E East China Sea Pacific Ocean 30 00 N 126 00 E
   East Frisian Islands Germany 53 44 N 7 25 E
   East Germany (German Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E
   Democratic Republic)
   East Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
   (Eastern Channel or
   Tsushima Strait)
   East Pakistan Bangladesh 24 00 N 90 00 E
   East Siberian Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 166 00 E
   East Timor (Portuguese Indonesia 9 00 S 126 00 E
   Timor)
   Easter Island (Isla de Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W
   Pascua)
   Eastern Channel (East Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
   Korea Strait or Tsushima
   Strait)
   Eastern Samoa American Samoa 14 20 S 170 00 W
   Edinburgh [US Consulate United Kingdom 55 57 N 3 13 W
   General]
   Eire Ireland 53 00 N 8 00 W
   Elba [island] Italy 42 46 N 10 17 E
   Ellef Ringnes Island Canada 78 00 N 103 00 W
   Ellesmere Island Canada 81 00 N 80 00 W
   Ellice Islands Tuvalu 8 00 S 178 00 E
   Elobey, Islas de Equatorial 0 59 N 9 33 E
                            Guinea
   Enderbury Island Kiribati 3 08 S 171 5 W
   Enewetak Atoll (Eniwetok Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E
   Atoll)
   England [region] United Kingdom 52 30 N 1 30 W
   English Channel Atlantic Ocean 50 20 N 1 00 W
   Eniwetok Atoll (see Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E
   Enewetak Atoll)
   Eolie, Isole Italy 38 30 N 15 00 E
   Epirus, Northern Albania, Greece 40 00 N 20 30 E
   Espana Spain 40 00 N 4 00 W
   Essequibo [region] Guyana 6 59 N 58 23 W
   [claimed by Venezuela]
   Etorofu (Iturup) Russia [de 44 55 N 147 40 E
   [island] facto]

F Farquhar Group (Atoll de Seychelles 10 10 S 51 10 E
   Farquhar)
   Fernando de Noronha Brazil 3 51 S 32 25 W
   Fernando Po [island] Equatorial 3 30 N 8 42 E
   (see Bioko) Guinea
   Finland, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 60 00 N 27 00 E
   Florence [US Consulate Italy 43 46 N 11 15 E
   General]
   Florida, Straits of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 79 45 W
   former Soviet Union Armenia,
   (FSU) Azerbaijan,
                            Belarus,
                            Estonia,
                            Georgia,
                            Kazakhstan,
                            Kyrgyzstan,
                            Latvia,
                            Lithuania,
                            Moldova, Russia,
                            Tajikistan,
                            Turkmenistan,
                            Ukraine,
                            Uzbekistan
   Formosa [island] Taiwan 23 30 N 121 00 E
   Formosa Strait (see Pacific Ocean 24 00 N 119 00 E
   Taiwan Strait)
   Fortaleza [US Consular Brazil 3 43 S 38 30 W
   Agency]
   Fort-de-France Martinique 14 36 N 61 05 W
   Frankfurt am Main [US Germany 50 07 N 8 40 E
   Consulate General]
   Franz Josef Land Russia 81 00 N 55 00 E
   [islands]
   Freetown [US Embassy] Sierra Leone 8 30 N 13 15 W
   French Cameroon Cameroon 6 00 N 12 00 E
   French Guinea Guinea 11 00 N 10 00 W
   French Indochina Cambodia, Laos, 15 00 N 107 00 E
                            Vietnam
   French Morocco Morocco 32 00 N 5 00 W
   French Somaliland Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 W
   French Sudan Mali 17 00 N 4 00 W
   French Territory of the Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E
   Afars and Issas
   (F.T.A.I.)
   French Togo Togo 8 00 N 1 10 E
   French West Indies Guadeloupe, 16 30 N 62 00 W
                            Martinique
   Friendly Islands Tonga 20 00 S 175 00 W
   Frisian Islands Denmark, 53 35 N 6 40 E
                            Germany,
                            Netherlands
   Frunze (see Bishkek) Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E
   Fukuoka [US Consulate] Japan 33 35 N 130 24 E
   Funafuti Tuvalu 8 30 S 179 12 E
   Fundy, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 45 00 N 66 00 W
   Futuna Islands (Hoorn Wallis and 14 19 S 178 05 W
   Islands/Iles de Horne) Futuna

G Gaborone [US Embassy] Botswana 24 45 S 25 55 E
   Galapagos Islands Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W
   (Archipielago de Colon)
   Galilee [region] Israel 32 54 N 35 20 E
   Galleons Passage Atlantic Ocean 11 00 N 60 55 W
   Gambier Islands (Iles French Polynesia 23 09 S 134 58 W
   Gambier)
   Gaspar Strait Pacific Ocean 3 00 S 107 00 E
   Geneva [US Consular Switzerland 46 12 N 6 10 E
   Agency, US Mission to
   European Office of the
   UN and Other
   International
   Organizations]
   Genoa Italy 44 25 N 8 57 E
   George Town Malaysia 5 26 N 100 16 E
   George Town The Bahamas 23 30 N 75 46 W
   George Town Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 23 W
   Georgetown The Gambia 13 30 N 14 47 W
   Georgetown [US Embassy] Guyana 6 48 N 58 10 W
   German Democratic Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E
   Republic (East Germany)
   German Southwest Africa Namibia 22 00 S 17 00 E
   Germany, Federal Germany 51 00 N 9 00 E
   Republic of
   Gibraltar Gibraltar 36 11 N 5 22 W
   Gibraltar, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 35 57 N 5 36 W
   Gidi Pass Egypt 30 13 N 33 09 E
   Gilbert Islands Kiribati 1 25 N 173 00 E
   Goa [state] India 14 20 N 74 00 E
   Godthab (Nuuk) Greenland 64 11 N 51 44 W
   Gold Coast Ghana 8 00 N 2 00 W
   Golan Heights [region] Syria 33 00 N 35 45 E
   Good Hope, Cape of South Africa 34 24 S 18 30 E
   Goteborg Sweden 57 43 N 11 58 E
   Gotland [island] Sweden 57 30 N 18 33 E
   Gough Island Saint Helena 40 10 S 9 45 W
   Grand Banks Atlantic Ocean 47 06 N 55 48 W
   Grand Cayman [island] Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 20 W
   Grand Turk Turks and Caicos 21 28 N 71 08 W
                            Islands
   Great Australian Bight Indian Ocean 35 00 S 130 00 E
   Great Belt (Store Baelt) Atlantic Ocean 55 30 N 11 00 E
   Great Bitter Lake Egypt 30 20 N 32 23 E
   Great Britain [island] United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W
   Great Channel Indian Ocean 6 25 N 94 20 E
   Greater Sunda Islands Brunei, 2 00 S 110 00 E
                            Indonesia,
                            Malaysia
   Green Islands Papua New Guinea 4 30 S 154 10 E
   Greenland Sea Arctic Ocean 79 00 N 5 00 W
   Grenadines, Northern Saint Vincent 13 15 N 61 12 W
                            and the
                            Grenadines
   Grenadines, Southern Grenada 12 07 N 61 40 W
   Grytviken South Georgia 54 15 S 36 45 W
                            and the South
                            Sandwich Islands
   Guadalajara [US Mexico 20 40 N 103 20 W
   Consulate General]
   Guadalcanal [island] Solomon Islands 9 32 S 160 12 E
   Guadalupe, Isla de Mexico 29 11 N 118 17 W
   Guangzhou [US Consulate China 23 06 N 113 16 E
   General]
   Guantanamo Bay [US Naval Cuba 20 00 N 75 08 W
   Base]
   Guatemala [US Embassy] Guatemala 14 38 N 90 31 W
   Guinea, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 3 00 N 2 30 E
   Guayaquil [US Consulate Ecuador 2 13 S 79 54 W
   General]

H Ha'apai Group Tonga 19 42 S 174 29 W
   Habomai Islands Russia [de 43 30 N 146 10 E
                            facto]
   Hadhramaut [region] Yemen 15 00 N 50 00 E
   Hagatna (Agana) Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E
   Hague, The [US Embassy] Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E
   Haifa Israel 32 50 N 35 00 E
   Haiphong Vietnam 20 52 N 106 41 E
   Hainan Dao [island] China 19 00 N 109 30 E
   Halifax [US Consulate Canada 44 39 N 63 36 W
   General]
   Halmahera [island] Indonesia 1 00 N 128 00 E
   Hamburg [US Consulate Germany 53 33 N 9 59 E
   General]
   Hamilton [US Consulate Bermuda 32 17 N 64 46 W
   General]
   Hanoi [US Embassy] Vietnam 21 02 N 105 51 E
   Harare [US Embassy] Zimbabwe 17 50 S 31 03 E
   Hatay [province] Turkey 36 30 N 36 15 E
   Havana [US post not Cuba 23 08 N 82 22 W
   maintained;
   representation by US
   Interests Section
   (USINT) of the Swiss
   Embassy]
   Hawaii United States 20 00 N 157 45 W
   Heard Island Heard Island and 53 06 S 73 30 E
                            McDonald Islands
   Hejaz [region] Saudi Arabia 24 30 N 38 30 E
   Helsinki [US Embassy] Finland 60 10 N 24 58 E
   Hermosillo [US Mexico 29 04 N 110 58 W
   Consulate]
   Herzegovina Bosnia and 44 00 N 18 00 E
                            Herzegovina
   Hispaniola [island] Dominican 18 45 N 71 00 W
                            Republic, Haiti
   Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam 10 45 N 106 40 E
   Hokkaido [island] Japan 44 00 N 143 00 E
   Holland Netherlands 52 30 N 5 45 E
   Hong Kong [US Consulate Hong Kong 22 15 N 114 10 E
   General]
   Honiara Solomon Islands 9 26 S 159 57 E
   Honshu [island] Japan 36 00 N 138 00 E
   Hormuz, Strait of Indian Ocean 26 34 N 56 15 E
   Horn, Cape (Cabo de Chile 55 59 S 67 16 W
   Hornos)
   Horne, Iles de Wallis and 14 19 S 178 05 W
                            Futuna
   Horn of Africa Djibouti, 8 00 N 48 00 E
                            Eritrea,
                            Ethiopia,
                            Somalia
   Hudson Bay Arctic Ocean 60 00 N 86 00 W
   Hudson Strait Arctic Ocean 62 00 N 71 00 W
   Hunter Island New Caledonia, 22 24 S 172 06 E
                            Vanuatu

I Iberian Peninsula Portugal, Spain 40 00 N 5 00 W
   Inaccessible Island Saint Helena 37 17 S 12 40 W
   Indochina Cambodia, Laos, 15 00 N 107 00 E
                            Vietnam
   Inland Sea Japan 34 20 N 133 30 E
   Inner Mongolia (Nei China 42 00 N 113 00 E
   Mongol)
   Ionian Islands Greece 38 30 N 20 30 E
   Ionian Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 18 00 E
   Irian Jaya [province] Indonesia 5 00 S 138 00 E
   Irish Sea Atlantic Ocean 53 30 N 5 20 W
   Iron Gate Romania, Serbia 44 41 N 22 31 E
                            and Montenegro
   Islamabad [US Embassy] Pakistan 33 42 N 73 10 E
   Islas Malvinas Falkland Islands 51 45 S 59 00 W
                            (Islas Malvinas)
   Istanbul [US Consulate Turkey 41 01 N 28 58 E
   General]
   Istrian Peninsula Croatia, 45 00 N 14 00 E
                            Slovenia
   Italian East Africa Eritrea, 8 00 N 38 00 E
                            Ethiopia,
                            Somalia
   Italian Somaliland Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E
   Iturup (see Etorofu) Russia [de 44 55 N 147 40 E
                            facto]
   Ivory Coast Cote d'Ivoire 8 00 N 5 00 W
   Iwo Jima [island] Japan 24 47 N 141 20 E

J Jakarta [US Embassy] Indonesia 6 10 S 106 48 E
   Jamestown Saint Helena 15 56 S 5 44 W
   Jammu India 32 42 N 74 52 E
   Jammu and Kashmir India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E
   [region]
   Japan, Sea of Pacific Ocean 40 00 N 135 00 E
   Jars, Plain of Laos 19 27 N 103 10 E
   Java [island] Indonesia 7 30 S 110 00 E
   Java Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 110 00 E
   Jeddah (see Jiddah) Saudi Arabia 21 30 N 39 12 E
   Jerusalem [US Consulate Israel, West 31 47 N 35 14 E
   General] Bank
   Jiddah [US Consulate Saudi Arabia 21 30 N 39 12 E
   General]
   Johannesburg [US South Africa 26 15 S 28 00 E
   Consulate General]
   Juan de Fuca, Strait of Pacific Ocean 48 18 N 124 00 W
   Juan Fernandez, Isla de Chile 33 00 S 80 00 W
   Jubal, Strait of Indian Ocean 27 40 N 33 55 E
   Judaea [region] Israel, West 31 35 N 35 00 E
                            Bank
   Jutland [region] Denmark 56 00 N 9 15 E
   Juventud, Isla de la Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W
   (Isle of Youth)

K Kabul [US Embassy now Afghanistan 34 31 N 69 12 E
   closed]
   Kaduna Nigeria 10 33 N 7 27 E
   Kailas Range China, India 30 00 N 82 00 E
   Kalimantan [region] Indonesia 0 00 N 115 00 E
   Kamaran [island] Yemen 15 21 N 42 34 E
   Kamchatka Peninsula Russia 56 00 N 160 00 E
   (Poluostrov Kamchatka)
   Kampala [US Embassy] Uganda 0 19 N 32 25 E
   Kampuchea Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E
   Kanton Island Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W
   Karachi [US Consulate Pakistan 24 52 N 67 03 E
   General]
   Kara Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 80 00 E
   Karakoram Pass China, India 35 30 N 77 50 E
   Karelian Isthmus Russia 60 25 N 30 00 E
   Karimata Strait Pacific Ocean 2 05 S 108 40 E
   Kashmir [region] India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E
   Katanga [region] Democratic 10 00 S 26 00 E
                            Republic of the
                            Congo
   Kathmandu [US Embassy] Nepal 27 43 N 85 19 E
   Kattegat [strait] Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 11 00 E
   Kauai Channel Pacific Ocean 21 45 N 158 50 W
   Keeling Islands Cocos (Keeling) 12 30 S 96 50 E
                            Islands
   Kerguelen, Iles French Southern 49 30 S 69 30 E
                            and Antarctic
                            Lands
   Kermadec Islands New Zealand 29 50 S 178 15 W
   Kerulen River China, Mongolia 48 48 N 117 00 E
   Khabarovsk Russia 48 27 N 135 06 E
   Khanka, Lake China, Russia 45 00 N 132 24 E
   Khartoum [US Embassy] Sudan 15 36 N 32 32 E
   Khmer Republic Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E
   Khuriya Muriya Islands Oman 17 30 N 56 00 E
   (Kuria Muria Islands)
   Khyber Pass Afghanistan, 34 05 N 71 10 E
                            Pakistan
   Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Atlantic Ocean 53 53 N 9 08 E
   Kanal)
   Kiev [US Embassy] Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E
   Kigali [US Embassy] Rwanda 1 57 S 30 04 E
   Kingston [US Embassy] Jamaica 18 00 N 76 48 W
   Kingston Norfolk Island 29 03 S 167 58 E
   Kingstown Saint Vincent 13 09 N 61 14 W
                            and the
                            Grenadines
   Kinshasa [US Embassy] Democratic 4 18 S 15 18 E
                            Republic of the
                            Congo
   Kirghiziya Kyrgyzstan 41 00 N 75 00 E
   Kiritimati (Christmas Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W
   Island)
   Kishinev (see Chisinau) Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E
   Kithira Strait Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 23 00 E
   Kobe Japan 34 41 N 135 10 E
   Kodiak Island United States 57 49 N 152 23 W
   Kola Peninsula (Kol'skiy Russia 67 20 N 37 00 E
   Poluostrov)
   Kolonia [US Embassy] Federated States 6 58 N 158 13 E
                            of Micronesia
   Korea Bay Pacific Ocean 39 00 N 124 00 E
   Korea, Democratic North Korea 40 00 N 127 00 E
   People's Republic of
   Korea, Republic of South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E
   Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
   Koror [US Embassy] Palau 7 20 N 134 29 E
   Kosovo [region] Serbia and 42 30 N 21 00 E
                            Montenegro
   Kowloon Hong Kong 22 18 N 114 10 E
   Kra, Isthmus of Burma, Thailand 10 20 N 99 00 E
   Krakatoa [volcano] Indonesia 6 07 S 105 24 E
   Krakow [US Consulate Poland 50 03 N 19 58 E
   General]
   Kuala Lumpur [US Malaysia 3 10 N 101 42 E
   Embassy]
   Kunashiri (Kunashir) Russia [de 44 20 N 146 00 E
   [island] facto]
   Kunlun Mountains China 36 00 N 84 00 E
   Kuril Islands Russia [de 46 10 N 152 00 E
                            facto]
   Kuwait [US Embassy] Kuwait 29 20 N 47 59 E
   Kuznetsk Basin Russia 54 00 N 86 00 E
   Kwajalein Atoll Marshall Islands 9 05 N 167 20 E
   Kyushu [island] Japan 33 00 N 131 00 E
   Kyyiv (see Kiev) Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E

L Labrador Canada 54 00 N 62 00 W
   Laccadive Islands India 10 00 N 73 00 E
   Laccadive Sea Indian Ocean 7 00 N 76 00 E
   Lagos [US Embassy] Nigeria 6 27 N 3 24 E
   Lahore [US Consulate Pakistan 31 35 N 74 18 E
   General]
   Lakshadweep (Laccadive India 10 00 N 73 00 E
   Islands)
   La Paz [US Embassy] Bolivia 16 30 S 68 09 W
   La Perouse Strait Pacific Ocean 45 45 N 142 00 E
   Laptev Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 126 00 E
   Las Palmas Spain 28 06 N 15 24 W
   Lau Group Fiji 18 20 S 178 30 E
   Lefkosa (see Nicosia) Cyprus 35 10 N 33 22 E
   Leipzig [US Consulate Germany 51 19 N 12 20 E
   General]
   Lemnos [island] Greece 39 54 N 25 21 E
   Leningrad (see Saint Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E
   Petersburg)
   Lesser Sunda Islands Indonesia 9 00 S 120 00 E
   Lesvos [island] Greece 39 15 N 26 15 E
   Leyte [island] Philippines 10 50 N 124 50 E
   Liancourt Rocks [claimed South Korea 37 15 N 131 50 E
   by Japan]
   Libreville [US Embassy] Gabon 0 23 N 9 27 E
   Ligurian Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 30 N 9 00 E
   Lilongwe [US Embassy] Malawi 13 59 S 33 44 E
   Lima [US Embassy] Peru 12 03 S 77 03 W
   Lincoln Sea Arctic Ocean 83 00 N 56 00 W
   Line Islands Jarvis Island, 0 05 N 157 00 W
                            Kingman Reef,
                            Kiribati,
                            Palmyra Atoll
   Lisbon [US Embassy] Portugal 38 43 N 9 08 W
   Ljubljana [US Embassy] Slovenia 46 03 N 14 31 E
   Lobamba Swaziland 26 27 S 31 12 E
   Lombok Strait Indian Ocean 8 30 S 115 50 E
   Lome [US Embassy] Togo 6 08 N 1 13 E
   London [US Embassy] United Kingdom 51 30 N 0 10 W
   Longyearbyen Svalbard 78 13 N 15 33 E
   Lord Howe Island Australia 31 30 S 159 00 E
   Louisiade Archipelago Papua New Guinea 11 00 S 153 00 E
   Loyalty Islands (Iles New Caledonia 21 00 S 167 00 E
   Loyaute)
   Luanda [US Embassy] Angola 8 48 S 13 14 E
   Lubumbashi Democratic 11 40 S 27 28 E
                            Republic of the
                            Congo
   Lusaka [US Embassy] Zambia 15 25 S 28 17 E
   Luxembourg [US Embassy] Luxembourg 49 45 N 6 10 E
   Luzon [island] Philippines 16 00 N 121 00 E
   Luzon Strait Pacific Ocean 20 30 N 121 00 E
   Lyakhov Islands Russia 73 45 N 138 00 E

M Macao Macau 22 10 N 113 33 E
   Macedonia The Former 41 50 N 22 00 E
                            Yugoslav
                            Republic of
                            Macedonia
   Macquarie Island Australia 30 07 S 147 24 E
   Maddalena, Isola Italy 41 13 N 09 24 E
   Madeira Islands Portugal 32 40 N 16 45 W
   Madras [see Chennai] India 13 04 N 80 16 E
   Madrid [US Embassy] Spain 40 24 N 3 41 W
   Magellan, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 54 00 S 71 00 W
   Maghreb Algeria, Libya, 30 00 N 5 00 E
                            Mauritania,
                            Morocco, Tunisia
   Mahe Island Seychelles 4 41 S 55 30 E
   Maiz, Islas del (Corn Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W
   Islands)
   Majorca Island (Isla de Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
   Mallorca)
   Majuro [US Embassy] Marshall Islands 7 05 N 171 08 E
   Makassar Strait Pacific Ocean 2 00 S 117 30 E
   Malabo Equatorial 3 45 N 8 47 E
                            Guinea
   Malacca, Strait of Indian Ocean 2 30 N 101 20 E
   Malagasy Republic Madagascar 20 00 S 47 00 E
   Male Maldives 4 10 N 73 31 E
   Mallorca (Majorca) Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
   Malpelo, Isla de Colombia 4 00 N 90 30 W
   Malta Channel Atlantic Ocean 56 44 N 26 53 E
   Malvinas, Islas Falkland Islands 51 45 S 59 00 W
                            (Islas Malvinas)
   Mamoutzou Mayotte 12 47 S 45 14 E
   Managua [US Embassy] Nicaragua 12 09 N 86 17 W
   Manama [US Embassy] Bahrain 26 13 N 50 35 E
   Manaus [US Consular Brazil 3 08 S 60 01 W
   Agency]
   Manchukuo China 44 00 N 124 00 E
   Manchuria China 44 00 N 124 00 E
   Manila [US Embassy] Philippines 14 35 N 121 00 E
   Manipa Strait Pacific Ocean 3 20 S 127 23 E
   Mannar, Gulf of Indian Ocean 8 30 N 79 00 E
   Manua Islands American Samoa 14 13 S 169 35 W
   Maputo [US Embassy] Mozambique 25 58 S 32 35 E
   Marcus Island (Minami- Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E
   tori-shima)
   Mariana Islands Guam, Northern 16 00 N 145 30 E
                            Mariana Islands
   Marion Island South Africa 46 51 S 37 52 E
   Marmara, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 40 40 N 28 15 E
   Marquesas Islands (Iles French Polynesia 9 00 S 139 30 W
   Marquises)
   Marseille [US Consulate France 43 18 N 5 24 E
   General]
   Martin Vaz, Ilhas Brazil 20 30 S 28 51 W
   Mas a Tierra (Robinson Chile 33 38 S 78 52 W
   Crusoe Island)
   Mascarene Islands Mauritius, 21 00 S 57 00 E
                            Reunion
   Maseru [US Embassy] Lesotho 29 28 S 27 30 E
   Matamoros [US Consulate] Mexico 25 53 N 97 30 W
   Mata-Utu Wallis and 13 57 S 171 56 W
                            Futuna
   Matsu [island] Taiwan 26 13 N 119 56 E
   Matthew Island New Caledonia, 22 20 S 171 20 E
                            Vanuatu
   Mazatlan Mexico 23 13 N 106 25 W
   Mbabane [US Embassy] Swaziland 26 18 S 31 06 E
   McDonald Islands Heard Island and 53 06 S 73 30 E
                            McDonald Islands
   Mecca Saudi Arabia 21 27 N 39 49 E
   Medan [US Consulate Indonesia 3 35 N 98 40 E
   General]
   Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 15 00 E
   Melbourne [US Consulate Australia 37 49 S 144 58 E
   General]
   Melilla Spain 35 19 N 2 58 W
   Merida [US Consulate] Mexico 20 58 N 89 37 W
   Mesopotamia Iraq 33 00 N 44 00 E
   Messina, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 38 15 N 15 35 E
   Mexico [US Embassy] Mexico 19 24 N 99 09 W
   Mexico, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 90 00 W
   Milan [US Consulate Italy 45 28 N 9 12 E
   General]
   Minami-tori-shima Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E
   (Marcus Island)
   Mindanao [island] Philippines 8 00 N 125 00 E
   Mindoro [island] Philippines 12 50 N 121 05 E
   Mindoro Strait Pacific Ocean 12 20 N 120 40 E
   Minicoy Island India 8 17 N 73 02 E
   Minsk [US Embassy] Belarus 53 54 N 27 34 E
   Minorca Island (Isla de Spain 40 00 N 4 00 E
   Menorca)
   Mitla Pass Egypt 30 02 N 32 54 E
   Mogadishu Somalia 2 04 N 45 22 E
   Moldavia [region] Moldova, Romania 47 00 N 29 00 E
   Moluccas (Spice Islands) Indonesia 2 00 S 28 00 E
   Mombasa Kenya 4 03 S 39 40 E
   Mona Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 67 45 W
   Monaco Monaco 43 44 N 7 25 E
   Monrovia [US Embassy] Liberia 6 18 N 10 47 W
   Montenegro Serbia and 42 30 N 19 00 E
                            Montenegro
   Monterrey Mexico 25 40 N 100 19 W
   Montevideo [US Embassy] Uruguay 34 53 S 56 11 W
   Montreal [US Consulate Canada 45 31 N 73 34 W
   General, US Mission to
   the International Civil
   Aviation Organization
   (ICAO)]
   Moravia [region] Czech Republic 49 30 N 17 00 E
   Moravian Gate Czech Republic 49 35 N 17 50 E
   Moroni Comoros 11 41 S 43 16 E
   Mortlock Islands (Nomoi Federated States 5 30 N 153 40 E
   Islands) of Micronesia
   Moscow [US Embassy] Russia 55 45 N 37 35 E
   Mount Pinatubo Philippines 15 08 N 120 21 E
   Mozambique Channel Indian Ocean 19 00 S 41 00 E
   Mumbai [US Consulate India 18 58 N 72 50 E
   General]
   Munich [US Consulate Germany 48 09 N 11 35 E
   General]
   Musandam Peninsula Oman, United 26 18 N 56 24 E
                            Arab Emirates
   Muscat [US Embassy] Oman 23 37 N 58 35 E
   Muscat and Oman Oman 21 00 N 57 00 E
   Myanma, Myanmar Burma 22 00 N 98 00 E

N Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan 40 00 N 46 40 E
   [region]
   Nagoya [US Consulate] Japan 35 10 N 136 55 E
   Naha [US Consulate Japan 26 13 N 127 40 E
   General]
   Nairobi [US Embassy] Kenya 1 17 S 36 49 E
   Nampo-shoto [islands] Japan 30 00 N 140 00 E
   Naples [US Consulate Italy 40 50 N 14 15 E
   General]
   Nassau [US Embassy] The Bahamas 25 05 N 77 21 W
   Natuna Besar Islands Indonesia 3 30 N 102 30 E
   Naxcivan [region] Azerbaijan 39 20 N 45 20 E
   N'Djamena [US Embassy] Chad 12 07 N 15 03 E
   Negev [region] Israel 30 30 N 34 55 E
   Negros [island] Philippines 10 00 N 123 00 E
   Netherlands East Indies Indonesia 5 00 S 120 00 E
   Netherlands Guiana Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W
   Nevis [island] Saint Kitts and 17 09 N 62 35 W
                            Nevis
   New Britain [island] Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 150 00 E
   New Delhi [US Embassy] India 28 36 N 77 12 E
   New Guinea Indonesia, Papua 5 00 S 140 00 E
                            New Guinea
   New Hebrides Vanuatu 16 00 S 167 00 E
   New Siberian Islands Russia 75 00 N 142 00 E
   New Territories Hong Kong 22 24 N 114 10 E
   New York, New York [US United States 40 43 N 74 01 W
   Mission to the United
   Nations (USUN)]
   Newfoundland [island] Canada 52 00 N 56 00 W
   Niamey [US Embassy] Niger 13 31 N 2 07 E
   Nicobar Islands India 8 00 N 93 30 E
   Nicosia [US Embassy] Cyprus 35 10 N 33 22 E
   Nightingale Island Saint Helena 37 25 S 12 30 W
   Nomoi Islands (Mortlock Federated States 5 30 N 153 40 E
   Islands) of Micronesia
   North Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean 30 00 N 45 00 W
   North Channel Atlantic Ocean 55 10 N 5 40 W
   North Frisian Islands Denmark, Germany 54 50 N 8 12 E
   North Island New Zealand 39 00 S 176 00 E
   North Korea North Korea 40 00 N 127 00 E
   North Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean 30 00 N 165 00 W
   North Sea Atlantic Ocean 56 00 N 4 00 E
   North Vietnam Vietnam 23 00 N 106 00 E
   North Yemen (Yemen Arab Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
   Republic)
   Northeast Providence Atlantic Ocean 25 40 N 77 09 W
   Channel
   Northern Epirus Albania, Greece 40 00 N 20 30 E
   Northern Grenadines Saint Vincent 12 45 N 61 15 W
                            and the
                            Grenadines
   Northern Ireland United Kingdom 54 40 N 6 45 W
   Northern Rhodesia Zambia 15 00 S 30 00 E
   Northwest Passages Arctic Ocean 74 40 N 100 00 W
   Norwegian Sea Atlantic Ocean 66 00 N 6 00 E
   Nouakchott [US Embassy] Mauritania 18 06 N 15 57 W
   Noumea New Caledonia 22 16 S 166 27 E
   Novaya Zemlya [islands] Russia 74 00 N 57 00 E
   Nubia Sudan 20 30 N 33 00 E
   Nuku'alofa Tonga 21 08 S 175 12 W
   Nuevo Laredo [US Mexico 27 30 N 99 31 W
   Consulate]
   Nuuk (Godthab) Greenland 64 11 N 51 44 W
   Nyasaland Malawi 13 30 S 34 00 E

O Oahu United States 21 30 N 158 00 W
   Ocean Island (Banaba) Kiribati 0 52 S 169 35 E
   Ocean Island (Kure United States 28 25 N 178 20 W
   Island)
   Ogaden [region] Ethiopia, 7 00 N 46 00 E
                            Somalia
   Oil Islands (Chagos British Indian 6 00 S 71 30 E
   Archipelago) Ocean Territory
   Okhotsk, Sea of Pacific Ocean 53 00 N 150 00 E
   Okinawa [island group] Japan 26 30 N 128 00 E
   Oman, Gulf of Indian Ocean 24 30 N 58 30 E
   Ombai Strait Pacific Ocean 8 30 S 125 00 E
   Oran Algeria 35 43 N 0 43 W
   Oranjestad Aruba 12 33 N 70 06 W
   Oresund (The Sound) Atlantic Ocean 55 50 N 12 40 E
   Orkney Islands United Kingdom 59 00 N 3 00 W
   Osaka-Kobe [US Consulate Japan 34 40 N 135 30 E
   General]
   Oslo [US Embassy] Norway 59 55 N 10 45 E
   Osumi Strait (Van Diemen Pacific Ocean 31 00 N 131 00 E
   Strait)
   Otranto, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 40 00 N 19 00 E
   Ottawa [US Embassy] Canada 45 20 N 73 58 W
   Ouagadougou [US Embassy] Burkina Faso 12 22 N 1 31 W
   Outer Mongolia Mongolia 46 00 N 105 00 E

P Pacific Islands, Trust Marshall 10 00 N 155 00 E
   Territory of the Islands,
                            Federated States
                            of Micronesia,
                            Northern Mariana
                            Islands, Palau
   Pagan [island] Northern Mariana 18 8 N 145 47 E
                            Islands
   Pago Pago American Samoa 14 16 S 170 42 W
   Palawan [island] Philippines 9 30 N 118 30 E
   Palermo Italy 38 07 N 13 21 E
   Palestine Israel, West 32 00 N 35 15 E
                            Bank
   Palikir Federated States 6 55 N 158 08 E
                            of Micronesia
   Palk Strait Indian Ocean 10 00 N 79 45 E
   Pamirs [mountains] China, 38 00 N 73 00 E
                            Tajikistan
   Pampas [region] Argentina 35 00 N 63 00 W
   Panama [US Embassy] Panama 8 58 N 79 32 W
   Panama Canal Panama 9 00 N 79 45 W
   Panama, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 8 00 N 79 30 W
   Panay [island] Philippines 11 15 N 122 30 E
   Pantelleria, Isola di Italy 36 47 N 12 00 E
   Papeete French Polynesia 17 32 S 149 34 W
   Paramaribo [US Embassy] Suriname 5 50 N 55 10 W
   Parece Vela [island] Japan 20 20 N 136 00 E
   Paris [US Embassy, US France 48 52 N 2 20 E
   Mission to the
   Organization for
   Economic Cooperation and
   Development (OECD), US
   Observer Mission to the
   UN Educational,
   Scientific, and Cultural
   Organization (UNESCO)]
   Pascua, Isla de (Easter Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W
   Island)
   Passion, Ile de la Clipperton 10 17 N 109 13 W
                            Island
   Pashtunistan [region] Afghanistan, 32 00 N 69 00 E
                            Pakistan
   Peking (see Beijing) China 39 56 N 116 24 E
   Pelagian Islands (Isole Italy 35 40 N 12 40 E
   Pelagie)
   Peleliu (Beliliou) Palau 7 01 N 134 15 E
   [island]
   Pemba Island Tanzania 7 31 S 39 25 E
   Penang Island Malaysia 5 23 N 100 15 E
   Pentland Firth Atlantic Ocean 58 44 N 3 13 W
   Perim [island] Yemen 12 39 N 43 25 E
   Perouse Strait, La Pacific Ocean 44 45 N 142 00 E
   Persia Iran 32 00 N 53 00 E
   Persian Gulf Indian Ocean 27 00 N 51 00 E
   Perth [US Consulate Australia 31 56 S 115 50 E
   General]
   Pescadores [islands] Taiwan 23 30 N 119 30 E
   Peshawar [US Consulate] Pakistan 34 01 N 71 33 E
   Peter I Island Antarctica 68 48 S 90 35 W
   Philip Island Norfolk Island 29 08 S 167 57 E
   Philippine Sea Pacific Ocean 20 00 N 134 00 E
   Phnom Penh [US Embassy] Cambodia 11 33 N 104 55 E
   Phoenix Islands Kiribati 3 30 S 172 00 W
   Pines, Isle of (Isla de Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W
   la Juventud)
   Pleasant Island Nauru 0 32 S 166 55 E
   Plymouth Montserrat 16 44 N 62 14 W
   Ponape (Pohnpei) Federated States 6 55 N 158 15 E
   [island] of Micronesia
   Ponta Delgada [US Portugal 37 44 N 25 40 W
   Consulate]
   Port-au-Prince [US Haiti 18 32 N 72 20 W
   Embassy]
   Port Louis [US Embassy] Mauritius 20 10 S 57 30 E
   Port Moresby [US Papua New Guinea 9 30 S 147 10 E
   Embassy]
   Porto Alegre [US Brazil 30 04 S 51 11 W
   Consulate]
   Port-of-Spain [US Trinidad and 10 39 N 61 31 W
   Embassy] Tobago
   Porto-Novo Benin 6 29 N 2 37 E
   Portuguese East Africa Mozambique 18 15 S 35 00 E
   Portuguese Guinea Guinea-Bissau 12 00 N 15 00 W
   Portuguese Timor (East Indonesia 9 00 S 126 00 E
   Timor)
   Port-Vila Vanuatu 17 44 S 168 19 E
   Poznan Poland 52 25 N 16 55 E
   Prague [US Embassy] Czech Republic 40 55 N 21 00 E
   Praia [US Embassy] Cape Verde 14 55 N 23 31 W
   Pretoria [US Embassy] South Africa 25 45 S 28 10 E
   Prevlaka peninsula Croatia 42 24 N 18 31 E
   Pribilof Islands United States 57 00 N 170 00 W
   Prince Edward Island Canada 46 20 N 63 20 W
   Prince Edward Islands South Africa 46 35 S 38 00 E
   Prince Patrick Island Canada 76 30 N 119 00 W
   Principe [island] Sao Tome and 1 38 N 7 25 E
                            Principe
   Prussia [region] Germany, Poland, 53 00 N 14 00 E
                            Russia
   Pukapuka Atoll Cook Islands 10 53 S 165 49 W
   Pusan [US Consulate] South Korea 35 06 N 129 03 E
   P'yongyang North Korea 39 01 N 125 45 E

Q Quebec [US Consulate Canada 52 00 N 72 00 W
   General]
   Queen Charlotte Islands Canada 53 00 N 132 00 W
   Queen Elizabeth Islands Canada 78 00 N 95 00 W
   Queen Maud Land [claimed Antarctica 73 30 S 12 00 E
   by Norway]
   Quemoy [island] Taiwan 24 27 N 118 23 E
   Quito [US Embassy] Ecuador 0 13 S 78 30 W

R Rabat [US Embassy] Morocco 34 02 N 6 51 W
   Ralik Chain Marshall Islands 8 00 N 167 00 E
   Rangoon [US Embassy] Burma 16 47 N 96 10 E
   Ratak Chain Marshall Islands 9 00 N 171 00 E
   Recife [US Consulate] Brazil 8 03 S 34 54 W
   Redonda [island] Antigua and 16 55 N 62 19 W
                            Barbuda
   Red Sea Indian Ocean 20 00 N 38 00 E
   Revillagigedo Island United States 55 35 N 131 06 W
   Revillagigedo Islands Mexico 19 00 N 112 45 W
   Reykjavik [US Embassy] Iceland 19 00 N 111 30 W
   Rhodes [island] Greece 36 10 N 28 00 E
   Rhodesia Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E
   Rhodesia, Northern Zambia 15 00 S 30 00 E
   Rhodesia, Southern Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E
   Riga [US Embassy] Latvia 56 57 N 24 06 E
   Rio de Janeiro [US Brazil 22 54 S 43 14 W
   Consulate General]
   Rio de Oro Western Sahara 23 45 N 15 45 W
   Rio Muni Equatorial 1 30 N 10 00 E
                            Guinea
   Riyadh [US Embassy] Saudi Arabia 24 38 N 46 43 E
   Road Town British Virgin 18 27 N 64 37 W
                            Islands
   Robinson Crusoe Island Chile 33 38 S 78 52 W
   (Mas a Tierra)
   Rocas, Atol das Brazil 3 51 S 33 49 W
   Rockall [island] United Kingdom 57 35 N 13 48 W
   Rodrigues [island] Mauritius 19 42 S 63 25 E
   Rome [US Embassy, US Italy 41 54 N 12 29 E
   Mission to the UN
   Agencies for Food and
   Agriculture (FODAG)]
   Roncador Cay Colombia 13 32 N 80 03 W
   Roosevelt Island Antarctica 79 30 S 162 00 W
   Roseau Dominica 15 18 N 61 24 W
   Ross Dependency [claimed Antarctica 80 00 S 180 00 E
   by New Zealand]
   Ross Island Antarctica 81 30 S 175 00 W
   Ross Sea Antarctica 76 00 S 175 00 W
   Rota [island] Northern Mariana 14 10 N 145 12 E
                            Islands
   Rotuma [island] Fiji 12 30 S 177 30 E
   Ryukyu Islands Japan 26 30 N 128 00 E

S Saba [island] Netherlands 17 38 N 63 10 W
                            Antilles
   Sabah [state] Malaysia 5 20 N 117 10 E
   Sable Island Canada 43 55 N 59 50 W
   Safety Islands (Iles du French Guiana 5 20 N 52 37 W
   Salut)
   Sahel Burkina Faso, 15 00 N 8 00 W
                            Cape Verde,
                            Chad, The
                            Gambia, Guinea-
                            Bissau, Mali,
                            Mauritania,
                            Niger, Senegal
   Saigon (see Ho Chi Minh Vietnam 10 45 N 106 40 E
   City)
   Saint Brandon (Cargados Mauritius 16 25 S 59 38 E
   Carajos Shoals)
   Saint Christopher Saint Kitts and 17 20 N 62 45 W
   [island] Nevis
   Saint Christopher and Saint Kitts and 17 20 N 62 45 W
   Nevis Nevis
   Saint-Denis Reunion 20 52 S 55 28 E
   Saint George's [US Grenada 12 03 N 61 45 W
   Embassy]
   Saint George's Channel Atlantic Ocean 52 00 N 6 00 W
   Saint Helier Jersey 49 12 N 2 37 W
   Saint John's Antigua and 17 06 N 61 51 W
                            Barbuda
   Saint Lawrence, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 48 00 N 62 00 W
   Saint Lawrence Island United States 49 30 N 67 00 W
   Saint Lawrence Seaway Atlantic Ocean 49 15 N 67 00 W
   Saint Martin [island] Guadeloupe 18 04 N 63 04 W
   Saint Martin (Sint Netherlands 18 04 N 63 04 W
   Maarten) Antilles
   Saint Paul Island Canada 47 12 N 60 09 W
   Saint Paul Island United States 57 11 N 170 16 W
   Saint Paul Island (Ile French Southern 38 43 S 77 29 E
   Saint-Paul) and Antarctic
                            Lands
   Saint Peter and Saint Brazil 0 23 N 29 23 W
   Paul Rocks (Penedos de
   Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo)
   Saint Peter Port Guernsey 49 27 N 2 32 W
   Saint Petersburg [US Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E
   Consulate General]
   Saint-Pierre Saint Pierre and 46 46 N 56 11 W
                            Miquelon
   Saint Thomas [island] Virgin Islands 18 21 N 64 55 W
   Saint Vincent Passage Atlantic Ocean 13 30 N 61 00 W
   Saipan [island] Northern Mariana 15 12 N 145 45 E
                            Islands
   Sakishima Islands Japan 24 30 N 124 00 E
   Sakhalin Island (Ostrov Russia 51 00 N 143 00 E
   Sakhalin)
   Sala y Gomez, Isla Chile 26 28 S 105 00 W
   Salisbury (see Harare) Zimbabwe 17 50 S 105 00 W
   Salvador de Bahia [US Brazil 12 59 S 38 31 W
   Consular Agency]
   Salzburg Austria 47 48 N 13 02 E
   Samar [island] Philippines 12 00 N 125 00 E
   Samaria [region] West Bank 32 15 N 35 10 E
   Samoa Islands American Samoa, 14 00 S 171 00 W
                            Samoa
   Samos [island] Greece 37 48 N 26 44 E
   Sanaa [US Embassy] Yemen 15 21 N 44 12 E
   San Ambrosio, Isla Chile 26 21 S 79 52 W
   San Andres y Colombia 13 00 N 81 30 W
   Providencia,
   Archipielago
   San Bernardino Strait Pacific Ocean 12 32 N 124 10 E
   San Felix, Isla Chile 26 17 S 80 05 W
   San Jose [US Embassy] Costa Rica 9 56 N 84 05 W
   San Juan Puerto Rico 18 28 N 66 07 W
   San Marino San Marino 43 56 N 12 25 E
   San Salvador [US El Salvador 13 42 N 89 12 W
   Embassy]
   Santa Cruz Bolivia 17 48 S 63 10 W
   Santa Cruz Islands Solomon Islands 11 00 S 166 15 E
   Santiago [US Embassy] Chile 33 27 S 70 40 W
   Santo Antao [island] Cape Verde 17 05 N 25 10 W
   Santo Domingo [US Dominican 18 28 N 69 54 W
   Embassy] Republic
   Sao Paulo [US Consulate Brazil 23 32 S 46 37 W
   General]
   Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo, Brazil 0 23 N 29 23 W
   Penedos de [rocks]
   Sao Tiago [island] Cape Verde 15 05 N 23 40 W
   Sao Tome [island] Sao Tome and 0 12 N 6 39 E
                            Principe
   Sapporo [US Consulate Japan 43 03 N 141 21 E
   General]
   Sapudi Strait Pacific Ocean 7 05 S 114 10 E
   Sarajevo [US Embassy] Bosnia and 43 52 N 18 25 E
                            Herzegovina
   Sarawak [state] Malaysia 2 30 N 113 30 E
   Sardinia [island] Italy 40 00 N 9 00 E
   Sargasso Sea Atlantic Ocean 30 00 N 55 00 W
   Sark [island] Guernsey 49 26 N 2 21 W
   Saxony [region] Germany 51 00 N 13 00 E
   Schleswig-Holstein Germany 54 31 N 9 33 E
   [region]
   Scopus, Mount Israel, West 31 48 N 35 14 E
                            Bank
   Scotia Sea Atlantic Ocean 56 00 S 40 00 W
   Scotland [region] United Kingdom 57 00 N 4 00 W
   Scott Island Antarctica 67 24 S 179 55 W
   Senyavin Islands Federated States 6 55 N 158 00 E
                            of Micronesia
   Seoul [US Embassy] South Korea 37 34 N 127 00 E
   Serbia Serbia and 43 00 N 21 00 E
                            Montenegro
   Serrana Bank Colombia 14 25 N 80 16 W
   Serranilla Bank Colombia 15 51 N 79 46 W
   Settlement, The Christmas Island 18 44 N 64 19 W
   Severnaya Zemlya Russia 79 30 N 98 00 E
   (Northland) [island
   group]
   Shaba [region] Democratic 8 00 S 27 00 E
                            Republic of the
                            Congo
   Shag Island Heard Island and 53 00 S 72 30 E
                            McDonald Islands
   Shag Rocks South Georgia 53 33 S 42 02 W
                            and the South
                            Sandwich Islands
   Shanghai [US Consulate China 31 14 N 121 28 E
   General]
   Shenyang [US Consulate China 41 48 N 123 27 E
   General]
   Shetland Islands United Kingdom 60 30 N 1 30 W
   Shikoku [island] Japan 33 45 N 133 30 E
   Shikotan [island] Russia [de 43 47 N 146 45 E
                            facto]
   Siam Thailand 15 00 N 100 00 E
   Siberia [region] Russia 60 00 N 100 00 E
   Sibutu Passage Pacific Ocean 4 50 N 119 35 E
   Sicily [island] Italy 37 30 N 14 00 E
   Sicily, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 37 20 N 11 20 E
   Sidra, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 31 30 N 18 00 E
   Sikkim [state] India 27 50 N 88 30 E
   Sinai Peninsula Egypt 29 30 N 34 00 E
   Singapore [US Embassy] Singapore 1 17 N 103 51 E
   Singapore Strait Pacific Ocean 1 15 N 104 00 E
   Sinkiang (Xinjiang) China 42 00 N 86 00 E
   Sint Eustatius [island] Netherlands 17 29 N 62 58 W
                            Antilles
   Sint Maarten [island] Netherlands 18 04 N 63 04 W
                            Antilles
   Skagerrak [strait] Atlantic Ocean 57 45 N 9 00 E
   Skopje [US Embassy] The Former 41 59 N 21 26 E
                            Yugoslav
                            Republic of
                            Macedonia
   Society Islands (Iles de French Polynesia 17 00 S 150 00 W
   la Societe)
   Socotra [island] Yemen 12 30 N 54 00 E
   Sofia [US Embassy] Bulgaria 42 41 N 23 19 E
   Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 155 00 E
   northern
   Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands 8 00 S 159 00 E
   southern
   Solomon Sea Pacific Ocean 8 00 S 153 00 E
   Songkhla Thailand 7 12 N 100 36 E
   Sound, The (Oresund) Atlantic Ocean 55 50 N 12 40 E
   South Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean 30 00 S 15 00 W
   South China Sea Pacific Ocean 10 00 N 113 00 E
   South Georgia [island] South Georgia 54 15 S 36 45 W
                            and the South
                            Sandwich Islands
   South Island New Zealand 43 00 S 171 00 E
   South Korea South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E
   South Orkney Islands Antarctica 61 00 S 45 00 W
   South Ossetia [region] Georgia 42 20 N 44 00 E
   South Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean 30 00 S 130 00 W
   South Sandwich Islands South Georgia 57 45 S 26 30 W
                            and the South
                            Sandwich Islands
   South Shetland Islands Antarctica 62 00 S 59 00 W
   South Tyrol [region] Italy 46 30 N 10 30 E
   South Vietnam Vietnam 12 00 N 108 00 E
   South Yemen (People's Yemen 14 00 N 48 00 E
   Democratic Republic of
   Yemen)
   South-West Africa Namibia 22 00 S 17 00 E
   Southern Grenadines Grenada 12 20 N 61 30 W
   Southern Rhodesia Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E
   Soviet Union Armenia,
                            Azerbaijan,
                            Belarus,
                            Estonia,
                            Georgia,
                            Kazakhstan,
                            Kyrgyzstan,
                            Latvia,
                            Lithuania,
                            Moldova, Russia,
                            Tajikistan,
                            Turkmenistan,
                            Ukraine,
                            Uzbekistan
   Spanish Guinea Equatorial 2 00 N 10 00 E
                            Guinea
   Spanish Morocco Morocco 32 00 N 7 00 W
   Spanish North Africa Spain (Ceuta, 35 15 N 4 00 W
                            Islas
                            Chafarinas,
                            Melilla, Penon
                            de Alhucemas,
                            Penon de Velez
                            de la Gomera)
   Spanish Sahara Western Sahara 24 30 N 13 00 W
   Spice Islands (Moluccas) Indonesia 2 00 S 28 00 E
   Spitsbergen [island] Svalbard 78 00 N 20 00 E
   Stanley Falkland Islands 51 42 S 57 41 W
                            (Islas Malvinas)
   Stockholm [US Embassy] Sweden 59 20 N 18 03 E
   Strasbourg [US Consulate France 48 35 N 7 45 E
   General]
   Stuttgart Germany 48 46 N 9 11 E
   Sucre Bolivia 19 02 S 65 17 W
   Suez Canal Egypt 29 55 N 32 33 E
   Suez, Gulf of Indian Ocean 28 10 N 33 27 E
   Sulu Archipelago Philippines 6 00 N 121 00 E
   Sulu Sea Pacific Ocean 8 00 N 120 00 E
   Sumatra [island] Indonesia 0 00 N 102 00 E
   Sumba [island] Indonesia 10 00 S 120 00 E
   Sunda Islands (Soenda Indonesia, 2 00 S 110 00 E
   Isles) Malaysia
   Sunda Strait Indian Ocean 6 00 S 105 45 E
   Surabaya [US Consulate Indonesia 7 15 S 112 45 E
   General]
   Surigao Strait Pacific Ocean 10 15 N 125 23 E
   Surinam Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W
   Suva [US Embassy] Fiji 18 08 S 178 25 E
   Sverdlovsk (see Russia 56 50 N 60 39 E
   Yekaterinburg)
   Swains Island American Samoa 11 3 S 171 15 W
   Swan Islands Honduras 17 25 S 83 56 W
   Sydney [US Consulate Australia 33 52 S 151 13 E
   General]

T Tahiti [island] French Polynesia 17 37 S 149 27 W
   Taipei Taiwan 25 03 N 121 30 E
   Taiwan Strait Pacific Ocean 24 00 N 119 00 E
   Tallinn [US Embassy] Estonia 59 25 N 24 45 E
   Tanganyika Tanzania 6 00 S 35 00 E
   Tangier Morocco 35 48 N 5 45 W
   Tarawa [island] Kiribati 1 25 N 173 00 E
   Tatar Strait Pacific Ocean 50 00 N 141 00 E
   Tashkent [US Embassy] Uzbekistan 41 20 N 69 18 E
   Tasmania [island] Australia 43 00 S 147 00 E
   Tasman Sea Pacific Ocean 4 30 S 168 00 E
   Taymyr Peninsula Russia 76 00 N 104 00 E
   (Poluostrov Taymyr)
   T'bilisi [US Embassy] Georgia 41 43 N 44 49 E
   Tegucigalpa [US Embassy] Honduras 14 06 N 87 13 W
   Tehran [US post not Iran 35 40 N 51 26 E
   maintained;
   representation by Swiss
   Embassy]
   Tel Aviv [US Embassy] Israel 32 05 N 34 48 E
   Terre Adelie (Adelie Antarctica 66 30 S 139 00 E
   Land) [claimed by
   France]
   Thailand, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 10 00 N 101 00 E
   Thessaloniki [US Greece 40 38 N 22 56 E
   Consulate General]
   Thimphu Bhutan 27 28 N 89 39 E
   Thuringia [region] Germany 51 00 N 11 00 E
   Thurston Island Antarctica 72 20 S 99 00 W
   Tiberias, Lake Israel 32 48 N 35 35 E
   Tibet (Xizang) China 32 00 N 90 00 E
   Tibilisi (see T'bilisi) Georgia 41 43 N 44 49 E
   Tien Shan [mountains] China, 42 00 N 80 00 E
                            Kyrgyzstan
   Tierra del Fuego Argentina, Chile 54 00 S 69 00 W
   Tijuana [US Consulate Mexico 32 32 N 117 01 W
   General]
   Timor [island] Indonesia 9 00 S 125 00 E
   Timor Sea Pacific Ocean 11 00 S 128 00 E
   Tinian [island] Northern Mariana 15 00 N 145 38 E
                            Islands
   Tiran, Strait of Indian Ocean 28 00 N 34 27 E
   Tirane [US Embassy] Albania 41 20 N 19 50 E
   Tirol [region] Austria, Italy 47 00 N 11 00 E
   Tobago [island] Trinidad and 11 15 N 60 40 W
                            Tobago
   Tokyo [US Embassy] Japan 35 42 N 139 46 E
   Tonkin, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 20 00 N 108 00 E
   Toronto [US Consulate Canada 43 39 N 79 23 W
   General]
   Torres Strait Pacific Ocean 10 25 S 142 10 E
   Torshavn Faroe Islands 62 01 N 6 46 W
   Toshkent (see Tashkent) Uzbekistan 41 20 N 69 18 E
   Transjordan Jordan 31 00 N 36 00 E
   Transkei South Africa 32 15 S 28 15 E
   Transylvania [region] Romania 46 30 N 24 00 E
   Trindade, Ilha de Brazil 20 31 S 29 20 W
   Tripoli Lebanon 34 26 N 35 51 E
   Tripoli [US post not Libya 32 54 N 13 11 E
   maintained;
   representation by
   Belgian Embassy]
   Tristan da Cunha Group Saint Helena 37 04 S 12 19 W
   Trobriand Islands Papua New Guinea 8 38 S 151 04 E
   Trucial Coast United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E
                            Emirates
   Trucial Oman United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E
                            Emirates
   Trucial States United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E
                            Emirates
   Truk Islands Federated States 7 25 N 151 47 E
                            of Micronesia
   Tsugaru Strait Pacific Ocean 41 35 N 141 00 E
   Tuamotu Islands (Iles French Polynesia 19 00 S 142 00 W
   Tuamotu)
   Tubuai Islands (Iles French Polynesia 23 00 S 150 00 W
   Tubuai)
   Tunb al Kubra [island] Iran 26 14 N 55 19 E
   Tunb as Sughra [island] Iran 26 14 N 55 09 E
   Tunis [US Embassy] Tunisia 36 48 N 10 11 E
   Turin Italy 45 04 N 7 40 E
   Turkish Straits Atlantic Ocean 40 40 N 28 00 E
   Turkmeniya Turkmenistan 40 00 N 60 00 E
   Turks Island Passage Atlantic Ocean 21 40 N 71 00 W
   Tuscany [region] Italy 43 25 N 11 00 E
   Tutuila [island] American Samoa 14 18 S 170 42 W
   Tyrol, South [region] Italy 46 30 N 10 30 E
   Tyrrhenian Sea Atlantic Ocean 40 00 N 12 00 E

U Udorn (Udon Thani) [US Thailand 17 26 N 102 46 E
   Consulate]
   Ulaanbaatar [US Embassy] Mongolia 47 55 N 106 53 E
   Ullung-do [island] South Korea 37 29 N 130 52 E
   Unimak Pass [strait] Pacific Ocean 54 20 N 164 50 W
   Union of Soviet Armenia,
   Socialist Republics Azerbaijan,
   (USSR) Belarus,
                            Estonia,
                            Georgia,
                            Kazakhstan,
                            Kyrgyzstan,
                            Latvia,
                            Lithuania,
                            Moldova, Russia,
                            Tajikistan,
                            Turkmenistan,
                            Ukraine,
                            Uzbekistan
   United Arab Republic Egypt, Syria
   (UAR)
   Upper Volta Burkina Faso 13 00 N 2 00 W
   Ural Mountains Kazakhstan, 60 00 N 60 00 E
                            Russia
   Ussuri River China, Russia 48 28 N 135 02 E

V Vaduz Liechtenstein 47 09 N 9 31 E
   Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) Afghanistan 37 00 N 73 00 E
   Valletta [US Embassy] Malta 35 54 N 14 31 E
   Valley, The Anguilla 18 13 N 63 04 W
   Vancouver [US Consulate Canada 49 16 N 123 07 W
   General]
   Vancouver Island Canada 49 45 N 126 00 W
   Van Diemen Strait (Osumi Pacific Ocean 31 00 N 131 00 E
   Strait)
   Vatican City [US Holy See 41 54 N 12 27 E
   Embassy]
   Velez de la Gomera, Spain 35 11 N 4 18 W
   Penon de
   Venda South Africa 23 00 S 31 00 E
   Verde Island Passage Pacific Ocean 13 34 N 120 51 E
   Victoria Hong Kong 22 17 N 114 09 E
   Victoria Seychelles 4 38 S 55 27 E
   Vienna [US Embassy, US Austria 48 12 N 16 22 E
   Mission to International
   Organizations in Vienna
   (UNVIE)]
   Vientiane [US Embassy] Laos 17 58 N 102 36 E
   Vilnius [US Embassy] Lithuania 54 41 N 25 19 E
   Viti Levu [island] Fiji 18 00 S 178 00 E
   Vladivostok [US Russia 43 10 N 131 56 E
   Consulate General]
   Volcano Islands Japan 25 00 N 141 00 E
   Vostok Island Kiribati 10 06 S 152 23 W
   Vrangelya, Ostrov Russia 71 14 N 179 36 W
   (Wrangel Island)

W Wake Island Wake Atoll 19 17 N 166 36 E
   Wakhan Corridor (see Afghanistan 37 00 N 73 00 E
   Vakhan)
   Wales [region] United Kingdom 52 30 N 3 30 W
   Wallis Islands Wallis and 13 17 S 176 10 W
                            Futuna
   Walvis Bay Namibia 22 59 S 14 31 E
   Warsaw [US Embassy] Poland 52 15 N 21 00 E
   Washington, DC [US United States 38 53 N 77 02 W
   Mission to the
   Organization of American
   States (OAS)]
   Weddell Sea Atlantic Ocean 72 00 S 45 00 W
   Wellington [US Embassy] New Zealand 41 28 S 174 51 E
   West Frisian Islands Netherlands 53 26 N 5 30 E
   West Germany (Federal Germany 53 22 N 5 20 E
   Republic of Germany)
   West Island Cocos (Keeling) 12 10 S 96 55 E
                            Islands
   West Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 40 N 129 00 E
   (Western Channel)
   West Pakistan Pakistan 30 00 N 70 00 E
   West Siberian Plain Russia 60 00 N 75 00 E
   Western Channel (West Pacific Ocean 34 40 N 129 00 E
   Korea Strait)
   Western Samoa Samoa 13 35 S 172 20 W
   Wetar Strait Pacific Ocean 8 20 S 126 30 E
   White Sea Arctic Ocean 65 30 N 38 00 E
   Willemstad Netherlands 12 06 N 68 56 W
                            Antilles
   Windhoek [US Embassy] Namibia 22 34 S 17 06 E
   Windward Passage Atlantic Ocean 20 00 N 73 50 W
   Wrangel Island (Ostrov Russia 71 14 N 179 36 W
   Vrangelya)

Y Yalu River China, North 39 55 N 124 20 E
                            Korea
   Yamoussoukro Cote d'Ivoire 6 49 N 5 17 W
   Yangon (see Rangoon) Burma 16 47 N 96 10 E
   Yaounde [US Embassy] Cameroon 3 52 N 11 31 E
   Yap Islands Federated States 9 30 N 138 00 E
                            of Micronesia
   Yaren Nauru 0 32 S 166 55 E
   Yekaterinburg Russia 56 50 N 60 39 E
   (Sverdlovsk) [US
   Consulate General]
   Yellow Sea Pacific Ocean 36 00 N 123 00 E
   Yemen (Aden) [People's Yemen 14 00 N 46 00 E
   Democratic Republic of
   Yemen]
   Yemen Arab Republic Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
   Yemen, North [Yemen Arab Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
   Republic]
   Yemen (Sanaa) [Yemen Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
   Arab Republic]
   Yemen, People's Yemen 14 00 N 46 00 E
   Democratic Republic of
   Yemen, South [People's Yemen 14 00 N 46 00 E
   Democratic Republic of
   Yemen]
   Yerevan [US Embassy] Armenia 40 11 N 44 30 E
   Youth, Isle of (Isla de Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W
   la Juventud)
   Yucatan Peninsula Mexico 19 30 N 89 00 W
   Yucatan Channel Atlantic Ocean 21 45 N 85 45 W
   Yugoslavia Bosnia and
                            Herzegovina,
                            Croatia, The
                            Former Yugoslav
                            Republic of
                            Macedonia,
                            Serbia and
                            Montenegro,
                            Slovenia

Z Zagreb [US Embassy] Croatia 45 48 N 15 58 E
   Zaire Democratic 15 00 S 30 00 E
                            Republic of the
                            Congo
   Zanzibar [island] Tanzania 6 10 S 39 11 E
   Zion, Mount Israel, Jordan 31 46 N 35 14 E
   Zurich Switzerland 47 23 N 8 32 E

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