The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 1996 CIA World Factbook, by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

[Transcriber's note: At the time of the preparation of this file (December 2008), the various supplementary sections of the 1996 Factbook (Appendixes, Notes and Definitions, History, etc.) were no longer available. Users of this edition should refer to the Project Gutenberg's versions of the 1995 and 1997 Factbooks for those sections. Note that there may be changes in this material from year to year.]

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

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

Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
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
The Gambia
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

Kazakstan
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
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
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

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

Area:
  total area: 647,500 sq km
  land area: 647,500 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

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

International disputes: periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights; Iran supports clients in country, private Pakistani and Saudi sources also are active; power struggles among various groups for control of Kabul, regional rivalries among emerging warlords, traditional tribal disputes continue; support to Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's civil war; border dispute with Pakistan (Durand Line); support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
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%
  meadows and pastures: 46%
  forest and woodland: 3%
  other: 39%

Environment:
  current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much
  of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building
  materials); desertification
  natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
  flooding
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban;
  signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
  Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 4,972,469; female 4,784,900)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 6,377,231; female 5,916,954)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 325,808; female 286,774) (July 1996 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: 1.14 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.85 years male: 46.43 years female: 45.24 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Chahar 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 31.5%
  male: 47.2%
  female: 15%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Islamic State 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 the transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law (Shari'a)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Burhanuddin RABBANI (interim president
  July-December 1992, president since 2 January 1993) was elected to a
  two-year term (later amended by multi-party agreement to 18 months)
  by a national shura (council); election last held 31 December 1992
  (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; Vice President
  Mohammad NABI MOHAMMADI (since NA) was appointed by the president;
  note - in June 1994 failure to agree on a transfer mechanism
  resulted in RABBANI's extending his term to 28 December 1994;
  following the expiration of the term and while negotiations on the
  formation of a new government go on, RABBANI continues in office
  head of government: Prime Minister Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI (since NA)
  was appointed by President RABBANI as de facto prime minister, but
  does not have any real authority; First Deputy Prime Minister
  Qutbuddin HELAL (since 17 March 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister
  Arsala RAHMANI (since 17 March 1993)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers; note - term of present government
  expired 28 December 1994; factional fighting since 1 January 1994
  has kept government officers from actually occupying ministries and
  discharging government responsibilities; the government's authority
  to remove cabinet members, including the prime minister, following
  the expiration of their term is questionable

Legislative branch: a unicameral parliament consisting of 205
members was chosen by a national shura (council) in January 1993;
non-functioning as of June 1993

Judicial branch: an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has
been appointed by the president in consultation with the prime
minister, but a new court system has not yet been organized

Political parties and leaders: current political organizations
  include Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI,
  Ahmad Shah MASOOD; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin
  HIKMATYAR faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS
  faction; Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for
  the Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF;
  Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad
  Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan
  National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI;
  Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI;
  Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Karim
  KHALILI; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad
  Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif
  MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Abdul
  Rashid DOSTAM; Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR
  note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded

Other political or pressure groups: the former resistance commanders are the major power brokers in the countryside and their shuras (councils) are now administering most cities outside Kabul; tribal elders and religious students are trying to wrest control from them; ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders; religious students (talib)

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, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771 FAX: [1] (202) 328-3516 consulate(s) general: New York consulate(s): Washington, DC

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Afghanistan (embassy closed January 1989)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially) and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during more than 16 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). Over the past decade, one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 1.0 million Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan and about 1.3 million in Iran. Another 1 million probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 15 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport. Millions of people continue to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and lack of medical care. Numerical data are extremely shaky.

Labor force: 4.98 million
  by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry
  10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, 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: capacity: 480,000 kW production: 550 million kWh consumption per capita: 39 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: an illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; world's second-largest opium producer after Burma (1,250 metric tons in 1995) and a major source of hashish

Exports: $188.2 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia

Imports: $616.4 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Germany

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: US provided $450 million assistance (1985-93); the UN provides
  assistance in the form 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 - 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 is a fixed rate of 50.600 afghanis to the dollar

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

Airports:
  total: 35
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; 1 public
  telephone in Kabul
  international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
  linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Television broadcast stations: NA note: several television stations run by factions and local councils which provide intermittent service

Branches: NA; note - the military still does not exist on a national scale; 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 mujahedin and former regime leaders

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,549,602 males fit for military service: 2,976,741 males reach military age (22) annually: 220,532 (1996 est.)

Location: 41 00 N, 20 00 E — Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

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

Area:
  total area: 28,750 sq km
  land area: 27,400 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

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

International disputes: the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government; Albania is involved in negotiations with Greece over border demarcation, the treatment of Albania's ethnic Greek minority, and migrant Albanian workers in Greece

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

Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit 2,753 m

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

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 15%
  forest and woodland: 38%
  other: 22%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from
  industrial and domestic effluents
  natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along
  southwestern coast
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change

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

Population: 3,249,136 (July 1996 est.)
  note: the IMF, working with Albanian government figures, estimates
  that the population was 3,120,000 in 1993 and that it has fallen
  since 1990

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 570,978; female 529,147)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 910,873; female 1,049,662)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 77,799; female 110,677) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.92 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.92 years male: 64.91 years female: 71.17 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 9 and over can read and write (1955 est.)
  total population: 72%
  male: 80%
  female: 63%

Name of country:
  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: 26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth);
  Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje,
  Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet,
  Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane,
  Tropoje, Vlore; note - some new administrative units may have been
  created

Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April 1991; a draft constitution was rejected by popular referendum in the fall of 1994 and a new draft is pending

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9
  April 1992) was elected for a five-year term by the People's Assembly
  head of government: Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers
  Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992) was appointed by the
  president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor): elections last held 22 March
  1992; results - DP 62.29%, ASP 25.57%, SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP
  2.92%, other 1.74%; seats - (140 total) DP 92, ASP 38, SDP 7, RP 1,
  UHP 2
  note: six members of the Democratic Party defected, making the
  present seating in the Assembly DP 86, ASP 38, SDP 7, DAP 6, RP 1,
  UHP 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is
elected by the People's Assembly

Political parties and leaders: there are at least 28 political
  parties; most prominent are the Albanian Socialist Party (ASP;
  formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first secretary;
  Democratic Party (DP); Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO;
  Omonia (Greek minority party), Sotir QIRJAZATI, first secretary;
  Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI; Democratic Alliance
  Party (DAP), Neritan CEKA, chairman; Unity for Human Rights Party
  (UHP), Vasil MELO, chairman; Ecology Party (EP), Namik HOTI, chairman

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, 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, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Lublin DILJA
  chancery: Suite 1000, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942, 8187
  FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE embassy: Rruga E. Labinoti 103, Tirane mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624 telephone: [355] (42) 328-75, 335-20 FAX: [355] (42) 322-22

Economic 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. Stabilization policies - including a strict monetary policy, public sector layoffs, and reduced social services - have improved the government's fiscal situation and reduced inflation. The recovery has been spurred by the 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. Foreign assistance and humanitarian aid also supported the recovery. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. Albania's industrial sector ended its five-year, 78% decline in 1995, recording roughly 6% growth. A sharp fall in chromium prices has reduced hard currency receipts from the mining sector. Large segments of the population, especially those living in urban areas, continue to depend on humanitarian aid to meet basic food requirements. Unemployment remains a severe problem accounting for approximately one-fifth of the work force. Now that sanctions on Serbia have been suspended, the falloff in hard currency earnings from smuggling will aggravate unemployment problems. Growth is expected to continue in 1996, but could falter if workers' remittances from Greece are reduced or foreign assistance declines.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 55% industry: NA% services: NA% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 1.692 million (1994 est.) (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) by occupation (of those domestically employed): agriculture (nearly all private) 49.5%, private sector 22.2%, state (nonfarm) sector 28.3% (including state-owned industry 7.8%)

Budget:
  revenues: $486.3 million
  expenditures: $550.4 million, including capital expenditures of $124
  million (1994)

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

Electricity: capacity: 1,662,000 kW production: 3.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,219 kWh (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium production

Exports: $141 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco partners: Italy, US, Greece, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Imports: $601 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery, consumer goods, grains partners: Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 95.65 (January 1996), 100.00
(January 1995), 99.00 (January 1994), 97.00 (January 1993), 50.00
(January 1992), 25.00 (September 1991)

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

Merchant marine:
total: 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,967 GRT/76,887
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 11
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1994 est.)

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 Tirane exchange to Italy and Greece

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 723,231 males fit for military service: 588,304 males reach military age (19) annually: 29,340 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)

Location: 28 00 N, 3 00 E — Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

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)

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

Area:
  total area: 2,381,740 sq km
  land area: 2,381,740 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

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

International disputes: part of southeastern region claimed by
Libya; land boundary dispute with Tunisia settled in 1993

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
  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%
  meadows and pastures: 13%
  forest and woodland: 2%
  other: 82%

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
  natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
  mud slides
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 5,910,543; female 5,701,647)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 8,319,650; female 8,162,816)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 510,308; female 578,068) (July 1996 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.31 years male: 67.22 years female: 69.46 years (1996 est.)

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

Name of country:
  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 and 23 February 1989

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) was elected for a
  five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 16 November
  1995 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA
  head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 31 December
  1995) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral; note - suspended since 1992
  National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani):
  first-round elections held 26 December 1991; second round canceled
  by the military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992,
  effectively suspending the assembly (next election promised by late
  1996 or early 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (281 total) the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the 231 seats
  contested in the first round

Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front (FIS, outlawed April 1992), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany); National Liberation Front (FLN), Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general; Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland); Hamas, Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman; Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Said SAADI, secretary general; Algerian Renewal Party (PRA), Noureddine BOUKROUH, chairman note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed

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

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Osmane BENCHERIF chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers telephone: [213] (2) 69-11-86, 69-18-54, 69-38-75, 69-12-55 FAX: [213] (2) 69-39-79

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and almost all export earnings; Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and ranks fourteenth for oil. 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. Buffeted by the slump in world oil prices and burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994. Following a Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995 and a robust harvest, the economy experienced a strong recovery and key economic improvements.

Labor force: 6.2 million (1992 est.) 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: $14.3 billion
  expenditures: $17.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

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

Electricity: capacity: 5,370,000 kW production: 18.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 587 kWh (1993)

Exports: $9.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97% partners: Italy 21%, France 16%, US 14%, Germany 13%, Spain 9%

Imports: $10.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer
  goods 11.8% (1990)
  partners: France 29%, Italy 14%, Spain 9%, US 9%, Germany 7%

Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 53.003 (January 1996), 47.663 (1995), 35.059 (1994), 23.345 (1993), 21.836 (1992), 18.473 (1991)

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: 95,576 km
  paved: 63,080 km (including 400 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 32,496 km (1992 est.)

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

Merchant marine:
  total: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 916,701 GRT/1,086,324
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas
  tanker 10, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea
  passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 119
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 24
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 17
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 19
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: excellent 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

Branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air
Defense, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 7,391,946 males fit for military service: 4,534,267 males reach military age (19) annually: 326,229 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion, 2.7% of GDP (1994)

Location: 14 20 S, 170 00 W — Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand

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

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

Area:
  total area: 199 sq km
  land area: 199 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
  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)
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Lata 966 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 5%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 75%
  other: 10%

Environment:
  current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas
  of the island, water supplies come from roof catchments
  natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.91 years male: 71.03 years female: 74.85 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 98%
  female: 97%

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

Type of government: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (of the US) William Jefferson CLINTON
  (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since
  20 January 1993) are popularly elected by the citizens of the US
  head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993) and
  Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993) were
  elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 3
  November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P.
  LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
  House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next
  to be held NA November 1996); results - representatives popularly
  elected from 17 house districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains
  Island); number of seats by party NA
  Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA
  November 1996); results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12
  senate districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total)
  number of seats by party NA
  US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994
  (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Eni R. F. H.
  FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

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: 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

Economic overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.

Labor force: 14,400 (1990) by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million
  in grant revenue)
  expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)

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

Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 90 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming

Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: canned tuna 93% partners: US 99.6%

Imports: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: $21 million in operational funds and $1.2 million in
  construction funds for capital improvement projects from the US
  Department of Interior (1991)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu (1995 est.)

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

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

Area:
  total area: 450 sq km
  land area: 450 sq km
  comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 56%
  forest and woodland: 22%
  other: 20%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows
  contributes to soil erosion
  natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 5,829; female 5,851)
  15-64 years: 73% (male 28,724; female 24,757)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 3,718; female 3,887) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.11 male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 90.94 years male: 86.47 years female: 95.2 years (1996 est.)

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

Type of government: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, 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:
  chiefs of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
  and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since
  31 January 1971); each coprince is represented by a veguer (current
  names NA)
  head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
  (since 21 December 1994) was elected by the General Council and
  formally appointed by the coprinces
  cabinet: Executive Council was designated by the executive council
  president

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys (Consell General de las Valls: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) AND 8, UL 5, ND 5, CNA 2, IDN 2, other 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the co-princes alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases; Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases, 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 (AND),
  Oscar RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc
  CERQUEDA; New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National
  Coalition (CNA), Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative
  (IDN), Vincenc MATEU; Liberal Union (UL), Marc FORNE
  note: there are two other small parties

International organization participation: CE, ECE, IFRCS,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent
  Representative to the UN)
  embassy: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
  telephone: (212) 750-8064
  FAX: (212) 750-6630

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
  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: (343) 280-2227;
  FAX: (343) 205-7705; note - Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes
  periodic visits to Andorra

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 13 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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 35,000 kW production: 140 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep raising

Exports: $46.2 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture
partners: France 35%, Spain 59%

Imports: $920.2 million (1993)
commodities: consumer goods, food
partners: France, Spain, US 2.6% (1992)

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 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991)

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

Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994; the cease-fire is generally holding, but most provisions of the accord remain to be implemented.

Location: 12 30 S, 18 30 E — Southern Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire

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)

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Namibia and Zaire

Area:
  total area: 1,246,700 sq km
  land area: 1,246,700 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,198 km
  border countries: Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 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)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior
  plateau
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Moro 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%
  meadows and pastures: 23%
  forest and woodland: 43%
  other: 32%

Environment:
  current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of
  pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation
  of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for
  tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation
  contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to
  water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate
  supplies of potable water
  natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on
  the plateau
  international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 2,340,804; female 2,275,689)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 2,748,417; female 2,706,295)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 128,067; female 143,627) (July 1996 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.8 years male: 44.65 years female: 49.06 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%,
mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other
22%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 42%
  male: 56%
  female: 28%

Name of country: 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

Type of government: 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) was originally elected without opposition under a
  one party system and stood for election in Angola's first multiparty
  elections on 29-30 September 1992; DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the
  total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and
  second-place Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's
  National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) disputed
  the results of the first election; the civil war was resumed
  head of government: Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since
  2 December 1992) was appointed by the president and is answerable to
  the Assembly
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional): elections last held 29-30
  September 1992 (next to be held NA); results (disputed) - percentage
  of vote by party NA; seats (223 total) - seats by party NA

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

Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, is a legal party despite its history of armed resistance to the government; five minor parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly

Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Liberation of
  the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest
  faction (FLEC-FAC)
  note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
  struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC
  (observer), 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

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
  embassy: 1819 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
  FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG embassy: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda mailing address: C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 (pouch) telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418 FAX: [244] (2) 346-924

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Angola is an economy in disarray. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. Despite the signing of a peace accord in November 1994 between the Angola Government and the UNITA insurgents, sporadic fighting continues and many farmers remain 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 - notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and arable land, in addition to its large oil deposits - Angola will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 56% services: 32% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 2.783 million economically active by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 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; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco; sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal products

Electricity: capacity: 620,000 kW production: 1.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 189 kWh (1993)

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

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

Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton partners: US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil

Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines, substantial military deliveries partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain

Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate 25 April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000 (official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994), 180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16 December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884 (July 1993); 550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990)

Railways:
  total: 2,952 km (1995 est.); note - limited trackage in use because
  of landmines still in place from the civil war
  narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 72,626 km
  paved: 18,157 km
  unpaved: 54,469 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT
ships by type: cargo 11, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 143
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 11
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 40
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 24
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 48 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,373,087 males fit for military service: 1,195,176 males reach military age (18) annually: 106,456 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 31% of GDP (1993)

Location: 18 15 N, 63 10 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, east of Puerto Rico

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

Area:
  total area: 91 sq km
  land area: 91 sq km
  comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

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

Environment:
  current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet
  increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
  natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July
  to October)
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 1,491; female 1,450)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 3,418; female 3,275)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 342; female 448) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.7 years male: 73.75 years female: 79.74 years (1996 est.)

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

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

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

Legislative branch: unicameral
  House of Assembly: elections last held 16 March 1994 (next to be
  held March 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11
  total, 7 elected) ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1

Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA),
David CARFY; Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla
Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS

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

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Output growth has averaged about 7% in recent years, mainly as a result of boom in tourism thanks to economic expansion in North America and the UK. The economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September. Agricultural output had only just begun to recover from a drought in 1994 when Luis hit. 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.

Labor force: 4,400 (1992) by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%

Budget:
  revenues: $13.5 million (1993)
  expenditures: $17.6 million, including capital expenditures of
  $740,000 (1995 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 2,000 kW production: 6 million kWh consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes; sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry; fishing (including lobster)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Area:
  total area: 14 million sq km (est.)
  land area: 14 million sq km (est.)
  comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
  note: second-smallest continent (after Australia)

International disputes: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary below); 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

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 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%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)

Environment:
  current issues: in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone
  shield, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet
  radiation, had dwindled to the lowest level recorded over Antarctica
  since 1975 when measurements were first taken
  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
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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; note - there are seasonally
  staffed research stations
  Summer (January) population: over 4,115 total; Argentina 207,
  Australia 268, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Chile 256, China NA, Ecuador
  NA, Finland 11, France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12, India 60,
  Italy 210, Japan 59, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, Norway
  23, Peru 39, Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK
  116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90)
  Winter (July) population: over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, Australia
  71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace
  5, India 1, Japan 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, Poland NA, South Africa
  12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR 313 (1989-90)
  Year-round stations: 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1,
  Chile 3, China 2, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 2,
  South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US
  3, former USSR 6 (1990-91)
  Summer-only stations: over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile
  5, Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1,
  South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, former USSR 5
  (1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former USSR has placed
  the status and future of its Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations
  may be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic
  difficulties

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica

Type of government: 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 18th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in Japan in April 1993. Currently, there are 42 treaty member nations: 26 consultative and 16 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 19 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), China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), the US, and Russia. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), 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), 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: more than 170 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; in 1991 the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits ratification; 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 also prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; 21 parties have ratified Protocol as of April 1996

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 1 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.

Economic overview: No economic activity at present except for
fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.

Airports: 50 landing facilities at different locations operated by 16 national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air facility operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist organization; helicopter pads at 25 of these locations; runways at 13 locations are gravel, sea ice, glacier ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways; 12 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes - 8 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m,10 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 3 runways/skiways less than 1,000 m, and 4 of unspecified or variable 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 non-governmental operating organization required for landing (1995 est.)

Defense 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

Location: 17 03 N, 61 48 W — Caribbean, islands between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto
Rico

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

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

Area:
  total area: 440 sq km
  land area: 440 sq km
  comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  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 lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 7%
  forest and woodland: 16%
  other: 59%

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
  natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October);
  periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 25% (male 8,386; female 8,043)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 22,589; female 22,548)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,820; female 2,261) (July 1996 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.64 years male: 71.55 years female: 75.84 years (1996 est.)

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

Name of country: 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) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General James B.
  CARLISLE (since NA 1993) who was chosen by the queen on advice from
  the prime minister
  head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March
  1994) was appointed by the governor general
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the governor general
  on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: 17- member body appointed by the governor general House of Representatives: elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5, 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 (ALP), Lester
  Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin
  SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties-the
  United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean
  Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM)

Other political or pressure groups: Antigua Trades and Labor Union
(ATLU), William ROBINSON; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Hugh
MARSHALL

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

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami

US diplomatic representation: 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: 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

Economic overview: Tourism continues to be by far the dominant activity in the economy but the combined share in GDP of transport and communications, trade, and public utilities has increased markedly in recent years. Tourism's direct contribution to output in 1994 was about 20%. In addition, increased tourist arrivals 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 - which accounts for 3.5% of GDP - 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: 3.5% industry: 19.3% services: 77.2% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 30,000
by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry
7% (1983)

Budget:
  revenues: $134 million
  expenditures: $135.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

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

Electricity: capacity: 52,100 kW production: 95 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,242 kWh (1993)

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

Illicit drugs: a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; more significant as a drug money laundering center

Exports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17% partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3%

Imports: $443.8 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

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: 367 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,573,063
  GRT/2,147,243 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 247, chemical tanker 6, combination
  bulk 1, container 72, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 3,
  refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16
  note: a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 12 ships,
  Slovenia 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, and US 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua
and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of GDP (FY90/91)

Area:
  total area: 14.056 million sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US;
  smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, Atlantic
  Ocean, and Indian Ocean)
  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

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

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 land masses; 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) 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)

Environment:
  current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and
  whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from
  disruptions or damage
  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
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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

Economic 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

Location: 34 00 S, 64 00 W — Southern South America, bordering
the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

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

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

Area:
  total area: 2,766,890 sq km
  land area: 2,736,690 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

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

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

International disputes: short section of the boundary with Uruguay
  is in dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile is
  indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas
  Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the South
  Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to
  rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western
  border
  lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m
  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: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 52%
  forest and woodland: 22%
  other: 13%

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
  natural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to
  earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the
  Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
  Marine Life Conservation

Geographic 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: 28% (male 4,904,380; female 4,707,293)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 10,851,004; female 10,834,593)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 1,414,412; female 1,961,315) (July 1996
  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: 0.72 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.66 years male: 68.37 years female: 75.12 years (1996 est.)

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

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

Name of country:
  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 or
  Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM
  (since 8 July 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal
  suffrage; election last held 14 May 1995 (next to be held May 1999);
  results - Carlos Saul MENEM was reelected; Vice President Carlos
  RUCKAUF
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
  Senate: elections last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) PJ 38,
  others 34
  Chamber of Deputies: one-half of the members elected every two years
  to four-year terms; elections last held 14 May 1995; (next to be
  held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (257
  total) PJ 132, UCR 68, Frepaso 26, other 31

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 (PJ), Carlos Saul MENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union (UCR), Rodolfo TERRAGNO, moderately left-of-center party; Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), conservative party; Dignity and Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing party; Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition; Front for a Country in Solidarity (Frepaso, a four party coalition), leader Jose Octavio BORDON; several provincial parties

Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization; Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS,
  OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMIR, UNAVEM
  III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
  UNMIH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO
  chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
  New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEK
  embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
  mailing address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
  telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534
  FAX: [54] (1) 777-0197

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits also from a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. After registering impressive 7.4% growth in 1994, based largely on inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption, the Argentine economy stumbled in 1995 as financial pressures fueled by the Mexican peso crisis and political squabbling within the MENEM administration undermined investor confidence and triggered capital outflows. By yearend, GDP had contracted 4.4%, unemployment reached 16%, and Buenos Aires struggled to meet fiscal targets. On the trade front, exports soared during the first half of 1995 - largely because of strong demand in Brazil and high commodity prices - while anemic domestic consumption lowered imports; the resulting yearend trade surplus was about $1.2 billion. However, because exports contribute only 7.5% to GDP, increased foreign sales had little impact on aggregate growth. High unemployment will continue to plague the MENEM administration for the next several years as provincial entities are readied for privatization and more public sector employees are laid off.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 31% services: 63% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 10.9 million by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $48.46 billion
  expenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5
  billion (1994 est.)

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

Electricity: capacity: 17,330,000 kW production: 54.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US

Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures partners: US 9%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands

Imports: $19.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants, agricultural products partners: US 21%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands

Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 1.00000 (January 1996), 0.99975 (1995), 0.99901 (1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 37,910 km
  broad gauge: 24,124 km 1.676-m gauge (142 km electrified)
  standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 11,021 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)

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

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

Merchant marine:
  total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 303,448 GRT/458,864 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 11, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oil
  tanker 14, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 1,253
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 25
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 54
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 46
  with paved runways under 914 m: 511
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 60
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 549 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic,
Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval
Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 8,707,014 males fit for military service: 7,063,304 males reach military age (20) annually: 310,107 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion, 1.5% of GDP (1995)

Area:
  total area: 29,800 sq km
  land area: 28,400 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

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

International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians in
  Nagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against the
  Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands
  in Turkey have subsided

Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 60%

Environment:
  current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;
  energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to
  deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of
  Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, 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
  natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 497,461; female 476,649)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 1,085,935; female 1,132,282)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 111,661; female 159,586) (July 1996 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.06 years male: 64.44 years female: 73.92 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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
======================================================================

Location: 12 30 N, 69 58 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Venezuela

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

Area:
  total area: 193 sq km
  land area: 193 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 7,850; female 7,155)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 22,499; female 24,596)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 2,353; female 3,341) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.93 male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.68 years male: 73 years female: 80.55 years (1996 est.)

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

Type of government: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; 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), a constitutional monarch, is represented by
  Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) who was
  appointed for a six-year term by the queen
  head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29
  July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES were
  appointed by the legislature
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2

Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP),
  Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN;
  National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic
  Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny
  NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic
  Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Aruban Liberal Party (OLA),
  Glenbert CROES
  note: governing coalition includes the AVP and OLA

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

Flag: 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

Economic 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.

Labor force: NA by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $145 million
  expenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42
  million (1988)

Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 330 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: major drug money laundering center and minor transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: mostly refined petroleum products partners: US 64%, EU

Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products, crude oil for refining and reexport partners: US 8%, EU

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts
  transatlantic flights (1995 est.)

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

Location: 12 14 S, 123 05 E — Southeastern Asia, islands in the
Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia

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

Area:
  total area: 5 sq km
  land area: 5 sq km
  comparative area: about eight times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC
  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

Terrain: low with sand and coral lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m

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

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose
  maritime hazards
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established
in August 1983

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only
seasonal caretakers

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Type of government: territory of Australia administered by the
Australian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories

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

Location: 0 00 N, 25 00 W — body of water between Africa, Europe,
Antarctica, and the Western Hemisphere

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

Area:
  total area: 82.217 million sq km
  comparative area: 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)
  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

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 lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m highest point: sea level 0 m

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

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
  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
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: major choke points 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
======================================================================

Location: 27 00 S, 133 00 E — Oceania, continent between the
Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

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

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

Area:
  total area: 7,686,850 sq km
  land area: 7,617,930 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
  note: includes 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

International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica
(Australian Antarctic Territory)

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

Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in
  southeast
  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%
  meadows and pastures: 58%
  forest and woodland: 14%
  other: 22%

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
  natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
  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,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic 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 2,009,915; female 1,912,605)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 6,129,285; female 5,980,315)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 967,291; female 1,261,452) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.39 years male: 76.44 years female: 82.5 years (1996 est.)

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

Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia

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) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir William
  DEANE (since 16 February 1996) who was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
  March 1996) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
  Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11 March 1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet was selected from among the members of Federal
  Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime
  minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament
  Senate: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to be held NA 1999);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)
  Liberal-National 37, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 8, Greens 1,
  independent 1
  House of Representatives: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to
  be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (148 total) Liberal-National 94, Labor 49, independent 5

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

Political parties and leaders:
  government: coalition of Liberal Party, John Winston HOWARD and
  National Party, Timothy Andrew FISCHER
  opposition: Australian Labor Party, Kim BEAZLEY; Australian
  Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, Bob BROWN

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

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John Phillip MCCARTHY
  chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
  FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New
  York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINS
  embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
  Territory 2600
  mailing address: APO AP 96549
  telephone: [61] (6) 270-5000
  FAX: [61] (6) 270-5970
  consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
  consulate(s): Brisbane

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for more than 80% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983-84, 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. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weak world demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so strongly in 1994 that the government felt the need for fiscal and monetary tightening by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994, largely due to increases in industrial output and business investment. A severe drought in 1994 reduced the value of Australia's net farm production, but rising world commodity prices are likely to boost commodity exports by 15% to $42.4 billion in 1995/96, according to government statistics. Short-term economic problems include a balancing of output growth and inflationary pressures and the stimulation of exports to offset rising imports.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 27.7% services: 69.2% (1994)

Labor force: 8.63 million (September 1991) by occupation: finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)

Budget:
  revenues: $95.69 billion
  expenditures: $95.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96 est.)

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

Electricity: capacity: 34,540,000 kW production: 155 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,021 kWh (1993)

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

Exports: $51.57 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and
  transport equipment
  partners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan,
  Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)

Imports: $57.41 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oil and petroleum products partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3668 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified; 172 km dual gauge)
  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

Highways:
  total: 810,264 km
  paved: 283,592 km (including 1,200 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 526,672 km (1989 est.)

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

Merchant marine:
  total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,547,869 GRT/3,679,534
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 30, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
  1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 442
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 13
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 106
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 116
  with paved runways under 914 m: 30
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 146 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: good 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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 4,848,777 males fit for military service: 4,192,250 males reach military age (17) annually: 127,569 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion, 2.0% of GDP (FY95/96)

Area:
  total area: 83,850 sq km
  land area: 82,730 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,558 km
  border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366
  km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 324
  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 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%
  meadows and pastures: 24%
  forest and woodland: 39%
  other: 19%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  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, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
  Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
  94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geographic 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: 18% (male 720,696; female 685,179)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 2,726,122; female 2,659,162)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 451,231; female 780,854) (July 1996
  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: 0.58 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.53 years male: 73.38 years female: 79.84 years (1996 est.)

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

Name of country:
  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) was
  elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 24
  May 1992 (next to be held 1998); results of second ballot - Thomas
  KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
  head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986)
  was chosen by the president from the majority party in the National
  Council; Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
  was chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was chosen by the president on the
  advice of the chancellor

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province having at least three representatives National Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held Fall 1999); results - SPOE 38.3%, OEVP 28.3%, FPOE 22.1%, Greens 4.6%, LF 5.3%, other 1.4%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 71, OEVP 53, FPOE 40, Greens 9, LF 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for
  civil and criminal cases; Administrative Court
  (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases; Constitutional
  Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
  (SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),
  Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman; Freedom Movement (F, formerly the
  Freedom Party of Austria or FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist
  Party (KPOE), Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, Madeleine
  PETROVIC; Liberal Forum (LF), Heide SCHMIDT

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

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, 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, NACC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
  OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU
  (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
  chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
  telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
  FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
  chancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [43] (1) 313-39
  FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682

Economic overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy with a sizable - but falling - proportion of nationalized industry, an extensive social system, and a high standard of living. Austria's economy is closely integrated with Germany and other EU members - Austria joined the EU on 1 January 1995. Since the early 1980s, the Austrian economy has experienced stable growth. Following a mild recession in 1993, Austria's economy - driven by strong exports, investment, and private consumption - expanded 2.7% in 1994 and about 2.4% in 1995. The slowdown in 1995 was largely due to an appreciation of the Austrian schilling and its negative effect on exports and tourism. EU membership has had a positive impact on foreign investment and has helped to lower inflation. Despite Austria's generally favorable economic prospects, the government faces a number of economic challenges, especially budget consolidation. Smaller than expected revenues and rising welfare payments caused the budget deficit to climb to 7.1% of GDP in 1995. Austria also faces a growing unemployment problem. Although low by European standards, Austria's unemployment rate has risen gradually during the 1990s as companies restructured to meet competition from the EU single market and Eastern Europe.

Labor force: 3.47 million (1989) by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry 8.1% note: an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of labor force (1988)

Budget:
  revenues: $65 billion
  expenditures: $75.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: food, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,
electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles

Electricity: capacity: 17,230,000 kW production: 50.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,824 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets; cattle, pigs,
poultry; sawn wood

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route and Eastern Europe

Exports: $45.2 billion (1994)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber,
  textiles, paper products, chemicals
  partners: EU 64.8% (Germany 38.1%, Italy 8.1%), Eastern Europe
  11.8%, Japan 1.6%, US 3.5% (1994)

Imports: $55.3 billion (1994)
  commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
  vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
  partners: EU 68.4% (Germany 40%, Italy 8.8%), Eastern Europe 6.55%,
  Japan 4.3%, US 4.4% (1994)

Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 10.314 (January 1996), 10.081 (1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 5,624 km
  standard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,263 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (86 km electrified)
  (1995)

Highways:
  total: 108,000 km
  paved: 22,000 km (including 1,800 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 86,000 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 88,617 GRT/122,475 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 23, combination bulk 2, container 1,
  refrigerated cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 55
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 41
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,084,827 males fit for military service: 1,741,068 males reach military age (19) annually: 45,628 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 1.0% of GDP (1995)

Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved eight-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azeri refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fifth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh region) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement remain dim.

Location: 40 30 N, 47 30 E — Southwestern Asia, bordering the
Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia

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

Area:
  total area: 86,600 sq km
  land area: 86,100 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maine
  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.)

International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined

Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level)
  with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh)
  Upland in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts
  into Caspian Sea
  lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
  highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 25%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 53%

Environment:
  current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (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
  natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising
  levels of the Caspian Sea
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 1,270,812; female 1,215,781)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 2,293,688; female 2,423,222)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 179,048; female 294,402) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.84 years male: 60.13 years female: 69.78 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,
  Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 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; actual
  practicing adherents are much lower

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

Name of country:
  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); Abscron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu,
  Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli 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, Yardimb
  Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala
  Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993) was
  elected by popular vote; election last held 3 October 1993 (next to
  be held 1997 or 1998); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9 October
  1994), First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV (since NA), Samed
  SADYKOV (since NA), Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA), Elchin EFENDIYEV
  (since NA) were appointed by the president and confirmed by the
  Milli Mejlis
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president and
  confirmed by the Mejlis

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Milli Mejlis): elections last held 12 and 26
  November 1995 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (125 total) number of seats by party NA

Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF),
  Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman;
  National Independence Party, Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman; Social
  Democratic Party (SDP), Araz ALIZADE, chairman; Communist Party,
  Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman; People's Freedom Party, Yunus OGUZ,
  chairman; Independent Social Democratic Party, Arif YUNUSOV and
  Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen; New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar ALIYEV,
  chairman; Boz Gurd Party, Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan
  Democratic Independence Party, Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman; Islamic
  Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram, chairman; Ana Veten Party, Fazail
  AGAMALIYEV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV;
  Azerbaijan Democratic Party of Proprietors (DPOP), Makhmud MAMEDOV;
  Azerbaijan Patriotic Solidarity Party, Sabir RUSTAMHANLI; Azerbaijan
  Republic Reform Party, Fuad ASADOV; Communist Party of Azerbaijan
  (unregistered), Sayad SAYADOV; Equality of the Peoples Party,
  Faukhraddin AYDAYEV; Independent Azerbaijan Party, Nizami
  SULEYMANOV; Labor Party of Azerbaijan, Sabutai HAJIYEV;
  Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Lyudmila NIKOLAYEVNA;
  National Enlightenment Party, Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV; National
  Liberation Party, Panak SHAKHSEVEV; Peasant Party, Firuz MUSTAFAYEV;
  Radical Party of Azerbaijan, Malik SHARIFOV; United Azerbaijan
  Party, Kerrar ABILOV; Vetan Adzhagy Party, Zakir TAGIYEV

Other political or pressure groups: self-proclaimed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
  chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC
  20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001
  FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
  embassy: Azadliq Prospekti 83, Baku
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [9] (9412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37, 98-03-36, 93-64-80,
  96-36-21
  FAX: [9] (9412) 98-37-55

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

Economic overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5 billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-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 have yet to be replaced. Whereas the economies of most of the former Soviet republics had begun to bottom out in 1995, Azerbaijan's economy continued to plummet because of its late start on economic reform.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

Labor force: 2.789 million
by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and
construction 26%, other 42% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.3% includes officially registered unemployed;
also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed
workers (December 1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $465 million
  expenditures: $488 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

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

Electricity: capacity: 4,900,000 kW production: 17 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,200 kWh (1995 est.)

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

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $549.9 million (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles,
  cotton
  partners: mostly CIS and European countries

Imports: $681.5 million (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs,
  textiles
  partners: European countries

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $14 million (1993)
  note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,000 million ($185 million in
  disbursements); wheat from Turkey

Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4,375 (April 1996), 4,500 (April 1995), 4,168 (end of December 1994)

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

Highways:
  total: 36,700 km
  paved: 31,800 km (includes graveled)
  unpaved: 4,900 km (1990 est.)

Airports:
  total: 69
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 33 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: 202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991 est.) domestic: telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system in the Baku area was supposed to become operational in 1994 international: cable and microwave radio relay connections to former Soviet republics; connection through Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Intelsat provides service to Turkey and through Turkey to 200 more countries; Intersputnik provides direct service to New York)

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (1 state-owned radio broadcast station)

Television broadcast stations: 2 note: domestic and Russian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an Intelsat satellite through a receive-only earth station

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,952,390 males fit for military service: 1,574,813 males reach military age (18) annually: 68,006 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 33.5 billion manats, NA% of GDP (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 26 00 N, 50 33 E — Middle East, archipelago in the
Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

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

Area:
  total area: 620 sq km
  land area: 620 sq km
  comparative area: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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

International disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over the
Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar

Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
  escarpment
  lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
  highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 90%

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
  natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous
  Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity

Geographic 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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 92,455; female 89,554)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 236,048; female 156,556)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 7,956; female 7,473) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.33 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.27 years male: 71.78 years female: 76.83 years (1996 est.)

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

Name of country: conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn

Administrative divisions: 12 municipalites (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 ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November
  1961) is a traditional Arab monarch; Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin
  Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1949)
  head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa
  (since 19 January 1970) was appointed by the amir
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the amir

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

Other political or pressure groups: several small, clandestine
  leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the
  arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists fomented unrest
  sporadically from late 1994 to September 1995, 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, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
  OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR al-Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David M. RANSOM embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama mailing address: FPO AE 09834-5100; P.O. Box 26431, Manama (International Mail) telephone: [973] 273-300 FAX: [973] 272-594

Economic overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 80% 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. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.

Labor force: 140,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982) note: 42% of labor force is Bahraini

Budget:
  revenues: $1.38 billion
  expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

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

Electricity: capacity: 1,050,000 kW production: 3.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,453 kWh (1993)

Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7% partners: India 20%, Japan 14%, Saudi Arabia 7%, US 6%, UAE 5% (1994)

Imports: $3.29 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41% partners: Saudi Arabia 37%, US 12%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1994)

Merchant marine:
  total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,060 GRT/194,061 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 213,792 males fit for military service: 118,702 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $247 million, 5.5% of GDP (1994)

Location: 0 13 N, 176 31 W — Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Area:
  total area: 1.4 sq km
  land area: 1.4 sq km
  comparative area: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow
  fringing reef
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location 8 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: no natural fresh water resources
  natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
  be a maritime hazard
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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 only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located near the middle of the west coast

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat
landing area along the middle of the west coast

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard

Location: 24 00 N, 90 00 E — Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and India

Description: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist
side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam

Area:
  total area: 144,000 sq km
  land area: 133,910 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

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

International disputes: a portion of the boundary with India in dispute; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges

Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Reng Tlang 957 m

Land use:
  arable land: 67%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 16%
  other: 11%

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
  natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
  flooded during the summer monsoon season
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
  ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 24,434,219; female 23,436,359)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 36,607,942; female 34,603,628)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 2,175,017; female 1,805,635) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.86 years male: 56.02 years female: 55.69 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 38.1%
  male: 49.4%
  female: 26.1%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
  conventional short form: Bangladesh
  former: East Pakistan

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
Rajshahi
note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and 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 Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
  was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; election
  last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996);
  results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
  head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN
  (since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note under
  Legislative branch entry)
  cabinet: Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April
  1996

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad): elections last held 15
  February 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for
  women) seats by party NA; note - the election was held despite the
  fact that it was boycotted by the major opposition parties; Prime
  Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN's party won a landslide victory, but,
  under continuing pressure from the opposition, who called for an
  annulment of the results, National Parliament passed a bill that
  established a caretaker government to oversee new elections on a
  date yet to be determined; President BISWAS then dissolved
  Parliament and named a caretaker prime minister to replace Prime
  Minister ZIAur RAHMAN

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
  Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo
  Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI),
  Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin
  Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, Rashid
  Khan MENON; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;
  Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National
  Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;
  Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party,
  Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
  ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Humayun KABIR chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David N. MERRILL embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000; Dhaka 1212 telephone: [880] (2) 884700 through 884722 FAX: [880] (2) 883-744

Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of
center; green is the traditional color of Islam

Economic 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. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 4% in recent years from a low base. Its economy is overwhelmingly 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, most recently, political disturbances. In 1995, progress on Bangladesh's development agenda has been slowed by frequent political unrest before and after national elections in early 1996. Opposition parties have challenged the government's authority by resigning from Parliament and sponsoring numerous countrywide strikes that have crippled transport, hindered business activity, and threatened to slow economic growth in 1996.

Labor force: 50.1 million
  by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining
  14% (1989)
  note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.8 billion
  expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
  billion (FY92/93)

Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,
steel, fertilizer

Electricity: capacity: 2,740,000 kW production: 9.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in
neighboring countries

Exports: $2.7 billion (1995 est.)
  commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
  partners: US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%)
  (FY91/92 est.)

Imports: $4.7 billion (1995 est.)
  commodities: capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
  partners: Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1%
  (FY91/92 est.)

Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 40.933 (January 19965), 40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 2,892 km
  broad gauge: 978 km 1.676-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)

Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)

Merchant marine:
  total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 296,503 GRT/423,274 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 29, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 15
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: poor domestic telephone service
  international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
  international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
  neighboring countries

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes
Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village
Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 31,795,848
males fit for military service: 18,814,818 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $481 million,
1.7% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 13 10 N, 59 32 W — Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

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)

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Area:
  total area: 430 sq km
  land area: 430 sq km
  comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Land use:
  arable land: 77%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 9%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 14%

Environment:
  current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by
  ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens
  contamination of aquifers
  natural hazards: hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic
  landslides
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
  Hazardous Wastes

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.35 years male: 71.65 years female: 77.25 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
  total population: 97.4%
  male: 98%
  female: 96.8%

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) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General Denys
  WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
  September 1994) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
  Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
  the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
  Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor
  general
  House of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be
  held by January 1999); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats
  - (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed
by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP), David
THOMPSON; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National
Democratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES

Other political or pressure groups: Barbados Workers Union, Leroy
  TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party
  of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, David
  COMMISSIONG

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, UNMIH, UPU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
  chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
  FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
  consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
  consulate(s): Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
  embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
  Bridgetown
  mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
  telephone: [1] (809) 436-4950
  FAX: [1] (809) 429-5246

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy has been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in recent years the production has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. Sluggish performances in the sugar and tourism sectors - which declined by 25% and 8% respectively - tempered economic expansion in 1995; output increased by 2% for the year, down from nearly 4% in 1994. Improved weather conditions in 1995 are expected to boost agriculture output in 1996. Since taking office in 1994, Prime Minister ARTHUR has aggressively moved to promote foreign direct investment as part of a policy designed to reduce nagging unemployment. The government has also been active in promoting regional integration initiatives.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.4% industry: 39.3% services: 54.3% (1994)

Labor force: 126,000 (1993) by occupation: services and government 41%, commerce 15%, manufacturing and construction 18%, transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%, utilities 2% (1992 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $550 million
  expenditures: $710 million, including capital expenditures of $86
  million (FY95/96 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 152,100 kW production: 510 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,841 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Exports: $158.6 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,
  chemicals, electrical components, clothing
  partners: US 13%, UK 10%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 8%

Imports: $693 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction
  materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
  partners: US 36%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%

Merchant marine:
  total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,937 GRT/271,707 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 21, combination bulk 3, oil tanker 3,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: island wide automatic telephone system
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia

Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and
Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 71,667 males fit for military service: 49,726 (1996 est.)

Location: 21 30 S, 39 50 E — Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique
Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Area:
  total area: 0.2 sq km
  land area: 0.2 sq km
  comparative area: about one-third the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all rock)

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water
  during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic
  cyclones
  international agreements: NA

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India

Type of government: French possession administered by a
Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

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 in red the Belarusian national ornament

Area:
  total area: 207,600 sq km
  land area: 207,600 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,098 km
  border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km,
  Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland 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%
  meadows and pastures: 15%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 55%

Environment:
  current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of
  the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor
  accident at Chornobyl'
  natural hazards: NA
  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: 21% (male 1,136,499; female 1,090,101)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 3,334,077; female 3,536,982)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 429,574; female 888,740) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.57 years male: 63.2 years female: 74.21 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,
Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 60%, other (including Roman Catholic
and Muslim) 40% (early 1990's)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97%

Name of country: 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: the administrative centers of the voblastsi are included in parentheses

Independence: 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union); the Belarussian Supreme Soviet issued a proclamation of independence; on 17 July 1990 Belarus issued a declaration of sovereignty

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
  was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held
  24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
  Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%
  head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail CHIGIR (since NA July
  1994) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Ministers
  Vladimir GARKUN (since NA), Sergey LING (since NA), Leonid SINITSYN
  (since NA), Valeriy KOKAREV (since NA), Vladimir RUSAKEVICH (since
  NA)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Supreme Soviet: elections last held May, Nov-Dec 1995 (two rounds,
  each with a run-off; next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) KPB 42, Agrarian 33, CAB 9,
  Party of People's Concord 8, UPNAZ 2, SDPB 2, BPR 1, Green Party 1,
  Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1, BSP 1, NFB 1, Social and
  Sports Party 1, Ecological Party 1, independents 95, vacant 62

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Belarusian Communist Party (KPB),
  Vasiliy NOVIKOV, Viktor CHIKIN, chairmen; Agrarian Party, Semen
  SHARETSKIY; Civic Accord Bloc (CAB); Party of People's Concord,
  Gennadiy KARPENKO; Party of All-Belarusian Unity and Concord
  (UPNAZ), Dmitriy BULAKOV; Belarusian Social-Democrat Hramada (SDBP),
  Alex TRUSOV; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (BPR), Anatol
  BARANKEVICH; Green Party of Belarus, Mikalay KARTASH; Republican
  Party of Labor and Justice, Anatol NETSILKIN; Belarus Peasants
  (BSP), Yevgeniy LUGIN, chairman; Belarusian Popular Front (NFB),
  Zenon POZNYAK, chairman; Belarusian Social Sports Party, Vladimir
  ALEKSANDROVICH; Ecological Party, Aleksiy MIKULICH; National
  Democratic Party of Belarus (NDPB), Victor NAVUMENKA; United
  Democratic Party of Belarus (ADPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY;
  Belarusian Socialist Party (SPB), Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV; Slavic
  Assembly (SAB), Nikolai SYARECHEV; Liberal-Democratic Party (LDPB),
  Vasil KRIVENKA; Belarusian Christian-Democratic Unity (BKDZ), Petr
  SILKO; Polish Democratic Union (PDZ), Konstantin TARASEVICH; Party
  of Beer Lovers, Yuriy GONCHAR; Belarusian Labor Party (BPP),
  Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV

International organization participation: CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOV
  chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
  FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth Spencer YALOWITZ
  embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [375] (172) 31-50-00
  FAX: [375] (172) 34-78-53

Flag: 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 in red the Belarusian national ornament

Economic overview: At the time of independence in late 1991, Belarus was one of the most developed of the former Soviet states, inheriting a modern - by Soviet standards - machine building sector and robust agricultural sector. However, the breakup of the Soviet Union and its traditional trade ties, as well as the government's failure to embrace market reforms, has resulted in a sharp economic decline. Privatization is virtually nonexistent and the system of state orders and distribution persists. Although President LUKASHENKO pronounces his 1995 macro stabilization policies a success - annual inflation dropped from 2,220% in 1994 to 244% in 1995 - the IMF has criticized his insistence on maintaining the steady exchange rate for Belarusian rubel, which has traded at 11,500 to the dollar since late 1994. The IMF suspended Minsk's $300 million standby program in November 1995 until the government would agree to a devaluation of the rubel. The overvalued rubel has especially hurt Belarusian exporters, most of which now operate at a loss. In addition, the January 1995 Customs Union agreement with Russia - which required Minsk to adjust its foreign trade practices to mirror Moscow's - has resulted in higher import tariffs for Belarusian consumers; tariffs have risen from 5%-20% to 20%-40%.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $49.2 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 49% services: 30% (1991 est.)

Labor force: 4.259 million by occupation: industry and construction 40%, agriculture and forestry 21%, other 39% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 2.6% officially registered unemployed (December
1994); large numbers of underemployed workers

Budget:
  revenues: $4.95 billion
  expenditures: $5.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 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: capacity: 7,010,000 kW production: 24.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,300 kWh (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis;
mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit
drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany

Imports: $4.6 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles,
  sugar
  partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $186 million (1993)
  note: commitments, $3,930 million ($1,845 million disbursements),
  1992-95

Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1 - 11,500 (yearend 1995), 10,600 (yearend 1994)

Railways: total: 5,488 km broad gauge: 5,488 km 1.520-m gauge (873 km electrified) (1993)

Highways:
  total: 92,200 km
  paved: 61,000 km (including graveled)
  unpaved: 31,200 km (1994 est.)

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:
  total: 118
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 18
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 11
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 62 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: telephone service inadequate for the purposes of
  either business or the population; about 70% of the telephones are
  in homes; over 750,000 applications from households for telephones
  remain unsatisfied (1992 est.); new investment centers on
  international connections and business needs
  domestic: the new NMT-450 analog cellular system is now operating in
  Minsk
  international: international traffic is carried by the Moscow
  international gateway switch and also by satellite; satellite earth
  stations - 1 Intelsat (through Canada) and 1 Eutelsat (through the
  UK)

Radios: 3.17 million (1991 est.) (5,615,000 with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (one national and one private; the license of the private station was suspended during the parliamentary elections of 1994)

Branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Republic Security
Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,635,570 males fit for military service: 2,067,676 males reach military age (18) annually: 76,006 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 892 billion rubels, 1% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 50 50 N, 4 00 E — Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side),
yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France
and the Netherlands

Area:
  total area: 30,510 sq km
  land area: 30,230 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

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 lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 21%
  other: 34%

Environment:
  current issues: Meuse River, a major source of drinking water,
  polluted from steel production wastes; other rivers polluted by
  animal wastes and fertilizers; industrial air pollution contributes
  to acid rain in neighboring countries
  natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal
  land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
  Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West
European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of
the EU

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 930,919; female 886,632)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 3,380,105; female 3,326,853)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 663,760; female 981,972) (July 1996
  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: 0.68 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.09 years male: 73.86 years female: 80.51 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Dutch 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%
(divided along ethnic lines)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
  conventional short form: Belgium
  local long form: Royaume de Belgique
  local short form: Belgique

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen note: constitutional reforms passed by Parliament in 1993 increased the number of provinces to 10 by splitting the province of Brabant into two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant

National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King LEOPOLD
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) is a
  constitutional monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March
  1992) was appointed by the king and then approved by Parliament
  cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the king and approved by Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate (Flemish - Senaat French - Senat): elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (71 total, 40 directly elected; 31 will be indirectly elected at a later date) 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(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordig: elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999); results - 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 - (150 total) 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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation), judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch

Political parties and leaders: Flemish Christian Democrats (CVP - Christian People's Party), Johan VAN HECKE, president; Francophone Christian Democrats (PSC - Social Christian Party), Gerard DEPREZ, president; Flemish Socialist Party (SP), Louis TOBBACK, president; Francophone Socialist Party (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN, president; Flemish Liberal Democrats (VLD), Herman DE CROO, president; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party (PRL), Louis MICHEL, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Olivier MAINGAIN, president; Volksunie (VU), Bert ANCIAUX, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman; National Front (FN), Daniel FERET, president; AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president; ECOLO (Francophone Greens), no president; other minor parties

Other political or pressure groups: 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, AG
  (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,
  EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,
  NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
  UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Andre ADAM
  chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
  FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. BLINKEN
  embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
  mailing address: APO AE 09724, PSC 82, Box 002, Brussels
  telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
  FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,
and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Economic overview: This small 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 Walloon. 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. The economy grew at a strong 4% annual pace during the period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in 1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993, and recovered with moderate 2.3% growth in 1994 and 1995. Belgium's public debt has risen to 140% of GDP, and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries.

Labor force: 4.126 million by occupation: services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988)

Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle
assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals,
textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Electricity: capacity: 14,040,000 kW production: 66 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,334 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine entering the
European market

Exports: $108 billion (f.o.b., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic
  Union (BLEU)
  commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors,
  diamonds, petroleum products
  partners: EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8%, former Communist
  countries 1.4% (1994)

Imports: $140 billion (c.i.f., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic
  Union
  commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
  partners: EU 68% (Germany 22.1%), US 8.8%, former Communist
  countries 0.8% (1994)

Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 30.036 (January 1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991)

Railways:
total: 3,396 km (2,363 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,396 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 137,876 km
  paved: 129,603 km (including 1,667 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 8,273 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,220 GRT/83,360 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas
  tanker 3, oil tanker 6 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 42
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 21
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,571,588 males fit for military service: 2,135,375 males reach military age (19) annually: 61,986 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion, 1.7% of GDP (1995)

Location: 17 15 N, 88 45 W — Middle America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

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

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Mexico

Area:
  total area: 22,960 sq km
  land area: 22,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

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

International disputes: border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to
resolve the dispute are stalled

Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 2%
  forest and woodland: 44%
  other: 52%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage,
  industrial effluents, agricultural runoff
  natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to
  December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Whaling

Geographic 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: 43% (male 48,291; female 46,451)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 59,132; female 57,498)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 3,881; female 4,043) (July 1996 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
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.53 years male: 66.58 years female: 70.58 years (1996 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: age 14 and over has ever attended school (1991 est.)
  total population: 70.3%
  male: 70.3%
  female: 70.3%

Name of country: 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), a
  hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Sir Colville
  YOUNG (since 17 November 1993), who, according to the constitution,
  must be a Belizean; was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993)
  was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime Minister Dean
  BARROW (since NA 1993)
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice
  of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly Senate: consists of an eight-member appointed body; five members are appointed 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.) National Assembly: elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: People's United Party (PUP), George
  PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP),
  Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW; National Alliance for
  Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON

Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion of
Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United Workers Front,
leader NA

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, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. LINDO
  chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
  FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
  consulate(s): New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador George Charles BRUNO
  embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
  mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA
  34025
  telephone: [501] (2) 77161 through 77163
  FAX: [501] (2) 30802

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification program.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: NA services: NA (1995 est.)

Labor force: 51,500
  by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%,
  commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%
  note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
  (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $126.8 million
  expenditures: $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of
  $44.8 million (FY90/91 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 34,532 kW production: 110 million kWh consumption per capita: 490 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center

Exports: $115 million (f.o.b., 1993)
  commodities: sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products,
  molasses, wood
  partners: US 38%, UK, other EC (1994)

Imports: $281 million (c.i.f., 1993)
  commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food,
  manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
  partners: US 53%, UK, other EC, Mexico (1994)

Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable

Merchant marine:
  total: 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 311,731 GRT/470,272 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 60, container 6, liquefied gas tanker
  1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4,
  specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 35
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 25
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force,
and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 52,290 males fit for military service: 31,086 males reach military age (18) annually: 2,390 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.1 million, NA% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 9 30 N, 2 15 E — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo

Description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red
with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Nigeria and Togo

Area:
  total area: 112,620 sq km
  land area: 110,620 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,989 km
  border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
  Togo 644 km

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low
  mountains
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Tanekas 641 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 35%
  other: 45%

Environment:
  current issues: recent droughts have severely affected marginal
  agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
  threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
  natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in
  winter
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
  Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 1,376,531; female 1,367,394)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 1,349,386; female 1,480,251)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 60,030; female 75,937) (July 1996 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.69 years male: 50.74 years female: 54.7 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 37%
  male: 48.7%
  female: 25.8%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: Republique du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey

Type of government: 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

Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU
  (since 4 April 1996) was elected for a five-year term by popular
  vote; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001);
  results - Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
  cabinet: Executive Council, appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 28
  March 1995 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (83 total) Renaissance Party and allies 20, PRD 19,
  FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, Communist Party 2,
  Alliance Chameleon 1, RDP 1, ADP 1, other 16

Political parties and leaders: as of February 1996, more than 80 political parties were officially recognized; the following are represented in the National Assembly: Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development (PNDD) and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal Chabi KAO; Action for Renewal and Development (FARD-ALAFIA), Mathieu KEREKOU; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU; Alliance Chameleon; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Adekpedjon AKINDES; Alliance for Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU; Assembly of Liberal Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI; Communist Party of Benin, Pascal FATONDJI, First Secretary; Our Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVOEDJRE; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP); The Renaissance Party, Nicephore SOGLO

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, ITU, NAM,
  OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
  chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658
  FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92 FAX: [229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a
vertical green band on the hoist side

Economic overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output, which had averaged a sound 4% in 1990-94, rose to 6% in 1995. Rapid population growth, now 3.3% per year, offset much of this growth in output. Inflation jumped to 55% in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50% currency devaluation in January 1994, but subsided gradually in 1995. Commercial and transport activities, which make up 37% of GDP, are extremely vulnerable to developments in Nigeria as evidenced by decreased reexport trade in 1994 due to a severe contraction in Nigerian demand. 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: 36.8% industry: 12.6% services: 50.6% (1993)

Labor force: 1.9 million (1987) by occupation: agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%, industry less than 2%

Budget:
  revenues: $272 million (1993 est.)
  expenditures: $375 million, including capital expenditures of $84
  million (1993 est.)

Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum

Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: 25 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice,
cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
Western Europe and the US

Exports: $310 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa partners: France, Morocco 37%, Portugal 14%, Spain, Italy, UK, US, Libya

Imports: $439 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods partners: France 24%, Thailand 12%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%, China, Hong Kong

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
  1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
  282.11 (1991)
  note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
  100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
  1948

Railways:
total: 578 km (single track) (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge

Airports:
  total: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: fair system of open wire and microwave radio relay
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean); submarine cable

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,212,440 females age 15-49: 1,290,773 males fit for military service: 620,923 females fit for military service: 653,094 males reach military age (18) annually: 62,526 females reach military age (18) annually: 60,968 (1996 est.) note: both sexes are liable for military service

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $33 million, 3.2% of GDP (1994)

Location: 32 20 N, 64 45 W — North America, group of islands in
the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)

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

Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)

Area:
  total area: 50 sq km
  land area: 50 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 20%
  other: 80%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some reclaimed land leased by US Government

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.03 years male: 73.36 years female: 76.97 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 99%

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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor
  Lord David WADDINGTON (since 25 August 1992), who was appointed by
  the queen
  head of government: Premier David SAUL (since 25 August 1995) was
  appointed by the governor; Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1
  September 1995)
  cabinet: Cabinet was nominated by the premier, appointed by the
  governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of an 11-member body appointed by the governor House of Assembly: elections last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents 4%; seats - (40 total) UBP 22, PLP 18

Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party (UBP), David
SAUL; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick WADE; National
Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert DARRELL

Other political or pressure groups: Bermuda Industrial Union
(BIU), Ottiwell SIMMONS

International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CCC,
ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. FARMER
  consulate general(s): Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire,
  Hamilton
  mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
  General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5300
  telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
  FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% 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's fear of scaring away foreign firms. Hurricane Felix, which hit Bermuda twice over three days, caused an estimated $2.5 million in damages in August of 1995.

Labor force: 33,650 (1992) by occupation: clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%, professional and technical 13%, administrative and managerial 10%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1984)

Budget:
  revenues: $327.5 million
  expenditures: $308.9 million, including capital expenditures of
  $35.4 million (FY90/91 est.)

Industries: tourism, finance, structural concrete products,
paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Electricity: capacity: 140,000 kW production: 504 million kWh consumption per capita: 7,745 kWh (1993)

Exports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1991)
  commodities: semitropical produce, light manufactures, reexports of
  pharmaceuticals
  partners: US 62.4%, UK 20%

Imports: $519 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: fuel, foodstuffs, machinery partners: US 38%, UK 5%, Canada 5%

Highways:
  total: 208 km
  paved: 208 km
  unpaved: 0 km (1986 est.)
  note: in addition, there are 400 km of paved and unpaved roads that
  are privately owned

Merchant marine:
  total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,146,693 GRT/5,007,242
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 3, container 7, liquefied gas tanker
  16, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4,
  short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
  countries among which are UK 17, US 13, Canada 10, Norway 9, Nigeria
  4, Sweden 3, Hong Kong 2, Syria 2, Mexico 1, and NZ 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
  international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

Area:
  total area: 47,000 sq km
  land area: 47,000 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
Himalayas

Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 70%
  other: 23%

Environment:
  current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
  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
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Population: 1,822,625 (July 1996 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 378,407; female 351,146)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 524,972; female 496,715)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.46 years male: 51.96 years female: 50.93 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%

Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 42.2%
  male: 56.2%
  female: 28.1%

Name of country: 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 and Head of Government (Druk Gyalpo): King Jigme
  Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) is a hereditary monarch
  Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde): was nominated by the king
  cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) was appointed by
  the king

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Tshogdu): members serve for three years; seats -
  (150 total, 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent
  religious bodies, and 33 designated by the king to represent
  government and other secular interests)

Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High
Court, judges appointed by the king

Other political or pressure groups: 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, SAARC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Bhutan has a
  Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING; address: 2
  United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1]
  (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
  jurisdiction in the US
  consulate(s) general: New York
  honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC

US diplomatic representation: 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: 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

Economic 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 half 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 small and 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; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare but growth continues to be constrained by the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Growth picked up in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic stability in 1996. However, excessive controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
note: massive lack of skilled labor

Budget:
  revenues: $52 million
  expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95
  million (FY93/94 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:
  capacity: 360,000 kW
  production: 1.7 billion kWh
  consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)
  note: Bhutan exports electricity to India

Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)
  commodities: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit,
  electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
  partners: India 94%, Bangladesh

Imports: $113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)
  commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
  vehicles, fabrics, rice
  partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US

Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is
also legal tender

Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 444,875 males fit for military service: 237,529 males reach military age (18) annually: 17,634 (1996 est.)

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

Area:
  total area: 1,098,580 sq km
  land area: 1,084,390 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Land boundaries:
  total: 6,743 km
  border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km,
  Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

International disputes: 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

Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m highest point: Cerro Illimani 6,882 m

Natural resources: tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten,
antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 25%
  forest and woodland: 52%
  other: 20%

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
  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)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical
  Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

Geographic 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 1,422,313; female 1,390,885)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 1,959,989; female 2,042,135)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 153,111; female 196,824) (July 1996 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.81 years male: 56.94 years female: 62.82 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed European and Indian ancestry) 25%-30%, European 5%-15%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 83.1%
  male: 90.5%
  female: 76%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE
  LOZADA Bustamente (since 6 August 1993) and Vice President Victor
  Hugo CARDENAS Conde (since 6 August 1993) were elected for four-year
  terms by popular vote; election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be
  held NA May 1997); results - Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (MNR) 34%,
  Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN/MIR alliance) 20%, Carlos PALENQUE Aviles
  (CONDEPA) 14%, Max FERNANDEZ Rojas (UCS) 13%, Antonio ARANIBAR
  Quiroga (MBL) 5%; no candidate received a majority of the popular
  vote; Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA won a congressional runoff election
  on 4 August 1993 after forming a coalition with Max FERNANDEZ and
  Antonio ARANIBAR; FERNANDEZ died in a plane crash 26 November 1995
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from panel of
  candidates proposed by the Senate

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (130 total) MNR 52, UCS 20, ADN 17, MIR 17, CONDEPA 13, MBL 7, ARBOL 1, ASD 1, EJE 1, PCD 1 Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) MNR 17, ADN 4, MIR 4, CONDEPA 1, UCS 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed
for a 10-year term by National Congress

Political parties and leaders:
  Left parties: Free Bolivia Movement (MBL), Antonio ARANIBAR; April 9
  Revolutionary Vanguard (VR-9), Carlos SERRATE; Alternative of
  Democratic Socialism (ASD), Jerjes JUSTINIANO; Revolutionary Front
  of the Left (FRI), Oscar ZAMORA; Bolivian Socialist Falange (FSB);
  Socialist Unzaguista Movement (MAS); Socialist Party One (PS-1);
  Bolivian Communist Party (PCB)
  Center-Left parties: Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR),
  Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA; Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR),
  Jaime PAZ Zamora, Oscar EID; Christian Democrat (PCD), Jorge AGREDA
  Center-Right party: Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN), Jorge
  LANDIVAR, Hugo BANZER
  Populist parties: Civic Solidarity Union (UCS), Johnny FERNANDEZ;
  Conscience of the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos PALENQUE Aviles;
  Popular Patriotic Movement (MPP), Julio MANTILLA; Unity and Progress
  Movement (MUP), Ivo KULJIS
  Evangelical: Bolivian Renovating Alliance (ARBOL), Hugo VILLEGAS
  indigenous: Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement (MRTK-L),
  Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde; Patriotic Axis of Convergence (EJE-P),
  Ramiro BARRANCHEA; National Katarista Movement (MKN), Fernando UNTOJA

International organization participation: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS,
  OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Alvaro COSSIO
  chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410 through 4412
  FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN
  embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
  mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
  telephone: [591] (2) 430251
  FAX: [591] (2) 433900

Flag: 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

Economic overview: With its long history of semifeudal social controls, dependence on volatile prices for its 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. By maintaining fiscal discipline, PAZ Zamora helped reduce inflation to 9.3% in 1993, while GDP grew by an annual average of 3.25% during his tenure. Inaugurated in August 1993, President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA has vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes so far have included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and progress on his unique privatization plan. The main privatization bill was passed by the Bolivian legislature in late March 1994. Since that time, the administration has privatized the electric power generation sector, the state airline, the state telephone company, and the national railroad. The state mining and petroleum companies are expected to be privatized in 1996.

Labor force: 3.54 million by occupation: agriculture NA%, services and utilities 20%, manufacturing, mining and construction 7% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.75 billion
  expenditures: $3.75 billion, including capital expenditures of
  $556.2 million (1995 est.)

Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages,
tobacco, handicrafts, clothing

Electricity: capacity: 756,200 kW production: 2.116 billion kWh consumption per capita: 367 kWh (1994)

Illicit drugs: world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 48,600 hectares under cultivation in 1995, a one percent increase in overall cultivation of coca over 1994 levels; Bolivia, however, is the second-largest producer of harvested coca leaf; even so, voluntary and forced eradication programs resulted in leaf production dropping from 89,800 metric tons in 1994 to 85,000 tons in 1995; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia and Brazil to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: metals 39%, natural gas 9%, soybeans 11%, jewelry 11%,
  wood 8%
  partners: US 26%, Argentina 15% (1993 est.)

Imports: $1.21 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum 5%, food 5%
  (1993 est.)
  partners: US 24%, Argentina 13%, Brazil 11%, Japan 11% (1993 est.)

Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 4.9137 (December 1995), 4.8003 (1995), 4.6205 (1994), 4.2651 (1993), 3.9005 (1992), 3.5806 (1991)

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: 46,311 km
  paved: 1,940 km (including 27 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 44,371 km (1991 est.)

Ports: none; however, Bolivia has free port privileges in the
maritime ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,214 GRT/6,390 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 1,017
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 750
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 69
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 186 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,685,572 males fit for military service: 1,098,948 males reach military age (19) annually: 76,035 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $145 million; 1.9% of GDP (1996)

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 by Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and Serbian President MILOSEVIC, divides Bosnia and Herzegovina roughly equally between the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serbs while maintaining Bosnia's currently recognized borders. An international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops began to enter Bosnia in late 1995 to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement and is scheduled to depart the country within one year. 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 and Herzegovina. 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.

Location: 44 00 N, 18 00 E — Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Description: white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white fleurs-de-lis with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower outer side

Area:
  total area: 51,233 sq km
  land area: 51,233 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,459 km
  border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312
  km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro)

Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation
have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy
winters along coast

Terrain: mountains and valleys
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: 20%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 25%
  forest and woodland: 36%
  other: 17%

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 civil strife
  natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Law of the Sea,
  Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection

Geographic note: as of January 1996, Bosnian Serb leaders continued to demand revisions to the territorial aspects of the Dayton Agreement, especially in Sarajevo - designated to be under Federation control - and the Brcko/Posavina corridor area; members of the Bosnian Croat community also reject several territorial aspects of the agreement, citing that historically Bosnian Croat lands are to be transferred to Bosnian Serb control; despite disagreements, initial implementation of the agreement as of January 1996 appeared on course with the warring parties meeting the deadline for withdrawal of forces from the front lines in Sarajevo

Population: 2,656,240 (July 1996 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: 20% (male 276,530; female 248,519)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 892,807; female 915,686)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 133,081; female 189,617) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.11 years male: 51.16 years female: 61.39 years (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Government note: The US recognizes the Republic of Bosnia and
  Herzegovina. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed by the
  Muslims and Croats in March 1994, remains in the implementation
  stages.

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
  conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
  local long form: Republika Bosna i Hercegovina
  local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
  note: under the new constitution initialed in Dayton, Ohio, on 21
  November 1995, the name of the country will be changed from Republic
  of Bosnia and Herzegovina to simply Bosnia and Herzegovina and will
  be made up of the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb
  entity now called Republika Srpska

Administrative divisions: 109 districts (opstinas, singular -
  opstina) Banovici, Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Bileca, Bosanska
  Dubica, Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski
  Novi, Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanski Samac, Bosansko Grahovo, Bratunac,
  Brcko, Breza, Bugojno, Busovaca, Cazin, Cajnice, Capljina, Celinac,
  Citluk, Derventa, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Foca, Fojnica, Gacko, Glamoc,
  Gorazde, Gornji Vakuf, Gracanica, Gradacac, Grude, Han Pijesak,
  Jablanica, Jajce, Kakanj, Kalesija, Kalinovik, Kiseljak, Kladanj,
  Kljuc, Konjic, Kotor Varos, Kresevo, Kupres, Laktasi, Listica,
  Livno, Lopare, Lukavac, Ljubinje, Ljubuski, Maglaj, Modrica, Mostar,
  Mrkonjic-Grad, Neum, Nevesinje, Odzak, Olovo, Orasje, Posusje,
  Prijedor, Prnjavor, Prozor, (Pucarevo) Novi Travnik, Rogatica, Rudo,
  Sanski Most, Sarajevo-Centar, Sarajevo-Hadzici, Sarajevo-Ilidza,
  Sarajevo-Ilijas, Sarajevo-Novi Grad, Sarajevo-Novo, Sarajevo-Pale,
  Sarajevo-Stari Grad, Sarajevo-Trnovo, Sarajevo-Vogosca, Skender
  Vakuf, Sokolac, Srbac, Srebrenica, Srebrenik, Stolac, Sekovici,
  Sipovo, Teslic, Tesanj, Drvar, Duvno, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla,
  Ugljevik, Vares, Velika Kladusa, Visoko, Visegrad, Vitez, Vlasenica,
  Zavidovici, Zenica, Zvornik, Zepce, Zivinice
  note: administrative reorganization is currently under negotiation
  with the assistance of international mediators; spellings not yet
  approved by the US Board on Geographic Names

Constitution: first promulgated in 1974 (under the Communists), amended 1989, 1990, and 1991; constitution of Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified April 1994; under the Dayton Agreement signed 21 November 1995, the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Serb republic government agreed to accept new basic principles in their constitutions

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 20 December 1990)
  was elected by a collective (seven-member) presidency (of which he
  is a member); other members of the collective presidency are: Ejup
  GANIC (since NA November 1990), Nijaz DURAKOVIC (since NA October
  1993), Stjepan KLJUJIC (since NA October 1993), Ivo KOMSIC (since NA
  October 1993), Mirko PEJANOVIC (since NA June 1992), Tatjana
  LJUJIC-MIJATOVIC (since NA December 1992); the collective presidency
  is elected from among the National Assembly with at least two
  members drawn from each of the three main ethnic groups
  head of government: Prime Minister Hasan MURATOVIC (since 30 January
  1996) was elected by the collective presidency and the National
  Assembly
  cabinet: there is an executive body of ministers with no formal name
  who are members of, and responsible to, the National Assembly
  note: the president of the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and
  Herzegovina is Kresimir ZUBAK (since 31 May 1994); Vice President
  Ejup GANIC (since 31 May 1994); elections for the Presidency of
  Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Presidency of the Republika Srpska
  will take place between six and nine months after the entry into
  force of the Dayton Agreement (14 December 1995)

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly Chamber of Municipalities (Vijece Opeina): elections last held November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA; seats - (110 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 38, HDZ BiH 23, Party of Democratic Changes 4, DSS 1, SPO 1 Chamber of Citizens (Vijece Gradanstvo): elections last held November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA; seats - (130 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 34, HDZ BiH 21, Party of Democratic Changes 15, SRSJ BiH 12, LBO 2, DSS 1, DSZ 1, LS 1 note: the new constitution signed as part of the Dayton agreement on 21 November 1995 provides for a new bicameral Parliamentary assembly which will consist of a House of Peoples with 15 delegates, two-thirds from the Muslim/Croat Federation and one-third from the Serbian republic, and a House of Representatives with 42 members, two-thirds from the Muslim/Croat Federation and one-third from the Serbian republic; elections are scheduled to be held six to nine months after the entry into force of the Dayton Agreement

Political parties and leaders: Civic Democratic Party (GDS), Ibrahim SPAHIC; Party for Bosnia, Haris SILAJDZIC; Croatian Democratic Union of BiH (HDZ), Bozo RAJIC; Croatian Peasants' Party of BiH (HSS), Stanko STISKOVIC; Independent Serbian Democratic Party (NSDS), Petar DODIK; Liberal Bosniak Organization (LBO), Muhamed FILIPOVIC; Liberal Party (LS), Rasim KADIC, president; Muslim-Bosniac Organization (MBO), Adil ZULFIKARPASIC; Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Alija IZETBEGOVIC; Republican Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stjepan KLUJIC; Serb Democratic Party (SDS), Radovan KARADZIC, president; Serbian Civic Council (SGV), Mirko PEJANOVIC; Serbian Consultative Council, Ljubomir BERBEROVIC; Social Democratic Party (SDP - formerly the Democratic Party of Socialists (DSS)), Nijaz DURAKOVIC, president; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska, Zivko RADISIC; Union of Social Democrats (SSDB), Salim BESLAGIC; United Left of the Bosnian Serb Republic (ULRS), Mile IVOSEVIC; Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), Milan TRIVUNCIC, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Party of Democratic Changes, leader NA, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Alliance of Reform Forces of Yugoslavia for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SRSJ BiH), Dr. Nenad KECMANOVIC, president, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Democratic League of Greens (DSZ), Drazen PETROVIC, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Yugoslav United Left (JUL), CAREVIC; Serb Liberal Party, Miodrag ZIVANOVIC; Serb Radical Party; Serb Patriotic Party, Slavko ZUPLJANIN; Serb Homeland Party

International organization participation: CE (guest), CEI, ECE,
  FAO, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ chancery: Suite 760, 1707 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 833-3612, 3613, 3615 FAX: [1] (202) 833-2061 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John K. MENZIES embassy: 43 Ul. Djure Djakovica, Sarajevo mailing address: use street address telephone: [387] (71) 645-992, 445-700, 659-743

Flag: white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white fleurs-de-lis with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower outer side

Economic 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, unemployment and inflation to soar, and human misery to multiply. No economic statistics for 1992-95 are available, although output clearly has fallen substantially below the levels of earlier years and almost certainly is well below $1,000 per head. The country receives substantial amounts of humanitarian aid from the international community.

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: capacity: 3,800,000 kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

Currency: 1 dinar = 100 para; Croatian dinar used in Croat-held area, presumably to be replaced by new Croatian kuna; old and new Serbian dinars used in Serb-held area; hard currencies probably supplanting local currencies in areas held by Bosnian Government

Railways:
total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km)
standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1991)

Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted

Airports:
  total: 24
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 654,326 males fit for military service: 524,963 males reach military age (19) annually: 22,902 (1996 est.)

Description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe
in the center

Area:
  total area: 600,370 sq km
  land area: 585,370 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,013 km
  border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe
  813 km

International disputes: short section of boundary with Namibia is indefinite; quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in January 1996 and the parties have agreed to refer the matter to the ICJ

Terrain: predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
  Desert in southwest
  lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
  highest point: Tsodilo Hill 1,489 m

Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash,
potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 75%
  forest and woodland: 2%
  other: 21%

Environment:
  current issues: overgrazing, primarily as a result of the expansion
  of the cattle population; desertification; limited natural fresh
  water resources
  natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from
  the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can
  obscure visibility
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern
part of the country

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 317,254; female 309,617)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 374,572; female 419,991)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 22,314; female 33,882) (July 1996 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
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.01 years male: 44.94 years female: 47.11 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 69.8%
  male: 80.5%
  female: 59.9%

Name of country:
  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-Phikwe*,
  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 and head of government: President Sir Ketumile MASIRE
  (since 13 July 1980) was elected for a five-year term by the
  National Assembly; election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be
  held October 1999); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992)
  was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament House of Chiefs: is 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 National Assembly: elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held October 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total, 40 elected and 4 appointed by the majority party) BDP 27, BNF 13

Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP),
  Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA;
  Botswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence
  Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO

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, UN Security
  Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Archibald MOGWE
  chancery: Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990, 4991
  FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Howard F. JETER embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 353982 FAX: [267] 356947

Economic overview: The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 5% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising predominate. The sector is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to 39% in 1994. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 21%. Hampered by a still sluggish diamond market in 1994 and 1995, GDP grew by only 1% in both years.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: NA% services: NA% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 428,000 (1992)
  by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees; 14,300 are employed
  in various mines in South Africa; most others are engaged in cattle
  raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.7 billion
  expenditures: $1.99 billion, including capital expenditures of $652
  million (FY93/94)

Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash,
potash; livestock processing

Electricity: capacity: 220,000 kW production: 900 million kWh consumption per capita: 694 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock

Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b. 1994) commodities: diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 6%, meat 5% partners: Switzerland, UK, Southern African Customs Union (SACU),

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
  commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles,
  petroleum products
  partners: Switzerland, Southern African Customs Union (SACU), UK, US

Exchange rates: pula (P) per US$1 - 2.8305 (January 1996), 2.7716 (1995), 2.6831 (1994), 2.4190 (1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991)

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)

Branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing),
Botswana National Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 334,177 males fit for military service: 175,471 males reach military age (18) annually: 17,088 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $199 million, 5.2% of GDP (FY93/94)

Location: 54 26 S, 3 24 E — Southern Africa, island in the South
Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South
Africa)

Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean,
south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Area:
  total area: 58 sq km
  land area: 58 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is mostly inaccessible lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 780 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all ice)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island

Location: 10 00 S, 55 00 W — Eastern South America, bordering the
Atlantic Ocean

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)

Area:
  total area: 8,511,965 sq km
  land area: 8,456,510 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
  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

International disputes: short section of the boundary with Paraguay, just west of Salto das Sete Quedas (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, is in dispute; 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

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt 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: 7%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 19%
  forest and woodland: 67%
  other: 6%

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
  natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and
  occasional frost in south
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Desertification

Geographic note: largest country in South America; shares common
boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 25,286,278; female 24,422,897)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 52,232,435; female 53,094,724)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 3,072,720; female 4,552,160) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.62 years male: 56.67 years female: 66.81 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,
Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and African 38%, African 6%, other
(includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 83.3%
  male: 83.3%
  female: 83.2%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Fernando Henrique
  CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995) was elected for a four-year term by
  popular vote; election last held 3 October 1994; (next to be held
  October 1998); results - Fernando Henrique CARDOSO 53%, Luis Inacio
  LULA da Silva 26%, Eneas CARNEIRO 7%, Orestes QUERCIA 4%, Leonel
  BRIZOLA 3%, Espiridiao AMIN 3%; note - second direct presidential
  election since 1960; Vice President Marco MARCIEL (since NA)
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congresso
  Nacional)
  Federal Senate (Senado Federal): election last held 3 October 1994
  for two-thirds of Senate (next to be held October 1996 for one-third
  of the Senate); results - PMBD 28%, PFL 22%, PSDB 12%, PPR 7%, PDT
  7%, PT 6%, PTB 6%, other 12%; seats - (81 total) seats by party NA
  Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados): election last held 3
  October 1994 (next to be held October 1998); results - PMDB 21%, PFL
  18%, PDT 7%, PSDB 12%, PPR 10%, PTB 6%, PT 10%, other 16%; seats -
  (517 total) seats by party NA
  note: party totals since Fall 1994 have changed considerably due to
  extensive party-switching

Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal, judges are appointed
for life by the Senate

Political parties and leaders: National Reconstruction Party
  (PRN), Daniel TOURINHO, president; Brazilian Democratic Movement
  Party (PMDB), Paes DE ANDRADE, president; Liberal Front Party (PFL),
  Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president; Workers' Party (PT), Jose DIRCEU,
  president; Brazilian Workers' Party (PTB), Rodrigues PALMA,
  president; Democratic Labor Party (PDT), Leonel BRIZOLA, president;
  Brazilian Progressive Party (PPB), Espiridiao AMIN, president;
  Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Artur DA TAVOLA, president;
  Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Roberto FREIRE, president; Communist
  Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, chairman; Liberal Party
  (PL), Alvaro VALLE, president

Other political or pressure groups: left wing of the Catholic
Church and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are
critical of government's social and economic policies

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, Mercosur, MTCR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN,
  UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
  UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA
  chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 745-2700
  FAX: [1] (202) 745-2827
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
  San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
  consulate(s): Houston

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY
  embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal
  mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
  telephone: [55] (61) 321-7272
  FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136
  consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
  consulate(s): Porto Alegre, Recife

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: With its large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil has South America's largest GDP by far and has the potential to become a major player in the world economy. Prior to the institution of a stabilization plan in mid-1994, stratospheric inflation rates had devastated the economy and discouraged foreign investment. Since then, tight monetary policy has apparently brought inflation under control - consumer prices increased by 23% in 1995 compared to more than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP growth slowed from 5.7% to 4.2% as credit was tightened and the steadily appreciating real encouraged imports while depressing export growth. The increased stability of the Brazilian economy allowed it to weather the fallout from the Mexican peso crisis relatively well, with foreign funds flowing in during the second half of 1995 to swell official foreign exchange reserves past the $50 billion mark. Stock market indices in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, however, ended 26% lower in 1995. President CARDOSO remains committed to further reducing inflation in 1996 while boosting growth, but he faces key challenges. Servicing domestic debt has become dramatically more burdensome for both public and private sector entities because of very high real interest rates which are contributing to growing budget deficits and a surge in bankruptcies. Fiscal reforms, many of which require constitutional amendments, are proceeding at a slow pace through the Brazilian legislature; in their absence, the government is maintaining its strict monetary policy. Brazil's natural resources remain a major, long-run economic strength.

Labor force: 57 million (1989 est.) by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%

Budget:
  revenues: $58.7 billion
  expenditures: $54.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994)

Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Electricity: capacity: 55,130,000 kW production: 241.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,589 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, coca cultivation in the Amazon region has diminished in recent years because of its low alkaloid content, mostly for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian and Colombian cocaine headed for the US and Europe

Exports: $46.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee,
  motor vehicle parts
  partners: EU 27.6%, Latin America 21.8%, US 17.4%, Japan 6.3% (1993)

Imports: $49.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: crude oil, capital goods, chemical products,
  foodstuffs, coal
  partners: US 23.3%, EU 22.5%, Middle East 13.0%, Latin America
  11.8%, Japan 6.5% (1993)

Exchange rates: R$ per US$1 - 0.975 (January 1996), 0.918 (1995),
  0.639 (1994); CR$ per US$1 - 390.845 (January 1994), 88.449 (1993),
  4.513 (1992), 0.407 (1991)
  note: on 1 August 1993 the cruzeiro real (CR$), equal to 1,000
  cruzeiros, was introduced; another new currency, the real (R$) was
  introduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750 cruzeiro reals

Railways:
  total: 27,418 km (1,750 km electrified)
  broad gauge: 5,730 km 1.600-m gauge
  standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 20,958 km 1.000-m gauge; 13 km 0.760-m gauge
  dual gauge: 523 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges

Highways: total: 1,661,850 km paved: 142,919 km unpaved: 1,518,931 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,000 km; petroleum products 3,804 km;
natural gas 1,095 km

Ports: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua,
Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos,
Vitoria

Merchant marine:
  total: 207 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,108,543
  GRT/8,477,760 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 29, chemical tanker 11, combination
  ore/oil 12, container 14, liquefied gas tanker 11, multifunction
  large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 64, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated
  cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 2,950
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 19
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 122
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 295
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1,298
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 66
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1,145 (1995 est.)

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)

Television broadcast stations: 112 note: Brazil has the world's fourth largest television broadcasting system

Location: 6 00 S, 71 30 E — Southern Asia, archipelago in the
Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia

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

Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about
one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia

Area:
  total area: 60 sq km
  land area: 60 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago

Terrain: flat and low (up to four meters in elevation) lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Geographic 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: there are UK-US military personnel and civilian contractors; civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities

Name of country:
  conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
  conventional short form: none
  abbreviation: BIOT

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA
  1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note - both reside in
  the UK

Flag: 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

Economic 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.

Highways:
  total: NA km
  paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and
  airfield on Diego Garcia
  unpaved: NA km

Telephone system: facilities for military needs only
domestic: NA
international: NA

Location: 18 30 N, 64 30 W — Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea
and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

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)

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

Area:
  total area: 150 sq km
  land area: 150 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
  note: includes the island of Anegada

Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep,
  hilly
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 7%
  meadows and pastures: 33%
  forest and woodland: 7%
  other: 33%

Environment:
  current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a
  few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's
  water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
  natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.78 years male: 70.93 years female: 74.75 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
  total population: 97.8%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952), hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor David
  MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995) who was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May
  1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity
  STOUTT) was appointed by the governor from among the members of the
  Legislative Council
  cabinet: Executive Council is appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: election last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (13 total) VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3

Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO;
Virgin Islands Party (VIP); Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), E.
Walwyln BREWLEY

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

Flag: 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)

Economic 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 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. 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 traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands have used the dollar as their currency since 1959.

Budget:
  revenues: $77.1 million
  expenditures: $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY93/94)

Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete
block, offshore financial center

Electricity: capacity: 10,500 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,148 kWh (1993)

Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities: rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA
international: submarine cable to Bermuda

Location: 4 30 N, 114 40 E — Southeastern Asia, bordering the
South China Sea and Malaysia

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

Area:
  total area: 5,770 sq km
  land area: 5,270 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island

Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly
  lowland in west
  lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
  highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 79%
  other: 18%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very
  rare
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law
  of the Sea

Geographic 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 51,266; female 49,194)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 98,806; female 88,323)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 6,843; female 5,507) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.24 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.39 years male: 69.82 years female: 73.04 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 88.2%
  male: 92.6%
  female: 83.4%

Name of country:
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)

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His
  Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin
  Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967) is a traditional Islamic monarch
  cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers is composed chiefly of members
  of the royal family, appointed and presided over by the sultan;
  deals with executive matters
  Religious Council: is appointed by the sultan; advises on religious
  matters
  Privy Council: is appointed by the sultan; deals with constitutional
  matters
  the Council of Succession: is appointed by the sultan; determines
  the succession to the throne if the need arises

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri): elections last held in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan; 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 sultan for a three-year term

Political parties and leaders: Brunei United National Party
  (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity
  Party (the first legal political party and now banned), leader NA;
  Brunei Peoples Party (banned), leader NA

International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador JAYA bin Abdul Latif
  chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW,
  Washington, DC 20037
  telephone: [1] (202) 342-0159
  FAX: [1] (202) 342-0158

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Theresa A. TULL
  embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
  Begawan
  mailing address: American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP
  96440
  telephone: [673] (2) 229670
  FAX: [673] (2) 225293

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The 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 more than 40% of GDP. Per capita GDP is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

Labor force: 119,000 (1993 est.); note - includes members of the
  Army
  by occupation: government 47.5%, production of oil, natural gas,
  services, and construction 41.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  3.8% (1986)
  note: 33% of labor force is foreign (1988)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.1 billion
  expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $427
  million (1993)

Electricity: capacity: 380,000 kW production: 1.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,971 kWh (1993)

Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products partners: Japan 50%, UK 19%, Thailand 10%, Singapore 9% (1994 est.)

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
  food, chemicals
  partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 5% (1994
  est.)

Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.4214 (January 1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Merchant marine:
total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476
GRT/340,635 DWT (1994 est.)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: service throughout country is adequate for
  present needs; international service good to adjacent Malaysia
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
  and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 83,641 males fit for military service: 48,559 males reach military age (18) annually: 2,918 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $312 million, 6.2% of GDP (1994)

Location: 43 00 N, 25 00 E — Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

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)

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey

Area:
  total area: 110,910 sq km
  land area: 110,550 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,808 km
  border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
  Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all
  with Serbia), Turkey 240 km

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

Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Land use:
  arable land: 34%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 18%
  forest and woodland: 35%
  other: 10%

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
  natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
  Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
  Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls
key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 769,025; female 732,119)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 2,891,197; female 2,923,440)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 561,944; female 735,032) (July 1996
  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: 0.76 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71 years male: 67.07 years female: 75.12 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%,
Macedonian 2.5%, Armenian 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%

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: age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97%

Name of country: 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: based on civil law system with Soviet law influence; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Zhelyu Mitev ZHELEV (since 1 August 1990,
  when he was elected by the National Assembly); president and vice
  president elected for five-year terms by popular vote; election last
  held NA January 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Zhelyu
  ZHELEV elected by popular vote; Vice President (vacant)
  head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime
  Minister) Zhan VIDENOV (since 25 January 1995) appointed by the
  president; Deputy Prime Ministers Doncho KONAKCHIEV (since 25
  January 1995), Atanas PAPAKIZOV (since NA), Rumen GECHEV (since 25
  January 1995), Svetoslav SHIVAROV (since 25 January 1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Narodno Sobranie): last held 18 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1997); results - BSP 43.5%, UDF 24.2%, PU 6.5%, MRF 5.4%, BBB 4.7%; seats - (240 total) BSP 125, UDF 69, PU 18, MRF 15, BBB 13

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices appointed or elected for a nine-year term

Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP),
  Zhan VIDENOV, chairman; Union of Democratic Forces (UDF - an
  alliance of pro-Democratic parties), Ivan KOSTOV; People's Union
  (PU), Stefan SAVOV; Movement for Rights and Freedoms (mainly ethnic
  Turkish party) (MRF), Ahmed DOGAN; Bulgarian Business Bloc (BBB),
  George GANCHEV

Other political or pressure groups: Democratic Alliance for the
  Republic (DAR); New Union for Democracy (NUD); Ecoglasnost; Podkrepa
  Labor Confederation; Fatherland Union; Bulgarian Communist Party
  (BCP); Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB);
  Bulgarian Agrarian National Union - United (BZNS); Bulgarian
  Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National
  Union; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Union of
  Macedonian Societies (IMRO-UMS); numerous regional, ethnic, and
  national interest groups with various agendas

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOT, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant), ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Snezhana Damianova BOTUSHAROVA chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-7969 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
  embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia
  mailing address: Unit 1335, APO AE 09213-1335
  telephone: [359] (2) 88-48-01 through 05
  FAX: [359] (2) 80-19-77

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: One of the poorest countries of central Europe, Bulgaria has continued the difficult process of moving from its old command economy to a modern, market-oriented economy. GDP rose a moderate 2.4% in 1995; inflation was down sharply; and unemployment fell from an estimated 16% to 12%. Despite this progress, structural reforms necessary to underpin macroeconomic stabilization were not pursued vigorously. Mass privatization of state-owned industry continued to move slowly, although privatization of small-scale industry, particularly in the retail and service sectors, accelerated. The Bulgarian economy will continue to grow in 1996, but economic reforms will remain politically difficult as the population has become weary of the process.

Labor force: 3.1 million by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 18%, other 41% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.8 billion
  expenditures: $4.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994)

Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals

Electricity: capacity: 11,500,000 kW production: 38.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,342 kWh (1994)

Illicit drugs: important transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine transiting the Balkan route; limited producer of precursor chemicals

Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: machinery and equipment 12.8%; agriculture and food
  21.9%; textiles and apparel 14%; metals and ores 19.7%; chemicals
  16.9%; minerals and fuels 9.3%
  partners: former CEMA countries 35.7%; OECD 46.6% (EU 33.5%); Arab
  countries 5.1%; other 12.6%

Imports: $4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials 30.1%; machinery and
  equipment 23.6%; textiles and apparel 11.6%; agricultural products
  10.8%; metals and ores 6.8%; chemicals 12.3%; other 4.8%
  partners: former CEMA countries 40.3%; OECD 48.3% (EU 34.1%); Arab
  countries 1.7%; other 9.7%

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $39 million (1993)
  note: $700 million in balance of payments support from Western
  nations (1994)

Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1 - 70.5 (December 1995), 54.2 (1994), 27.1 (1993), 23.3 (1992), 18.4 (1991); note - floating exchange rate since February 1991

Railways:
  total: 4,292 km
  standard gauge: 4,047 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917
  double track)
  other: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 36,932 km
  paved: 33,904 km (including 276 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 3,028 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,400 km (1992)

Merchant marine:
  total: 103 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,084,090
  GRT/1,596,735 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 45, cargo 27, chemical tanker 4, container 2,
  oil tanker 13, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1
  note: Bulgaria owns an additional 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 135,016 DWT operating under the registries of Liberia and
  Malta (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 355
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 17
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with paved runways under 914 m: 88
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 226 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: almost two-thirds of the lines are residential;
  67% of Sofia households have telephones (November 1988 est.)
  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

Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Troops,
Internal Troops

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,155,332 males fit for military service: 1,797,318 males reach military age (19) annually: 64,568 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $352 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)

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

Area:
  total area: 274,200 sq km
  land area: 273,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Colorado

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

International disputes: following mutual acceptance of an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in December 1986 on their international boundary dispute, Burkina Faso and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in
  west and southeast
  lowest point: 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: 10%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 37%
  forest and woodland: 26%
  other: 27%

Environment:
  current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely
  affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the
  economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
  natural hazards: recurring droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
  Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 2,569,806; female 2,537,106)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 2,444,601; female 2,738,726)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 145,479; female 187,605) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 43.21 years male: 43.46 years female: 42.95 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 19.2%
  male: 29.5%
  female: 9.2%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
  Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo,
  Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
  Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
  Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October
  1987) elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election last
  held NA December 1991 (next to be held NA 1998)
  head of government: Prime Minister Roch KABORE (since NA March 1994)
  appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of People's Deputies: elections last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (107 total), ODP-MT 78, CNPP-PSD 12, RDA 6, ADF 4, other 7 note: the current law also provides for a second consultative chamber, which has not been formally constituted

Political parties and leaders: Organization for People's Democracy
  - Labor Movement (ODP-MT), ruling party, Secretary General Simon
  COMPAORE; National Convention of Progressive Patriots-Social
  Democratic Party (CNPP-PSD), Moussa BOLY; African Democratic Rally
  (RDA), Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO; Alliance for Democracy and Federation
  (ADF), Amadou Michel NANA

Other political or pressure groups: committees for the defense of
the revolution; watchdog/political action groups throughout the
country in both organizations and communities

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,
  NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan R. OUEDRAOGO chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577, 6895

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. MCCONNELL embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou telephone: [226] 306723 through 306725 FAX: [226] 303890

Flag: 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

Economic overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina Faso has a high population density and a high population growth rate, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications network within a landlocked country. Agriculture is mainly subsistence farming. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the Communaute Financiere Africaine currency devaluation on 12 January 1994, exports appear to have risen, but no official figures have been released yet. The upswing apparently continued in 1995, with growth perhaps at 4%. The government has updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, yet even with the best of plans, the government faces formidable problems on all sides.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 24% services: 44% (1990 est.)

Labor force: NA (most adults are employed in subsistence
  agriculture)
  by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 15%, commerce, services,
  and government 5%
  note: 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring
  countries for seasonal employment (1984)

Budget:
  revenues: $483 million
  expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $189
  million (1992)

Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap,
cigarettes, textiles, gold

Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 17 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock

Exports: $273 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: cotton, gold, animal products
partners: EC, Cote d'Ivoire, Taiwan, Thailand

Imports: $636 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum
partners: EC, Africa, Japan

Railways:
  total: 622 km (1995 est.)
  narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (517 km Ouagadougou to Cote
  d'Ivoire border and 105 km opened in 1993 from Ouagadougou to Kaya)

Airports:
  total: 23
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 8
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: all services only fair domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police,
People's Militia

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,149,485 males fit for military service: 1,101,184 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 6.4% of GDP (1994)

Location: 22 00 N, 98 00 E — Southeastern Asia, bordering the
Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay
of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Area:
  total area: 678,500 sq km
  land area: 657,740 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,876 km
  border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
  Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

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)

Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
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%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 49%
  other: 34%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil,
  and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to
  disease
  natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and
  landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic
  droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
  Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Tropical
  Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37% (male 8,637,102; female 8,308,282)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 13,577,232; female 13,571,312)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 853,403; female 1,028,294) (July 1996
  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: 0.83 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.14 years male: 54.46 years female: 57.92 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 83.1%
  male: 88.7%
  female: 77.7%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman
  of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since
  23 April 1992)
  State Law and Order Restoration Council: military junta which
  assumed power 18 September 1988

Legislative branch:
  People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw): election last held 27 May 1990,
  but Assembly never convened; results - NLD 80%; seats - (485 total)
  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: Union Solidarity and Development
  Association (USDA; pro-regime), THAN AUNG, secretary; National Unity
  Party (NUP), pro-regime, THA KYAW; National League for Democracy
  (NLD), AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary; and eight minor legal
  parties

Other political or pressure groups: National Coalition Government
  of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), headed by the elected prime minister
  SEIN WIN - consists of individuals legitimately elected to the
  People's Assembly but not recognized by the military regime; the
  group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December
  1990 to form a parallel government; Kachin Independence Army (KIA);
  United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU); several
  Shan factions, including the Mong Tai Army (MTA); All Burma Student
  Democratic Front (ABSDF)

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Mekong Group,
  NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador U THAUNG chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044, 9045 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marilyn A.
  MEYERS
  embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
  mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
  telephone: [95] (1) 82055, 82182 (operator assistance required)
  FAX: [95] (1) 80409

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Burma has a mixed economy with about 75% private activity, mainly in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with about 25% state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy industry, and foreign trade. Government policy in the last seven years, 1989-95, 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 60% industry: 10% services: 30% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 16.007 million (1992) by occupation: agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade 10.1%, government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY88/89 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.3 billion
  expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products; petroleum refining; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer

Electricity: capacity: 845,000 kW production: 3.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 46 kWh (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs: world's largest illicit producer of opium (2,340 metric tons in 1995) and source for over 60% of US heroin imports; minor producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; Rangoon's antinarcotic programs hindered by lack of resources, government commitment; growing role in methamphetamine production for regional consumption

Exports: $879 million (FY94/95 est.) commodities: pulses and beans, teak, rice, hardwood partners: Singapore, China, Thailand, India, Hong Kong

Imports: $1.5 billion (FY94/95 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, food products, consumer goods partners: Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia

Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1 - 5.8475 (January 1996), 5.9170 (1995), 5.9749 (1994), 6.1570 (1993), 6.1045 (1992), 6.2837 (1991); unofficial - 120

Ports: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina,
Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy

Merchant marine:
  total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 444,957 GRT/610,420 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 15, chemical tanker 5, container 1,
  oil tanker 3, passenger-cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 74
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10
  with paved runways under 914 m: 28
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 17 (1995 est.)

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)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1985 est.)
note: radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 11,759,636 females age 15-49: 11,588,181 males fit for military service: 6,291,986 females fit for military service: 6,184,667 males reach military age (18) annually: 473,255 females reach military age (18) annually: 454,786 (1996 est.) note: both sexes liable for military service

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $135 million, NA% of GDP (FY95/96)

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)

Area:
  total area: 27,830 sq km
  land area: 25,650 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: total: 974 km border countries: Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire 233 km

Climate: temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands; dry season
from June to September

Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east,
  some plains
  lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
  highest point: Mount Heha 2,760 m

Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat,
cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium

Land use:
  arable land: 43%
  permanent crops: 8%
  meadows and pastures: 35%
  forest and woodland: 2%
  other: 12%

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
  natural hazards: flooding, landslides
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but
  not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of
  the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 1,404,375; female 1,398,228)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 1,454,545; female 1,527,644)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 62,955; female 95,310) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -12.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
  note: in a number of waves since October 1993, hundreds of thousands
  of refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi
  factions in Burundi and crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire;
  the refugee flows are continuing in 1996 as the ethnic violence
  persists

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.33 years male: 48.28 years female: 50.42 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions:
Africans: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%
non-Africans: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 35.3%
  male: 49.3%
  female: 22.5%

Name of country:
  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

Constitution: 13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a
plural political system

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and
customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA (acting president
  from 8 April 1994 to 30 September 1994, president since 1 October
  1994); note - NTIBANTUNGANYA, in his capacity as President of the
  National Assembly, became acting president upon the death of
  President Cyprien NTARYAMIRE in an airplane crash on 6 April 1994;
  NTIBANTUNGANYA was sworn in on 1 October 1994 as president by the
  "Convention on Government" to serve a four year transitional term
  head of government: Prime Minister Antoine NDUWAYO (since February
  1995)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 29 June 1993 (next to be held NA); results - FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats - (81 total) 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 (UPRONA); Burundi Democratic Front (FRODEBU); Organization of the People of Burundi (RBP); Socialist Party of Burundi (PSB); People's Reconciliation Party (PRP); opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation (ABASA); Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development (RADDES); and Party for National Redress (PARENA)

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, ISO
  (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Severin NTAHOMVUKIYE chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles YELLIN embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] (2) 23454 FAX: [257] (2) 22926

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic development. 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. As part of its economic reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with IMF and World Bank support, Burundi is trying to diversify its agricultural exports, attract foreign investment in industry, and modernize government budgetary practices. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 100,000 persons and the displacement of a million others; production has fallen sharply, and an impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement these needed reform programs.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 54.1% industry: 16.8% services: 29.1% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1.9 million (1983 est.) by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5%

Budget:
  revenues: $318 million
  expenditures: $326 million, including capital expenditures of $150
  million (1991 est.)

Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Electricity: capacity: 55,000 kW production: 100 million kWh consumption per capita: 20 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc; meat, milk, hides

Exports: $68 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides partners: EC 57%, US 19%, Asia 1%

Imports: $203 million (c.i.f., 1993)
  commodities: capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs,
  consumer goods
  partners: EC 45%, Asia 29%, US 2%

Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 268.13 (November 1995), 252.66 (1994), 242.78 (1993), 208.30 (1992), 181.51 (1991), 171.26 (1990)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,312,458 males fit for military service: 683,073 males reach military age (16) annually: 67,990 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $25 million, 2.6% of GDP (1993)

Location: 13 00 N, 105 00 E — Southeastern Asia, bordering the
Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand and Vietnam

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand,
between Thailand and Vietnam

Area:
  total area: 181,040 sq km
  land area: 176,520 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma

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

International disputes: offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border with Thailand in dispute; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north 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: 16%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 76%
  other: 4%

Environment:
  current issues: 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); deforestation; soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority
  of the population does not have access to potable water
  natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding;
  occasional droughts
  international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Ship
  Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
  Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the
Mekong River and Tonle Sap

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 2,505,998; female 2,432,620)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 2,579,986; female 3,007,838)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 143,759; female 191,017) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.93 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.86 years male: 48.39 years female: 51.39 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 35%
  male: 48%
  female: 22%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
  conventional short form: Cambodia
  local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
  local short form: Kampuchea

Type of government: multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (khett, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev note: a new province of Otdar Mean Cheay may have been created from parts of Banteay Mean Cheay and Siem Reab

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
  is a constitutional monarch
  head of government: power shared between First Prime Minister Prince
  Norodom RANARIDDH (since NA 1993) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN
  (since NA 1993) who were appointed by the king
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: members elected for five-year terms; elections last held 23 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) FUNCINPEC 58, CPP 51, Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party 10, Molinaka 1 note: the May 1993 elections were for the Constituent Assembly which became the National Assembly after the new constitution was promulgated in September 1993

Judicial branch: Supreme Court provided for by the constitution has not yet been established and the future judicial system is yet to be defined by law

Political parties and leaders: National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party, SON SANN faction; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party, IENG MOULY faction; Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU SAMPHAN; Molinaka, PROM NEAKAREACH

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH
  chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
  telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
  FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 426436, 426438 FAX: [855] (23) 426437

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by decades of war - is slowly recovering. Government leaders are moving toward restoring fiscal and monetary discipline and have established good working relations with international financial institutions. Growth, starting from a low base, has been strong in 1991-95. Despite such positive developments, the reconstruction effort faces many tough challenges because of the persistence of internal political divisions and the related lack of confidence of foreign investors. Rural Cambodia, where 90% of about 9.5 million Khmer live, remains mired in poverty. The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the countryside will hinder development and will contribute to a growing imbalance in growth between urban and rural areas over the near term. Moreover, the government's lack of experience in administering economic and technical assistance programs and rampant corruption among officials will slow the growth of critical public sector investment. The decline of inflation from the 1992 rate of more than 50% is one of the bright spots.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 13.5% services: 34.5% (1993)

Labor force: 2.5 million to 3 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1988 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $210 million
  expenditures: $346 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber,
cement, gem mining

Electricity: capacity: 40,000 kW production: 160 million kWh consumption per capita: 14 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: key transshipment country for Golden Triangle heroin en route to West; possibly becoming money-laundering center; high-level narcotics-related corruption in government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis

Exports: $240.7 million (1995 est.) commodities: timber, rubber, soybeans, sesame partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia

Imports: $630.5 million (1995 est.) commodities: cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: IMF pledged $120 million in aid for 1995-98

Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1 - 2,585 (December 1994), 2,470 (December 1993), 2,800 (September 1992), 500 (December 1991), 560 (1990)

Waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282
km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m

Merchant marine:
total: 5 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,451 GRT/18,280
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 14
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: service barely adequate for government
  requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public
  domestic: NA
  international: landline international service limited to Vietnam and
  other adjacent countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
  (Indian Ocean Region)

Branches:
  Khmer Royal Armed Forces (KRAF): created in 1993 by the merger of
  the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist
  resistance armies; note - the KRAF is also known as the Royal
  Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)
  Resistance forces: National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer
  Rouge)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,336,606 males fit for military service: 1,302,234 males reach military age (18) annually: 79,514 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $85 million, 1.4% of GDP (1995)

Location: 6 00 N, 12 00 E — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Area:
  total area: 475,440 sq km
  land area: 469,440 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,591 km
  border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,
  Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690
  km

International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in 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 in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the International Court of Justice

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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 18%
  forest and woodland: 54%
  other: 13%

Environment:
  current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
  overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
  natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous
  gases
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
  Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Tropical Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 3,295,924; female 3,266,429)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 3,602,037; female 3,627,625)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 213,176; female 256,366) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.6 years male: 51.55 years female: 53.68 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 63.4%
  male: 75%
  female: 52.1%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
  conventional short form: Cameroon
  former: French Cameroon

Type of government: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 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) elected
  for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 11
  October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results - President
  Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread
  allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the
  vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April
  1992) appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 1 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6

Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) (government-controlled and the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president major opposition parties: National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR)

Other political or pressure groups: Alliance for Change (FAC),
Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  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, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde telephone: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12 FAX: [237] 23-07-53

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Because of its offshore oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed, most diversified primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as political instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector led to rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in the prices of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management were exposed. In 1990-93, with support from the IMF and World Bank, the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the nation's banks. Political instability, following suspect elections in 1992, brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a halt; currently Cameroon receives only minimal assistance from those Bretton Woods institutions. Although the 50% devaluation of the currency of 12 January 1994 improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement remains the main barrier to economic improvement. The devaluation led to a spurt in inflation, to 48% in 1994, but inflation moderated in 1995. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry remains slow.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 24% services: 47% (1994 est.)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%,
other services 14.2% (1983)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.6 billion
  expenditures: $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $226
  million (FY92/93 est.)

Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing,
light consumer goods, textiles, lumber

Electricity: capacity: 630,000 kW production: 2.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 196 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, aluminum, cocoa beans, coffee, cotton partners: EU (particularly France) about 50%, African countries, US

Imports: $810 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods, transport equipment, petroleum products partners: EU (France 38%, Germany), African countries, Japan 5%, US 5%

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
  1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
  282.11 (1991)
  note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
  100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
  1948

Merchant marine:
total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 45
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 13
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: available only to business and government domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force,
National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,112,339 males fit for military service: 1,572,150 males reach military age (18) annually: 151,300 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $102 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)

Location: 60 00 N, 95 00 W — Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band

Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Area:
  total area: 9,976,140 sq km
  land area: 9,220,970 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than US

Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km border country: 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

International disputes: maritime boundary disputes with the US;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute
between Canada and France

Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
  southeast
  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: 9%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 45%
  other: 43%

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
  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
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, 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, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
  Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic 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 161 km of the US/Canada border

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 21% (male 3,032,458; female 2,889,603)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 9,663,955; female 9,660,648)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 1,501,542; female 2,072,465) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.07 years male: 75.67 years female: 82.65 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%,
other European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%, other, mostly
Asian 11.5%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*;
  Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
  Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
  Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to
Canada 17 April 1982; 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), a
  hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC
  (since 8 February 1995), who was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
  1993) was appointed by the governor general; on 25 October 1993;
  Deputy Prime Minister Sheila COPPS (since NA); note - the prime
  minister is the leader of the political party commanding a majority
  in the House of Commons
  cabinet: Federal Ministry was chosen by the prime minister from
  members of his own party sitting in Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) Senate (Senat): consisting of a body whose members are appointed to serve until 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators House of Commons (Chambre des Communes): elections last held 25 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent of votes by party NA; seats - (295 total) Liberal Party 179, Bloc Quebecois 53, Reform Party 52, New Democratic Party 8, Progressive Conservative Party 2, independents 1

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party, Jean CHRETIEN; Bloc
  Quebecois, Michel GAUTHIER; Reform Party, Preston MANNING; New
  Democratic Party, Alexa MCDONOUGH; Progressive Conservative Party,
  Jean CHAREST

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG
  (observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB
  (non-regional), EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-
  7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD,
  OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN
  chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
  telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
  FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
  Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
  consulate(s): Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia,
  Pittsburgh, Princeton, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and San
  Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: [1] (613) 238-5720 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver

Flag: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band

Economic overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. 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. Canada started the 1990s in recession, and real rates of growth have averaged only 1.1% so far this decade. Because of slower growth, Canada still faces high unemployment and a large public sector debt. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, however, Canada will enjoy better economic prospects in the future. The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the confederation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.

Labor force: 13.38 million by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4% (1988)

Budget:
  revenues: $90.4 billion
  expenditures: $114.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Electricity: capacity: 108,090,000 kW production: 511 billion kWh consumption per capita: 16,133 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported

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

Exports: $185 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum,
  machinery, natural gas, aluminum, motor vehicles and parts;
  telecommunications equipment
  partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China

Imports: $166.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable
  consumer goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment
  and parts
  partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea

Economic aid: donor: ODA, $2.373 billion (1993) note: ODA and OOF commitments, $10.1 billion (1986-91)

Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.3666 (January 1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 70,176 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: 70,000 km 1.435-m gauge (63 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 176 km 0.914-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 849,404 km
  paved: 297,291 km (including 15,983 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 552,113 km (1991 est.)

Ports: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Montreal, New
  Westminister, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick),
  Saint John's (Newfoundland), Seven Islands, Sydney, Three Rivers,
  Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor

Merchant marine:
  total: 62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 573,089 GRT/804,436 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 15,
  passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 7, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
  note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 1,138
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 17
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 136
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 226
  with paved runways under 914 m: 422
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 53
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 269 (1995 est.)

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)

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)

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 7,645,245
  males fit for military service: 6,575,057
  males reach military age (17) annually: 197,688 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.0 billion,
1.6% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 16 00 N, 24 00 W — Western Africa, group of Islands in
the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

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

Location: Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal

Area:
  total area: 4,030 sq km
  land area: 4,030 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico 2,829 m

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 85%

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
  indigenous species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
  natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
  visibility; volcanically and seismically active
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic 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: 50% (male 114,206; female 110,276)
  15-64 years: 46% (male 90,593; female 117,485)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 6,450; female 10,056) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.39 years male: 61.47 years female: 65.41 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 71.6%
  male: 81.4%
  female: 63.8%

Name of country:
  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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22
  March 1991) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
  election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
  2001); results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received
  80.1% of vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho
  VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) nominated by the People'sNational
  Assembly and appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister from
  members of the Peoples National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
  People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular): elections
  last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA); results - MPD 59%,
  PAICV 28%, PCD 6%; seats - (72 total) MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1

Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime
  Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for
  Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES,
  chairman; Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD)

International organization participation: 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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA-CARLOS
  chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
  FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
  consulate(s) general: Boston

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS
  embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
  mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
  telephone: [238] 61 56 16
  FAX: [238] 61 13 55

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for 60% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GNP is only 13%, of which fishing accounts for 4%. 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 remittances from emigrants and foreign aid, which form important supplements to GDP. 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 1996 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 17% services: 70% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.) by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)

Budget:
  revenues: $174 million
  expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165
  million (1993 est.)

Industries: fish processing, salt mining, garments, ship repair,
food and beverages

Electricity: capacity: 15,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for
illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for
Western Europe

Exports: $4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities: fish, bananas
partners: Netherlands, Portugal, Angola, Spain

Imports: $173 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
  commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products,
  transport equipment
  partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, France,
  Cote d'Ivoire

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 77.860 (December 1995), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991)

Merchant marine: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.)
total: 4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT

Airports:
  total: 6
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system
  international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to
  Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
  (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army
and Navy), Security Service

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 84,003 males fit for military service: 48,885 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.4 million, NA% of GDP (1994)

Location: 19 30 N, 80 30 W — Caribbean, island group in Caribbean
Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

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

Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly
one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Area:
  total area: 260 sq km
  land area: 260 sq km
  comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 8%
  forest and woodland: 23%
  other: 69%

Environment:
  current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water
  supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
  natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
  international agreements: NA

Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 98%

Name of country: 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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
  John OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
  cabinet: Executive Council - three members are appointed by the
  governor, four members are elected by the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: election last held 18 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 12

International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB,
Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Flag: 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

Economic overview: With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center. 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 one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. 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.)

Labor force: 8,061
  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: $141.5 million
  expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1991)

Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
construction materials, furniture

Electricity: capacity: 80,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: a major money-laundering center for illicit drug
profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and
Europe

Exports: $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners: mostly US

Imports: $312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18
November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Merchant marine:
  total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil
  tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4
  note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 1 ship, India 1,
  Norway 1, US 3, Sweden 1, and UAE 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station -
  1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

Area:
  total area: 622,980 sq km
  land area: 622,980 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,203 km
  border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km,
  Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mount Gaou 1,420 m

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 64%
  other: 28%

Environment:
  current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished
  reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification
  natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern
  areas; floods are common
  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: 44% (male 724,914; female 718,423)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 839,118; female 877,069)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 53,418; female 61,484) (July 1996 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.86 years male: 45.03 years female: 46.71 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 60%
  male: 68.5%
  female: 52.4%

Name of country:
  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 PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
  elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - PATASSE
  received 52.45% of the votes and Abel GOUMBA received 45.62%
  head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE (since 6 June
  1996); appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 19
  September 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (85 total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3,
  others 22
  note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
  Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together
  they are called the Congress (Congres)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), judges appointed by
the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the
president

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Progress
  (ADP), Tchapka BREDE; Central African Democratic Assembly (RDC),
  Andre KOLINGBA; Civic Forum (FC), Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA; Liberal
  Democratic Party (PLD), Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON; Movement for the
  Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), the party of the
  president, Ange Felix PATASSE; Movement for Democracy and
  Development (MDD), David DACKO; Marginal Movement for Democracy,
  Renaissance and Evolution (MDREC), Joseph BENDOUNGA; Patriotic Front
  for Progress (FFP), Abel GOUMBA; Social Democratic Party (PSD),
  Enoch Derant LAKOUE

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800, 7801 FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mosina H. JORDAN embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00, 61 25 78, 61 02 10 FAX: [236] 61 44 94

Flag: 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

Economic 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 13% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 80%. 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. A major plus is the large forest reserves, which the government is moving to protect from overexploitation. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. While diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased - leading GDP to increase by 5.5% - inflation rose to 45%, fueled by the rising prices of imports on which the economy depends; inflation dropped back rapidly in 1995. The CAR's poor resource base and primitive infrastructure will keep it dependent on multilateral donors and France for the foreseeable future.

Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.)
  by occupation: agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry
  3%, government 3%
  note: about 64,000 salaried workers (1985)

Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Electricity: capacity: 40,000 kW production: 100 million kWh consumption per capita: 29 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

Exports: $154 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco partners: France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US, Spain, Iran

Imports: $215 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products partners: France, other EC countries, Japan, Algeria, Cameroon, Namibia

Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river

Airports:
  total: 48
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 11
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 24 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Central African Army (includes Republican Guard), Air
Force, National Gendarmerie, Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 737,330 males fit for military service: 384,134 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2.3% of GDP (1994)

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

Area:
  total area: 1.284 million sq km
  land area: 1,259,200 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
  California

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,968 km
  border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197
  km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km

International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains part of the airfield and a small military presence at the airfield's water supply located in Chad; demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria

Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south lowest point: Djourab Depression 175 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under
way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 36%
  forest and woodland: 11%
  other: 51%

Environment:
  current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste
  disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
  desertification
  natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
  periodic droughts; locust plagues
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant
water body in the Sahel

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 1,543,688; female 1,535,729)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 1,807,361; female 1,881,930)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 91,998; female 116,139) (July 1996 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
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.55 years male: 45.18 years female: 50.01 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French north and center: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba) south: non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa)

Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango
(in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in French or Arabic
  (1995 est.)
  total population: 48.1%
  male: 62.1%
  female: 34.7%

Name of country: 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, after seizing power on 3 December 1990); note - transitional
  government's mandate was scheduled to expire in May 1996; the first
  round of presidential elections was scheduled for 2 June 1996, with
  a runoff on 23 June if necessary
  head of government: Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April
  1995) elected by the Sovereign National Conference
  cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on
  recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition:
  popular elections to the former National Consultative Council
  (Conceil National Consultatif) were last held 8 July 1990; this body
  was disbanded on 3 December 1990 by President DEBY and on 8 March
  1991 replaced with the Provisional Council of the Republic having 30
  members whom he appointed; this body, in turn, was replaced on 6
  April 1993 by a 57-member Higher Transitional Council (Conseil
  Superieur de Transition) elected by a specially convened Sovereign
  National Conference; popular elections, formerly scheduled for April
  1995, were initially postponed by mutual agreement of the parties
  concerned until at least May 1996 and subsequently postponed until
  after the rainy season (as late as October 1996); note - the name of
  the anticipated new legislative body has not been announced

Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), former dissident group, Idriss DEBY, chairman note: President DEBY, who promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by April 1994, subsequently twice postponed these initiatives; there are numerous dissident groups and at least 45 opposition political parties

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC,
  UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence E. POPE II embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33 FAX: [235] (51) 56-54

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than 80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to postpone payment of public sector salaries and to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers. The devaluation resulted in stepped-up inflation of 41% in 1994; in contrast to other Francophone countries, Chad continued to suffer high inflation in 1995 because of the government's lack of financial discipline. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will continue to limp along in the near term.

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and
fishing)

Budget:
  revenues: $120 million
  expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104
  million (1992 est.)

Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron
(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Electricity: capacity: 40,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 13 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Exports: $132 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles, fish partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Sudan, Central African Republic

Imports: $201 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; textiles; note - excludes military equipment partners: US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Italy, Germany

Exchange rates: CFA Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
  1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
  282.11 (1991)
  note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
  100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
  1948

Airports:
  total: 47
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 11
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 18 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: primitive system domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.) note: limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative

Branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and
Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,562,052 males fit for military service: 809,210 males reach military age (20) annually: 63,254 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $74 million, 11.1% of GDP (1994)

Location: 30 00 S, 71 00 W — Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

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

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

Area:
  total area: 756,950 sq km
  land area: 748,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
  note: includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) 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

International disputes: short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is indefinite; 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

Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged
  Andes in east
  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: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 16%
  forest and woodland: 21%
  other: 56%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
  water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss
  of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification
  natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, 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 - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic 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: 29% (male 2,071,816; female 2,041,417)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 4,599,173; female 4,651,030)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 403,019; female 566,803) (July 1996 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.49 years male: 71.26 years female: 77.72 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 95.2%
  male: 95.4%
  female: 95%

Name of country: 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 and head of government: President Eduardo FREI
  Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994) elected for a four-year term by
  popular vote; election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held
  NA December 1997); results - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%,
  Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) Senate (Senado): election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total, 38 elected) Coalition of Parties for Democracy 21 (PDC 13, PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 15 (RN 11, UDI 3, UCC 1), right-wing independents 10 Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 53.95% (PDC 27.16%, PS 12.01%, PPD 11.82%, PR 2.96%), Union for the Progress of Chile 30.57% (RN 15.25%, UDI 12.13%, UCC 3.19%); seats - (120 total) Coalition of Parties for Democracy 70 (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing independent 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 47 (RN 30, UDI 15, UCC 2), right-wing independents 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president, the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 17-member court

Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy
  (CPD) consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party (PDC),
  Alejandro FOXLEY; Socialist Party (PS), Camilo ESCALONA; Party for
  Democracy (PPD), Jorge SCHAULSOHN, Radical Party (PR); Union for the
  Progress of Chile (UPP) consists mainly of three parties: National
  Renewal (RN), Andres ALLAMAND; Independent Democratic Union (UDI),
  Jovino NOVOA; Center Center Union (UCCP), Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ

Other political or pressure groups: revitalized university student
  federations at all major universities; labor - United Labor Central
  (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, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
  ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate member), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA,
  RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador John BIEHL del Rio chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746 FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago mailing address: use street address telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy, with the degree of government intervention varying according to the philosophy of the different regimes. Under the center-left government of President AYLWIN, which took power in March 1990, spending on social welfare rose steadily. At the same time business investment, exports, and consumer spending also grew substantially. The new president, FREI, who took office in March 1994, has emphasized social spending even more. Growth in real GDP in 1991-95 has averaged more than 6.5% annually, with an estimated one million Chileans having moved out of poverty in the last four years. Copper remains vital to the health of the economy; Chile is the world's largest producer and exporter of copper. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends on world copper prices, the level of confidence of foreign investors and creditors, and the government's own ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.4% services: 56.2% (1985)

Labor force: 4.728 million
  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: capacity: 4,810,000 kW production: 22 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,499 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes,
fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; 1991 fish catch of 6.6 million
metric tons

Illicit drugs: a minor transshipment country for cocaine destined
for the US and Europe; booming economy has made it more attractive
to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits

Exports: $15.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, wood
  products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991)
  partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.)

Imports: $14.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials
  15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7%
  partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.)

Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 408.64 (December 1995), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991)

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: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanarol, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto
Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso

Merchant marine:
  total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 529,512 GRT/925,364 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, combination
  ore/oil 2, container 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 4,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 344
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 16
  with paved runways under 914 m: 220
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 68 (1995 est.)

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)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,808,655 males fit for military service: 2,832,198 males reach military age (19) annually: 123,443 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $970 million, 2.0% of GDP (1994 est.)

Location: 35 00 N, 105 00 E — Eastern Asia, bordering the East
China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North
Korea and Vietnam

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

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,
Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Area:
  total area: 9,596,960 sq km
  land area: 9,326,410 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than the US

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, Kazakstan 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:
  continental shelf: claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and
  Yellow Sea
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: boundary with India in dispute; disputed sections of the boundary with Russia remain to be settled; boundary with Tajikistan in dispute; short section of the boundary with North Korea 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

Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, 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%
  meadows and pastures: 31%
  forest and woodland: 14%
  other: 45%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from the overwhelming use of
  high-sulfur coal as a fuel, produces acid rain which is damaging
  forests; water shortages experienced throughout the country,
  particularly in urban areas; future growth in water usage threatens
  to outpace supplies; water pollution from industrial effluents; much
  of the population does not have access to potable water; less than
  10% of sewage receives treatment; deforestation; estimated loss of
  one-fifth of agricultural land since 1957 to soil erosion and
  economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species
  natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along
  southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis;
  earthquakes; droughts
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
  signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 167,448,148; female 151,601,650)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 421,455,418; female 393,913,510)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 35,056,409; female 40,529,821) (July
  1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.62 years male: 68.33 years female: 71.06 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 81.5%
  male: 89.9%
  female: 72.7%

Name of country:
  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 3
  municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**,
  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

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 RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993) elected by the National
  People's Congress; election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held
  NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the Eighth
  National People's Congress
  head of government: Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24
  November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988) nominated by the
  president, decided by the National People's Congress; Vice Premiers
  ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991), ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991),
  QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU
  Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and JIANG Chunyun (since 17 March
  1995) nominated by the president, decided by the National People's
  Congress
  cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress
  (NPC)

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui): elections
  last held NA March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); results -
  CCP is the only party but there are also independents; seats -
  (2,977 total) (elected at county or xian level)

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the
National People's Congress

Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party (CCP),
JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee; eight
registered small parties controlled by CCP

Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition as
exists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party and
government organization, that vary by issue

International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC,
  ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
  Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN Security Council,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNTSO, UNU,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador LI Daoyu
  chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
  San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: 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 telephone: [86] (10) 5323831 FAX: [86] (10) 5326422 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to one that is more market-oriented, 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 strong surge in production. 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 and modern production methods helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. GDP has more than tripled since 1978. 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 1992-95 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas - averaging more than 10% annually according to official figures. 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 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 extortion 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. From 60 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-pay 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 the nation's long-term economic viability. One of the most dangerous long-term threats 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. The amount of arable land continues to decline because of erosion and economic development, the cumulative loss since the Communist takeover in 1949 being more than 15%. The next few years will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.5 trillion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate with use of official Chinese growth figures for 1993-95; the result may overstate China's GDP by as much as 25%)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 48% services: 33% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 583.6 million (1991) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce 25%, construction and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990 est.)

Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food processing, autos, consumer electronics, telecommunications

Electricity: capacity: 162,000,000 kW production: 746 billion kWh consumption per capita: 593 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, other fibers, oilseed; pork and other livestock products; fish

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced in
the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem

Exports: $148.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: garments, textiles, footwear, toys, machinery and
  equipment (1994)
  partners: Hong Kong, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Singapore
  (1994)

Imports: $132.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: industrial machinery, textiles, plastics, telecommunications equipment, steel bars, aircraft (1994) partners: Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany (1994)

Economic aid:
donor: to less developed countries (1970-89) $NA
recipient: ODA, $1.977 billion (1993)

Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.3186 (January 1996), 8.3514 (1995), 8.6187 (1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991) 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

Railways:
  total: 58,399 km
  standard gauge: 54,799 km 1.435-m gauge (7,174 km electrified; more
  than 11,000 km double track)
  narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.762-m gauge local industrial lines (1995)

Highways: total: 1.029 million km paved: 170,000 km unpaved: 859,000 km (1990 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km;
natural gas 6,200 km (1990)

Ports: Aihui, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou,
Harbin, Huangpu, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,
Shantou, Tanggu, Xiamen, Xingang, Zhanjiang

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,700 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,663,260
  GRT/25,026,090 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 316, cargo 876, chemical tanker
  15, combination bulk 11, container 103, liquefied gas tanker 4,
  multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 227, passenger 24,
  passenger-cargo 28, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo
  24, short-sea passenger 45
  note: China owns an additional 267 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 9,044,039 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,
  Hong Kong, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the
  Grenadines, The Bahamas, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 204
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 17
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 69
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 89
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: domestic and international services are
  increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
  domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and
  most townships
  domestic: telephone lines are being expanded; 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, and Hong Kong

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)

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 352,506,948
  males fit for military service: 194,589,216
  males reach military age (18) annually: 9,763,916 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: the officially announced but suspect figure
  is 70.2 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion of
  the defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate
  could produce misleading results

Location: 10 30 S, 105 40 E — Southeastern Asia, island in the
Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Area:
  total area: 135 sq km
  land area: 135 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
  be a maritime hazard
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%,
no indigenous population

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Administrator Danny Ambrose GILLESPIE (since NA)
  was appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents
  the queen and Australia
  cabinet: Christmas Island Shire Council

Economic overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Private operators reopened the mine in 1990 under strict environmental controls, in particular to preserve the rain forest. A hotel and casino complex opened in 1993, and tourism is a likely growth sector.

Labor force: NA
by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining
Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

Electricity: capacity: 11,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996),1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991)

Location: 10 17 N, 109 13 W — Middle America, atoll in the North
Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico

Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120
km southwest of Mexico

Area:
  total area: 7 sq km
  land area: 7 sq km
  comparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
  DC

Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October

Terrain: coral atoll lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 21 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all coral)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to tornadoes international agreements: NA

Name of country: 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

Type of government: French possession administered by France from
French Polynesia by the High Commissioner of the Republic

Location: 12 30 S, 96 50 E — Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka

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 area: 14 sq km
  land area: 14 sq km
  comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
  DC
  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

Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment:
  current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater
  accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
  natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut
palms and other vegetation

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Administrator John Bell READ (since NA) was
  appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the
  queen and Australia

Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire
Council; President of the Islands Council Ronald GRANT (since NA)

Economic 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.

Electricity: capacity: 1,000 kW production: 2 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with
  Australia via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type

Television broadcast stations: 0 note: intermittent television service via satellite

Location: 4 00 N, 72 00 W — Northern South America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North
Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

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

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Area:
  total area: 1,138,910 sq km
  land area: 1,038,700 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
  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

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela
in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains 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: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 29%
  forest and woodland: 49%
  other: 16%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of
  pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
  emissions
  natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
  earthquakes; periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
  Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: only South American country with coastlines on
both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 5,948,599; female 5,806,450)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 11,496,931; female 11,890,875)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 741,788; female 928,518) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.81 years male: 69.97 years female: 75.73 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 91.3%
  male: 91.2%
  female: 91.4%

Name of country:
  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, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca,
  Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba,
  Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta,
  Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres
  y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes,
  Vichada

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 and head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER
  Pizano (since 7 August 1994) elected for a four-year term by popular
  vote; election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998)
  results - no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote; a
  run-off election to select a president from the two leading
  candidates was held 19 June 1994; results - Ernesto SAMPER Pizano
  (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party)
  48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE Lombana elected vice
  president for a four-year term by popular vote in a new procedure
  that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by
  newly elected presidents
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
  Senate (Senado): elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held
  NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (102
  total) Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF)
  31, other 12
  House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections last
  held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); seats - (161
  total) Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF)
  53, AD/M-19 2, other 17

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 (PL), Luis Fernando
  JARAMILLO; Conservative Party (PC), Jaime ARIAS; New Democratic
  Force (NDF), Andres PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19
  (AD/M-19) is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident
  liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal
  political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
  (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Aida ABELLA; National
  Salvation Movement (MSN) Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado

Other political or pressure groups: three insurgent groups are
  active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC);
  National Liberation Army (ELN); and dissidents of the recently
  demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL/D)

International organization participation: AG, CCC, CDB, ECLAC,
  FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos LLERAS de la Fuente
  chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
  New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
  Washington, DC
  consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Myles R. R. FRECHETTE embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, No. 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197 consulate(s): Barranquilla

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Boasting a diversified and stable economy, Colombia has enjoyed Latin America's most consistent record of growth over the last several decades. Gross domestic product (GDP) has expanded every year for more than 25 years, and unlike many other South American countries, Colombia did not default on any of its official debts during the "lost decade" of the 1980s. Since 1990, when Bogota introduced a comprehensive reform program that opened the economy to foreign trade and investment, GDP growth has averaged more than 4% annually. Growth has been fueled in recent years by the expansion of the construction and financial service industries and an influx of foreign capital. Some foreign investors have been deterred by an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure and the violence stemming from drug trafficking and persistent rural guerrilla warfare, but direct foreign investment, especially in the oil industry, is still rising at a rapid rate. Although oil consequently is overtaking coffee as the main legal export, earnings from illicit drugs probably exceed those from any other export. Non-petroleum economic growth has been slowing, however, in part because the tight monetary policies adopted to offset the inflationary impact of high capital inflows and rising government spending have slowed local sales and investment. Business confidence also has been damaged by a political crisis stemming from allegations that senior government officials, including President SAMPER, solicited contributions from drug traffickers during the 1994 election campaign. The slowdown in the growth of labor-intensive industries such as manufacturing has caused a small rise in unemployment and interfered with President SAMPER'S plans to lower the country's poverty rate, which has remained at about 40% despite the expanding economy. Nevertheless, the booming oil sector, growing foreign investment, and the fundamental stability of the economy promise to keep growth positive for the foreseeable future, barring severe, unpredictable shocks from developments in the political or international arenas.

Labor force: 12 million (1990) by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $NA
  expenditures: $24 billion including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear,
beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Electricity: capacity: 10,220,000 kW production: 33 billion kWh consumption per capita: 890 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp farming

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; about 50,900 hectares of coca under cultivation in 1995; 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 by 1997

Exports: $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers partners: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)

Imports: $13.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products partners: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)

Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,011.11 (January 1996), 912.83 (1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 3,386 km
  standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines
  to maritime port at Bahia Portete)
  narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (1830 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: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto
Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo

Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 97,037 GRT/129,404 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 8, container 3, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 989
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 33
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 35
  with paved runways under 914 m: 557
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 41
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 311 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,067,538 males fit for military service: 6,774,105 males reach military age (18) annually: 346,372 (1996 est.)

Location: 12 10 S, 44 15 E — Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

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

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Area:
  total area: 2,170 sq km
  land area: 2,170 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of
  Washington, DC

Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to
  low hills
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Kartala 2,360 m

Land use:
  arable land: 35%
  permanent crops: 8%
  meadows and pastures: 7%
  forest and woodland: 16%
  other: 34%

Environment:
  current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop
  cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
  natural hazards: cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season
  (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active
  volcano
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
  Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 137,235; female 136,207)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 138,447; female 142,058)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 7,242; female 8,048) (July 1996 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.7 years male: 56.43 years female: 61.05 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend
of Swahili and Arabic)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 57.3%
  male: 64.2%
  female: 50.4%

Name of country:
  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; Grand Comore (Njazidja),
  Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
  note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
  Moroni, and Mutsamudu

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (since 16 March
  1996) was elected by popular vote; election last held 16 March 1996
  (next to be held March 2001)
  head of government: Prime Minister MASSOUNDI Tadjidine Ben Said
  (since March 1996) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale): elections last held 12-20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) ruling coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; opposition: UDZIMA 8; other smaller parties: 10; two seats remained unfilled

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), two members are appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, plus all the former presidents of the republic

Political parties and leaders: Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party
  (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; over 20 political parties are currently
  active, the most important of which are Comoran Union for Progress
  (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress
  (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's Capability (UWEZO),
  Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha
  CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA;
  Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for
  Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM;
  Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC),
  Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM
  (Secretary General)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL,
  CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ahamada DJIMBANAOU (ambassador
  to the US and Canada)
  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
  telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010
  FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros

Flag: 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

Economic overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor 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 90% 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, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be reached in the late 1990s.

Budget:
  revenues: $83 million
  expenditures: $92 million, including capital expenditures of $32
  million (1992)

Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture,
jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks

Electricity: capacity: 16,000 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 27 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Exports: $13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra partners: US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)

Imports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
  commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement,
  consumer goods
  partners: France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)

Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 375.42 (January
  1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
  282.11 (1991)
  note: beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to
  75 per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been
  fixed since 1948

Airports:
  total: 4
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 121,854 males fit for military service: 72,873 (1996 est.)

Location: 1 00 S, 15 00 E — Western Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and Gabon

Area:
  total area: 342,000 sq km
  land area: 341,500 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,504 km
  border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African
  Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km

International disputes: long segment of boundary with Zaire along
the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its
islands has been made)

Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June
to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern
  basin
  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: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 29%
  forest and woodland: 62%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water
  pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;
  deforestation
  natural hazards: seasonal flooding
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea,
  Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville,
Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 550,971; female 545,096)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 657,035; female 688,441)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 34,973; female 51,325) (July 1996 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.77 years male: 44.21 years female: 47.37 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic divisions: south: Kongo 48% north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12% center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)

Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and
Kikongo are the most widely used)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 74.9%
  male: 83.1%
  female: 67.2%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
  conventional short form: Congo
  local long form: Republique Populaire du Congo
  local short form: Congo
  former: Congo/Brazzaville

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992);
  elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held NA August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1997); results -
  President Pascal LISSOUBA won 61% of the vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO
  (since 23 June 1993) appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral
  National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 3
  October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
  Senate: election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July
  1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total)
  UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8

Political parties and leaders: of Congo's many political parties, the most important are Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Democratic Renewal (URD); Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader

Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist
  Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary
  Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils
  and Students (UGEEC)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC,
  UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel
  MOUELLET
  chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
  telephone: [1] (202) 726-0825
  FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William C. RAMSEY
  embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
  mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
  telephone: [242] 83 20 70
  FAX: [242] 83 63 38

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Congo's 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 about 90% of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled Congo 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 Congolese 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. Recent efforts to implement economic reforms have begun to show progress; the IMF has recommended approval of an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement in 1996.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 11.4% industry: 35.2% services: 53.4% (1993)

Labor force: 79,100 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%

Budget:
revenues: $2.18 billion (1994 est.)
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering,
brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette making

Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (estimated average annual
growth rate for 1980-92)

Electricity: capacity: 120,000 kW production: 400 million kWh consumption per capita: 201 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cassava (tapioca) accounts for 90% of food output, sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: crude oil 90%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee,
  diamonds
  partners: Italy, France, Spain, other EU countries, US, Taiwan

Imports: $600 million (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital equipment,
  construction materials, foodstuffs, petroleum products
  partners: France, Italy, other EU countries, US, Japan, Thailand

Railways:
  total: 795 km (1995 est.)
  narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (includes 285 km that are
  privately owned)

Waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,218 GRT/4,100 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 34
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: services adequate for government use; key
  exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo
  domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
  coaxial cable
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 582,103 males fit for military service: 296,602 males reach military age (20) annually: 25,247 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 3.8% of GDP (1993)

Location: 21 14 S, 159 46 W — Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand

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

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

Area:
  total area: 240 sq km
  land area: 240 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than one times the size of
  Washington, DC

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

Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in
  south
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 22%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 74%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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 members of Cook Islands
Christian Church)

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands

Type of government: self-governing parliamentary government 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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Apenera
  SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Darryl DUNN (since
  NA 1994), representative of New Zealand was appointed by the New
  Zealand Government
  head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1
  February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1
  February 1989)
  cabinet: Cabinet; collectively responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament: elections last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held NA
  1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total)
  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

Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY;
Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Democratic Alliance Party,
Norman GEORGE

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate),
ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, Sparteca, SPC,
SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)

US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories. Economic development is hindered by the isolation of the islands from foreign markets and a lack of natural resources and good transportation links. A large trade deficit is annually made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, largely from New Zealand. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries. Despite these plans, the Cook Islands will continue to face severe financial problems.

Labor force: 5,810
by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%,
industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

Electricity: capacity: 14,000 kW production: 21 million kWh consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1993)

Exports: $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities: copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing
partners: NZ 80%, Japan

Imports: $50 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber
partners: NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: in 1994, Cook Islands received $5.4 million in budget support
  and $3.3 million in project aid from New Zealand, the country's
  largest source of aid

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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: 1 studio and 8 low-powered repeaters to achieve good coverage on the island of Rarotonga

Location: 18 00 S, 152 00 E — Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea,
northeast of Australia

Area:
  total area: less than 3 sq km
  land area: less than 3 sq km
  comparative area: NA
  note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
  area of about 1 million sq km, with Willis Islets the most important

Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays) lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)

Environment:
  current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
  natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones
  international agreements: NA

Name of country:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Type of government: territory of Australia administered by the
Ministry for Environment, Sport, and Territories

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

Location: 10 00 N, 84 00 W — Middle America, bordering both the
Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and
Panama

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

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Area:
  total area: 51,100 sq km
  land area: 50,660 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
  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)

Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 7%
  meadows and pastures: 45%
  forest and woodland: 34%
  other: 8%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of
  land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
  natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic
  coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season;
  active volcanoes
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 612,624; female 582,566)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 1,061,703; female 1,038,403)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 77,773; female 90,014) (July 1996 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.72 years male: 73.31 years female: 78.24 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%, Chinese 1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 94.8%
  male: 94.7%
  female: 95%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES
  Olsen (since 8 May 1994), First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO
  Blanco (since 8 May 1994), Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN
  Mayufis (since 8 May 1994) were elected for four-year terms by
  universal suffrage; election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be
  held NA February 1998); results - President FIGUERES (PLN) 49.7%,
  Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 47.5%
  cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29, minority parties 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are
elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Party (PLN),
  Rolando ARAYA; Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel
  CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto
  VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON
  Ramirez; People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin CHACON Vargas;
  Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey;
  Democratic Force Party (FD), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos

Other political or pressure groups: Costa Rican Confederation of
  Democratic Workers (CCTD), Liberation Party affiliate; Confederated
  Union of Workers (CUT), Communist Party affiliate; Authentic
  Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD), Communist Party
  affiliate; Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association for
  Economic Development (ANFE); Free Costa Rica Movement (MCRL),
  rightwing militants; National Association of Educators (ANDE);
  Federation of Public Service Workers (FTSP)

International organization participation: AG (observer), 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 (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia PICADO chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Austin

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Jon DE VOS embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 220-3939 FAX: [506] 220-2305

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive economy depends especially on tourism and the export of bananas, coffee, and other agricultural products. Recent trends have been disappointing. Economic growth slipped from 4.3% in 1994 to 2.5% in 1995, the lowest rate of growth since 1991's 2.1%. Inflation rose dramatically to 22.5% from 13.5% in 1994, well above the government's own projection of 18%. Unemployment rose from 4.0% in 1994 to 5.2% in 1995, and substantial underemployment continues. These economic woes are likely to be exacerbated in 1996 by a standby arrangement reached with the IMF on 29 November 1995. To restore fiscal balance, the government agreed to curb inflation, reduce the fiscal deficit, increase domestic savings, and improve public sector efficiency while increasing the role of the private sector. Costa Rica signed a free trade agreement with Mexico in 1994.

Labor force: 868,300
by occupation: industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services
33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 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: capacity: 1,040,000 kW production: 4.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,164 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
beef; timber (depletion of forest resources has resulted in
declining timber output)

Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from
South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered
plots

Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
  partners: US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands,
  UK, France

Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment,
  petroleum
  partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany

Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 193.93 (December 1995), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993), 134.51 (1992), 122.43 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 950 km
  narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
  note: the entire system was scheduled to be shut down on 31 June
  1995 because of insolvency

Airports:
  total: 145
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 16
  with paved runways under 914 m: 97
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 29 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service
  domestic: NA
  international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
  satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Civil Guard, Coast Guard, Air Section, Rural Assistance
Guard; note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 917,566 males fit for military service: 616,420 males reach military age (18) annually: 33,504 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 2.0% of GDP (1995)

Location: 8 00 N, 5 00 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Ghana and Liberia

Area:
  total area: 322,460 sq km
  land area: 318,000 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,110 km
  border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
  Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to
May), hot and wet (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 9%
  forest and woodland: 26%
  other: 52%

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
  natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during
  the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 3,552,270; female 3,462,462)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 3,828,538; female 3,599,920)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 164,358; female 154,897) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: since 1989, over 350,000 refugees have fled to Cote d'Ivoire to escape the civil war in Liberia

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.73 years male: 46.23 years female: 47.25 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,
  Agni, foreign Africans (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3
  million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and
  Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the
most widely spoken

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 40.1%
  male: 49.9%
  female: 30%

Name of country:
  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; foreign governments, including
  the US, maintain official presences 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

Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time November 1990

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)
  served the remainder of the term of former President Felix
  HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who died in office after continuous service from
  November 1960; President BEDIE was elected with 96% of the vote at
  the last election on 22 October 1995 (next election October 2000);
  the president is elected for a five-year term by popular vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10
  December 1993), appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers, appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 27
  November 1995 (next to be held November 2000); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (175 total) PDCI 147, RDR 14, FPI 10,
  unfilled 4; note - of the unfilled seats, elections for 3 were
  postponed because of violence in the electoral districts and 1 seat
  remains contested

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote
  d'Ivoire (PDCI), Henri Konan BEDIE; Rally of the Republicans (RDR),
  Djeny KOBINA; Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO; Ivorian
  Worker's Party (PIT), Francis WODIE; Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI),
  Morifere BAMBA; over 20 smaller parties

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WADB, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Lannon WALKER embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan telephone: [225] 21 09 79 FAX: [225] 22 32 59

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm-kernel oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for coffee and cocoa and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the government to diversify, the economy is still largely dependent on agriculture and related industries. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, 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 32% for 1994, but this rate fell to perhaps 10% in 1995, in part as the economy adjusted to the devaluation. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a budget surplus in 1994. Real growth of GDP in 1994 was 1.7%, a significant improvement following several years of negative growth. In 1995 growth picked up to 5%.

Labor force: 5.718 million
  by occupation: over 85% of population engaged in agriculture,
  forestry, livestock raising; about 11% of labor force are wage
  earners, nearly half in agriculture and the remainder in government,
  industry, commerce, and professions

Budget:
  revenues: $1.9 billion
  expenditures: $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $408
  million (1993)

Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity

Electricity: capacity: 1,170,000 kW production: 1.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 123 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc, sweet potatoes, sugar; cotton, rubber; timber

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis; mostly for local
  consumption; some international drug trade; transshipment point for
  Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to
  the US

Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: cocoa 55%, coffee 12%, tropical woods 11%, petroleum,
  cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
  partners: France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Burkina Faso, US, UK

Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: food, capital goods, consumer goods, fuel partners: France, Nigeria, Japan, Netherlands, US, Italy

Railways: total: 660 km (1995 est.) narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,726 GRT/34,711 DWT
ships by type: container 2, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 35
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,386,638 males fit for military service: 1,762,412 males reach military age (18) annually: 157,712 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $140 million, 1.4% of GDP (1993)

Location: 45 10 N, 15 30 E — Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Description: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian
coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Area:
  total area: 56,538 sq km
  land area: 56,410 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,073 km
  border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with
  Montenego), Slovenia 546 km

International disputes: Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the war, is currently being overseen by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia; reintegration of Eastern Slavonia into Croatia will occur in 1997; although Croatia does not recognize the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," both countries have agreed to open consular sections in each other's capitals; Croatia and Italy have not resolved a bilateral issue dating from WWII over property and ethnic minority rights; a border dispute with Slovenia is unresolved

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
  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: 32%
  permanent crops: 20%
  meadows and pastures: 18%
  forest and woodland: 15%
  other: 15%

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
  natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous
  Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
  Law of the Sea

Geographic note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to
Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 453,142; female 431,118)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 1,731,200; female 1,716,824)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 252,897; female 418,931) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.81 years male: 69.13 years female: 76.72 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian
0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)

Religions: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Slavic Muslim 1.2%,
Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%

Languages: Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian,
Hungarian, Czechoslovak, and German)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 99%
  female: 95%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
  conventional short form: Croatia
  local long form: Republika Hrvatska
  local short form: Hrvatska

Administrative divisions: 21 counties (zupanijas, zupanija -
  singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva,
  Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj,
  Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Pozega-Slavonija, Primorje-Gorski Kotar,
  Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia,
  Varazdin, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990) was
  elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held 4 August 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Franjo
  TUDJMAN reelected with about 56% of the vote; his opponent Dobroslav
  PARAGA received 5% of the vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Zlatko MATESA (since NA November
  1995) and 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-HODAS (since November 1995) were appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral parliament Assembly (Sabor)
  House of Districts (Zupanije Dom): elections last held 7 and 21
  February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1997); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (68 total; 63 elected, 5 presidentially
  appointed) HDZ 37, HSLS 16, HSS 5, Istrian Democratic Assembly 3,
  SPH-SDP 1, HNS 1
  House of Representatives (Zastupnicki Dom): elections last held 29
  October 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - HDZ 45.23%,
  HSS/IDS/HNS/HKDU/SBHS 18.26%, HSLS 11.55%, SDP 8.93%, HSP 5.01%;
  seats - (127 total) 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 Chamber of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges
  appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the
  Republic, which is elected by the Chamber of Representatives

Political parties and leaders: Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),
  Franjo TUDJMAN, president; Croatian Democratic Independents (HND),
  Stjepan MESIC, president; Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS),
  Vlado GOTOVAC, president; Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP),
  Ivica RACAN; Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), Ante DAPIC; Croatian
  Peasants' Party (HSS), Josip PANKRETIC; Croatian People's Party
  (HNS), Radimir CACIC, president; Serbian National Party (SNS), Milan
  DJUKIC; Action of the Social Democrats of Croatia (ASH), Miko
  TRIPALO; Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU), Marko VASELICA,
  president; Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Ivan JACKOVIC;
  Slanvonsko-Baranja Croatian Party (SBHS)

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZUL
  chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
  FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. GALBRAITH
  embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
  mailing address: US Embassy, Zagreb, Unit 1345, APO AE 09213-1345
  telephone: [385] (41) 455-55-00
  FAX: [385] (41) 455-85-85

Flag: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of
arms (red and white checkered)

Economic 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; large foreign debt; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties to Serbia and the other former Yugoslav republics, as well as within its own territory. 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 including stabilization policies and has normalized relations with creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of large state enterprises and with bank reform. The draft 1996 budget, which had raised concerns about inflation, capitalizes on the "peace dividend" to boost expenditures on the repair and upgrading of infrastructure.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 12.7% industry: 30.6% services: 56.7% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1.444 million (1995) by occupation: industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture 4.3%, government 19.1% (including education and health), other 45.5% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.86 billion
  expenditures: $3.72 billion, including capital expenditures of $320
  million (1994 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

Electricity: capacity: 3,630,000 kW production: 11.234 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,000 kWh (1993 est.)

Agriculture: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, vegetables; livestock breeding, dairy farming

Exports: $4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  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)
  partners: Germany 22.9%, Italy 21.2%, Slovenia 18.3% (1993)

Imports: $5.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  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)
  partners: Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Iran

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: IMF has given Croatia $192 million; World Bank has given
  Croatia $100 million

Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US$1 - 5.405 (January 1996), 5.230 (1995), 5.996 (1994), 3.577 (1993)

Railways:
  total: 2,699 km
  standard gauge: 2,699 km 1.435-m gauge (1213 km electrified)
  note: disrupted by territorial dispute with Serbia (1994)

Highways:
  total: 27,378 km
  paved: 22,176 km (including 302 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,202 km (1991 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas
310 km (1992); note - under repair following territorial dispute

Merchant marine:
  total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 203,495 GRT/252,818 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 23, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oil
  tanker 1, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo
  2, short-sea passenger 4
  note: Croatia owns an additional 140 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 3,368,035 DWT operating under the registries of Malta,
  Liberia, Cyprus, Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, and Saint
  Vincent and the Grenadines (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 68
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 47
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)

Branches: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Frontier Guard, Home Guard

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 1,314,718
  males fit for military service: 1,046,490
  males reach military age (19) annually: 34,914 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 337 billion to 393 billion dinars, NA% of
  GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US
  dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading
  results

Location: 21 30 N, 80 00 W — Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida

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

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida

Area:
  total area: 110,860 sq km
  land area: 110,860 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
  total: 29 km
  border country: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
  note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
  part of Cuba

International disputes: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased
to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can
terminate the lease

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 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: 23%
  permanent crops: 6%
  meadows and pastures: 23%
  forest and woodland: 17%
  other: 31%

Environment:
  current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens
  wildlife populations; deforestation
  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
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Marine Life
  Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 1,256,674; female 1,191,652)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 3,753,343; female 3,736,043)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 478,630; female 534,992) (July 1996
  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: 0.9 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.05 years male: 72.71 years female: 77.54 years (1996 est.)

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 85% prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 95.7%
  male: 96.2%
  female: 95.3%

Name of country: 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 and 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) and 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) were elected by the National Assembly
  cabinet: Council of Ministers were proposed by the president of the
  Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly
  Council of State: members elected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power (Asemblea Nacional del P: elections last held NA February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); seats - 589 total, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo
Popular), president, vice president, and other judges are elected by
the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: only party - Cuban Communist Party
(PCC), Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
  IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
  NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in 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
  Embassy, 2639 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1]
  (202) 797-8518 through 8520

US diplomatic representation: none; note - the US does have an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Joseph G. SULLIVAN; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada Entre L Y M, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559, 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The state retains a primary role in the economy and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken several reforms in recent years designed to stem excess liquidity, raise labor incentives, and increase the availability of food, consumer goods, and services from depressed levels. The liberalized agricultural markets introduced in October 1994, where state and private farms are authorized to sell any above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. The government's efforts to reduce subsidies to loss-making enterprises and shrink the money supply caused the black market exchange rate to move from a peak of 120 pesos to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 25-30 pesos to the dollar at yearend 1995. The number of self-employed workers licensed by the government increased more slowly in 1995, from 160,000 at yearend 1994 to 190,000 in July 1995 and to about 210,000 in January 1996. Discussions continue within the leadership over the relative affluence of self-employed workers and the growing inequality of income in what has historically been a strictly egalitarian society. The government released new economic data in 1995 which showed a 35% decline in GDP during 1989-1993, a drop precipitated by the withdrawal of massive Soviet aid and prolonged by Cuba's own economic inefficiencies. The decline in GDP apparently was halted in 1994, and government officials claim that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995. Export earnings rose by 20% in 1995 to $1.6 billion, largely on the strength of higher world prices for key commodities and increased production of nickel through joint ventures with a Canadian firm. Higher export revenues and new credits from European firms and Mexico enabled Havana to increase its imports for the first time in six years. Imports rose 21% to almost $2.4 billion, or 30% of the 1989 level. Officials have sharply criticized provisions of legislation under consideration in the US Congress, which aims to curtail third-country investment in expropriated US properties in Cuba and deny official assistance to Havana.

Labor force: 4.71 million economically active population (1989); 3,527,000 employed in state civilian sector (1989) by occupation: services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990)

Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals,
paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement,
fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery

Electricity: capacity: 3,990,000 kW production: 12 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,022 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes
and other tubers, beans; livestock

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: sugar, nickel, shellfish, tobacco, medical products,
  citrus, coffee
  partners: Canada 15%, China 15%, Russia 15% (1995 est.)

Imports: $2.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals partners: Spain 15%, Mexico 15%, Russia 10%, (1995 est.)

External debt: $9.1 billion (convertible currency,1995); another
$20 billion owed to Russia (1995)

Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (non-convertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)

Railways:
  total: 4,677 km
  standard gauge: 4,677 km 1.435-m gauge (132 km electrified)
  note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations

Highways:
  total: 26,500 km
  paved: 14,575 km
  unpaved: 11,925 km (1996 est.)

Ports: Cienfuegos, La Habana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas,
Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba

Merchant marine:
  total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,870 GRT/310,169 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 4,
  oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 9
  note: Cuba owns an additional 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
  462,517 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Malta,
  Belize, and Mauritius (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 156
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 14
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9
  with paved runways under 914 m: 87
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephone
  systems
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
  Ocean Region)

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);
  Interior Ministry Border Guards (TGF)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,053,431 females age 15-49: 3,009,852 males fit for military service: 1,898,644 females fit for military service: 1,866,313 males reach military age (17) annually: 65,182 females reach military age (17) annually: 61,960 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, roughly 4%
of GDP (1995 est.)

Defense note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and
supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Location: 35 00 N, 33 00 E — Middle East, island in the
Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

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

Area:
  total area: 9,250 sq km (note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area)
  land area: 9,240 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

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

International disputes: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek area controlled by the 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

Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast 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: 40%
  permanent crops: 7%
  meadows and pastures: 10%
  forest and woodland: 18%
  other: 25%

Environment:
  current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir
  catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable
  resources concentrated in the Turkish Cypriot area); water pollution
  from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of
  wildlife habitats from urbanization
  natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, 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 - Biodiversity, Climate
  Change

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 25% (male 97,400; female 92,110)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 240,716; female 238,039)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 33,340; female 43,004) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.26 years male: 74.11 years female: 78.52 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions:
  total: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area; 0.5%
  of the Greeks live in the Turkish area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the
  Turks live in the Greek area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish
  area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek
  area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish area)

Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1987 est.)
  total population: 94%
  male: 98%
  female: 91%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
  conventional short form: Cyprus
  note: the Turkish area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic" or
  the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Type of government: 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 invasion of
  the island in July 1974, 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 area
  administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of
  Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on NA February 1975 from
Republic of Cyprus

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October
note: Turkish 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 area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES
  (since 28 February 1993) was elected for a five-year term by
  universal suffrage; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be
  held NA February 1998); results - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.3%, Yeoryios
  VASSILIOU 49.7%
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed jointly by the president
  and vice president
  note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish area
  since 13 February 1975 (president is elected for a five-year term by
  universal suffrage); Hakki ATUN has been "prime minister" of the
  Turkish area since 1 January 1994; there is a Council of Ministers
  (cabinet) in the Turkish area; 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%

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Greek area: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon): elections
  last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - DISY
  35.8%, AKEL (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10.9%; others 3.2%;
  seats - (56 total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7
  Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi):
  elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results -
  UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats - (50
  total) UBP (conservative) 15, DP 16, CTP 13, TKP 5, UDP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Supreme Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area

Political parties and leaders:
  Greek area: Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, Communist
  Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), Ioannis
  MATSIS; Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU; United Democratic
  Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS; Socialist Democratic
  Renewal Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU; Liberal Party,
  Nikolaos ROLANDIS; Free Democrats, Yeoryios VASSILIOU; New Horizons,
  Nikolaos KOUTSOU, secretary general
  Turkish area: National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU; Communal
  Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI; Republican Turkish Party
  (CTP), Mehmet ALI TALAT; New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN;
  Free Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK; Nationalist Justice Party
  (MAP), Zorlu TORE; Unity and Sovereignty Party (BEP), Arif Salih
  KIRDAG; Democratic Party (DP), Serdar DENKTASH; National Birth Party
  (UDP), Enver EMIN; the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the label
  National Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12 December
  1993 legislative election

Other political or pressure groups: United Democratic Youth
  Organization (EDON, Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers
  (EKA, Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK, pro-West);
  Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO, Communist controlled);
  Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK, pro-West); Federation of
  Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen); Confederation of
  Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
  EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
  ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas J. JACOVIDES chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 consulate(s) general: New York note: Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202) 887-6198

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard A. BOUCHER embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836 telephone: [357] (2) 476100 FAX: [357] (2) 465944

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 25% to GDP and employs 26% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 70% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. After surging 9.7% in 1992, economic growth slowed to 1.6% in 1993 - its lowest level in two decades - because of the decline in tourist arrivals associated with the recession in Western Europe, Cyprus' main trading partner, and the loss in export competitiveness due to a sharp rise in unit labor costs. However, real GDP picked up in 1994 and 1995, as inflation fell from 4.7% to about 3%. Economic prospects appear favorable for 1996: real GDP is likely to grow between 3% and 4%, and inflation is likely to rise slightly to 3.5%-4.5%. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than 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. Economic growth sharply dropped during 1994 because of the severe economic crisis affecting the mainland, and inflation soared to 215%. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support has risen and now equals in value about one-third of Turkish Cypriot GDP.

GDP:
Greek area: purchasing power parity - $7.8 billion (1995 est.)
Turkish area: purchasing power parity - $520 million (1995 est.)

GDP per capita:
Greek area: $13,000 (1995 est.)
Turkish area: $3,900 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
  Greek area - agriculture: 5.6%
  Greek area - industry: 24.9%
  Greek area - services: 69.5% (1994)
  Turkish area - agriculture: 11.4%
  Turkish area - industry: 22.9%
  Turkish area - services: 65.7% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Greek area: 3% (1995 est.)
Turkish area: 215% (1994)

Labor force:
  Greek area: 294,100
  by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 26%, agriculture 12.5% (1994)
  Turkish area: 75,320
  by occupation: services 52.9%, industry 23.6%, agriculture 23.5%
  (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: Greek area - $2.3 billion, Turkish area - $246 million
  expenditures: Greek area - $3.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $500 million, Turkish area - $350 million, including
  capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
tourism, wood products

Industrial production growth rate:
Greek area: 3.7% (1994)
Turkish area: 2.6% (1992)

Electricity: capacity: 550,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,903 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey, also some cocaine transits en route to Russia

Exports:
  Greek area: $968 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and
  shoes
  partners: UK 16%, Lebanon 9%, Greece 8%, Russia 12%
  Turkish area: $59 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: citrus, potatoes, textiles
  partners: UK 48%, Turkey 22%

Imports:
  Greek area: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed
  grains, machinery
  partners: UK 12%, Japan 9%, Italy 10%, Germany 9%, US 8%
  Turkish area: $330 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
  partners: Turkey 48%, UK 19%

Economic aid:
  Greek area - recipient: ODA, $NA
  Turkish area: during 1977-93, received substantial grants and loans
  from Turkey

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US1$ - 0.4628 (January 1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4633 (1991); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 60,502.1 (January 1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991)

Highways:
  Greek area - total: 10,448 km
  Greek area - paved: 5,694 km
  Greek area - unpaved: 4,754 km
  Turkish area - total: 6,116 km
  Turkish area - paved: 5,278 km
  Turkish area - unpaved: 838 km

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,524 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,949,242
  GRT/40,236,638 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 490, cargo 562, chemical tanker 27, combination
  bulk 53, combination ore/oil 22, container 115, liquefied gas tanker
  3, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 129, passenger 6,
  passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 62, roll-on/roll-off cargo 28,
  short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 2
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48
  countries among which are Greece 706, Germany 171, Russia 44,
  Netherlands 31, Belgium 30, Japan 29, Cuba 21, UK 17, Spain 14, and
  Hong Kong 13 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 15
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek and Turkish 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 area: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 0
Turkish area: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0

Branches:
  Greek area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and
  naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
  Turkish area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 190,372
  males fit for military service: 130,880
  males reach military age (18) annually: 5,749 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $493 million,
5.6% of GDP (1995)

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)

Area:
  total area: 78,703 sq km
  land area: 78,645 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,880 km
  border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
  Slovakia 214 km

International disputes: Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II versus the Czech Republic claims that restitution does not precede February 1948 when the Communists seized power; unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak federal government

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 lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
  ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic 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: 18% (male 965,861; female 918,745)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 3,519,753; female 3,524,913)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 526,841; female 865,007) (July 1996
  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: 0.61 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.76 years male: 70.08 years female: 77.65 years (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994

Ethnic divisions: 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%

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

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Czech Republic
  conventional short form: Czech Republic
  local long form: Ceska Republika
  local short form: Cechy

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular);
Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky,
Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky

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 26 January 1993) was
  elected for a five-year term by the Parliament; election last held
  26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - Vaclav
  HAVEL was elected
  head of government: Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992)
  was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK
  (since NA June 1992), Josef LUX (since NA June 1992), Jan KALVODA
  (since NA June 1992)
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on recommendation of
  the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlament) Senate (Senate): elections to be held 15-16 November 1996 (next to be held NA); seats (81 total) Chamber of Deputies (Snemovna Poslancu): elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held 31 May-1 June 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA given breakup and realignment of all parliamentary opposition parties since 1992; seats - (200 total) governing coalition (ODS 65, KDS 10, ODA 16, KDU-CSL 15), opposition (CSSD 18, LB 25, KSCM 10, LSU 9, LSNS 5, CMUS 9, SPR-RSC 6, independents 12)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:
  governing coalition: Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS,
  chairman; Christian Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman;
  Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian
  Democratic Union/Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX,
  chairman; note - KDS was to merge with ODS in March 1996
  opposition: Czech Social Democrats (CSSD - left opposition), Milos
  ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc (LB - left opposition), Jaroslav ORTMAN,
  chairman; Communist Party (KSCM - left opposition), Miroslav
  GREBENICEK, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU - left opposition),
  Frantisek TRNKA, chairman, note - may not still be in existence;
  Liberal National Social Party (LSNS - center party), Vavrinec
  BODENLOS, chairman; Bohemian-Moravian Center Union (CMUS - center
  party), Jan JEGLA, chairman; Assembly for the Republic (SPR-RSC -
  right radical), Miroslav SLADEK, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Czech-Moravian Chamber of
Trade Unions; Civic Movement

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
  UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: Unit 1330, APO AE 09213-1330 telephone: [42] (2) 2451-0847 FAX: [42] (2) 2451-1001

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: The Czech Republic, which separated from Slovakia on 1 January 1993, emerged from recession with 2.6% growth in 1994 and 5% growth in 1995. Inflation in 1994-95 was cut in half; unemployment was kept at about 3%; the budget was balanced; and exports were reoriented to the EU. Prague's mass privatization program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares to Czech citizens via "coupon vouchers," has made the most rapid progress in Eastern Europe. About 80% of the economy is wholly or partially in private hands. Because of its progress on reform, the Czech Republic in 1995 became the first post-Communist member of the OECD. Its solid economic performance also led Standard and Poor's to upgrade the country's sovereign credit rating to "A" and attracted nearly $5.3 billion in direct foreign investment to Czech industry between 1990 and September 1995. The Czech crown became convertible for current account transactions in October 1995. Czech companies increasingly are using the international capital market to fund capital investment, and foreign currency reserves totaled $13.9 billion at the end of 1995. Prague's biggest macroeconomic concern now is limiting the inflationary effect of these large capital inflows. The Czech economy also still faces microeconomic problems. Prague has promised to strengthen its bankruptcy law and improve the transparency of stock market operations in 1996, but some changes probably will not take effect until some time after the parliamentary elections of mid-1996 and will depend largely on voluntary compliance. Prague forecasts a balanced budget, 5.5% GDP growth, 2.8% unemployment, and 8.1% inflation for 1996.

Labor force: 5.389 million by occupation: industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications and other 45.2% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $16.5 billion
  expenditures: $16.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment,
coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Electricity: capacity: 14.470,000 kW production: 56.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,842 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs,
cattle, poultry; forest products

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
Latin American cocaine to Western Europe

Exports: $17.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
  chemicals, fuels, minerals, metals, agricultural products
  partners: Germany 32.4%, Slovakia 16.1%, Austria 6.7%, Poland 5.3%,
  Italy 4%, Russia 3.3%, Netherlands 2.8%, France 2.6%, UK 2.2%,
  Hungary 2.1%, US 1.8%, Belgium 1.5% (January-September 1995)

Imports: $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
  chemicals, fuels and lubricants, raw materials, agricultural products
  partners: Germany 26%, Slovakia 13.2%, Russia 9.2%, Austria 7%,
  Italy 5.6%, France 4.1%, US 3.8%, Poland 3.1%, Netherlands 2.9%, UK
  2.9%, Switzerland 2.1%, Belgium 2.0% (January-September 1995)

Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 26.967 (January 1996),
  26.541 (1995), 28.785 (1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53
  (1991), 17.95 (1990)
  note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates

Railways:
  total: 9,413 km
  standard gauge: 9,316 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2640 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 97 km several narrow gauges (1995)

Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,946 GRT/251,624 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 116
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with paved runways under 914 m: 5
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 41 (1994 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic
  and Indian Ocean Regions)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,724,607 males fit for military service: 2,074,331 males reach military age (18) annually: 88,418 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $931 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)

Location: 56 00 N, 10 00 E — Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany

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

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany

Area:
  total area: 43,070 sq km
  land area: 42,370 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts
  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 fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m

Land use:
  arable land: 61%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 12%
  other: 21%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle emissions;
  nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and
  surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes
  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
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
  Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
  Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of
  the Sea

Geographic note: controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North
Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 469,672; female 446,907)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,789,552; female 1,738,870)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 330,396; female 474,235) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.3 years male: 73.78 years female: 81.01 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  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 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholms,
  Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordjyllands, Ribe, Ringkobing,
  Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstroms, Vejle,
  Vestsjaellands, Viborg
  note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,
  which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative
  divisions

Independence: 10th century first organized as a unified state; 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 NA January 1972) is a
  constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder
  son of the queen (born 26 May 1968)
  head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NA
  January 1993) was appointed by the queen
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the queen

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament (Folketing): elections last held 21 September 1994 (next
  to be held by December 1998); results - Social Democrats 34.6%,
  Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Social People's Party 7.3%,
  Progress Party 6.4%, Radical Liberals 4.6%, Unity Party 3.1%, Center
  Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats - (179 total)
  Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Social People's
  Party 13, Progress Party 11, Radical Liberals 8, Unity Party 6,
  Center Democrats 5, independent 1

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup
  RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Hans ENGELL; Liberal Party, Uffe
  ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN;
  Progress Party, Group Chairman Kim BEHNKE and Policy Spokesman Jan
  Kopke CHRISTENSEN; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN;
  Radical Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party,
  Jann SJURSEN; Danish Workers' Party, Common Cause, Preben Moller
  HANSEN; Unity Party

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
  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, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN,
  UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN
  chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
  FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
  embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
  mailing address: APO AE 09716, PSC 73
  telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44
  FAX: [45] (35) 43 02 23

Flag: 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

Economic overview: This thoroughly modern 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 self-sufficient in food production. The new 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. In the face of recent international market pressure on the Danish krone, the coalition has also vowed to maintain a stable currency. The coalition hopes to lower marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boost industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improve welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms will focus on adapting Denmark to the criteria for European integration by 1999; Copenhagen has won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European Monetary Union (EMU) if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on time. Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better than many West European countries. Although unemployment is high, it remains stable compared to most European countries.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 23.5% services: 73.5% (1994)

Labor force: 2,553,900
  by occupation: private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%,
  manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture,
  forestry, and fishing 5.6%, electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $56.5 billion
  expenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding

Electricity: capacity: 10,030,000 kW production: 32 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,835 kWh (1993)

Exports: $39.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: meat and meat products, dairy products, transport
  equipment (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinery
  partners: EU 49.4% (Germany 22.4%, UK 8.2%), Sweden 10.4%, Norway
  6.5%, US 5.5%, Japan 4.1%, FSU 1.7% (1994)

Imports: $34 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain
  and foodstuffs, textiles, paper
  partners: EU 51% (Germany 22%, UK 6.5%), Sweden 11.6%, Norway 5.1%,
  US 5.2%, Japan 3.5%, FSU 1.7% (1994)

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 5.652 (January 1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 2,848 km (499 km privately owned and operated)
  standard gauge: 2,848 km 1.435-m gauge (326 km electrified; 760 km
  double track) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 71,042 km
  paved: 71,042 km (including 696 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)

Ports: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Grenaa,
Koge, Odense, Struer

Merchant marine:
  total: 334 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,013,054
  GRT/7,171,871 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 114, chemical tanker 25, container 65,
  liquefied gas tanker 27, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 31, railcar
  carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26,
  short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 1
  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 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 109
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
  with paved runways under 914 m: 77
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services
  domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
  trunk network
  international: 19 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations
  - 7 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
  Regions); note - Denmark shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
  other Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air
Force, Home Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,338,791 males fit for military service: 1,150,996 males reach military age (20) annually: 34,324 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion, 1.8% of GDP (1995)

Location: 11 30 N, 43 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf
of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

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

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red
Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Area:
  total area: 22,000 sq km
  land area: 21,980 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

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

Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains lowest point: Asal -155 m highest point: Mousa Alli 2,028 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 9%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 91%

Environment:
  current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification
  natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic
  disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
  ratified - Desertification

Geographic note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping
lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into
Ethiopia; a vast wasteland

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 91,687; female 91,242)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 123,699; female 110,530)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 5,389; female 5,095) (July 1996 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: 1.06 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.15 years male: 48.24 years female: 52.12 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 46.2%
  male: 60.3%
  female: 32.7%

Name of country:
  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); election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
  results - President HASSAN GOULED reelected to a six-year term by
  universal suffrage
  head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30
  September 1978)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers is responsible to the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes): elections last held 18
  December 1992; results - RPP (the ruling party) dominated; seats -
  (65 total) RPP 65

Political parties and leaders: ruling party: People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon other parties: Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE; Democratic National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh

Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Restoration of
Unity and Democracy (FRUD) and affiliates; Movement for Unity and
Democracy (MUD)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
  AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
  ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,
  WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine
  chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
  FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin L. CHESHES embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Flag: 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

Economic 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 (an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees).

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 282,000
by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991
est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $164 million
  expenditures: $201 million, including capital expenditures of $16
  million (1993 est.)

Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as
dairy products and mineral-water bottling

Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 170 million kWh consumption per capita: 398 kWh (1993)

Exports: $184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) partners: Somalia 48%, Yemen 42%

Imports: $384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals,
  petroleum products
  partners: France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea

Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)

Railways:
total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 11
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

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 Saudi Arabia; satellite earth
  stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force),
National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National
Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 102,528
males fit for military service: 60,076 (1996 est.)

Location: 13 30 N, 61 20 W — Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - 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)

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

Area:
  total area: 750 sq km
  land area: 750 sq km
  comparative area: more than four times the size of Washington, DC

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

Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 13%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 41%
  other: 34%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive
  hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Whaling

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 11,986; female 11,521)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 27,206; female 25,841)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 2,608; female 3,764) (July 1996 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.4 years male: 74.55 years female: 80.4 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
  total population: 94%
  male: 94%
  female: 94%

Name of country:
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 Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October
  1993) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Assembly;
  election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998);
  results - percent of vote NA
  head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June
  1995); prime minister is appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on the advice of the
  prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) UWP 11, DLP 5, DFP 5

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa
Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside
over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian
ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers
Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement
(DLM), a small leftist group

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom,
  CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: Dominica does not have an embassy
in the US
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown
(Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - 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)

Economic overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for 26% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline 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 newly elected government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.

Labor force: 25,000
by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services
28% (1984)

Budget:
  revenues: $80 million
  expenditures: $95.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 7,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts;
forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US
and Europe; minor cannabis producer

Exports: $48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
partners: UK 55%, Caricom countries, Italy, US

Imports: $98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
  commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food,
  chemicals
  partners: US 25%, Caricom, UK, Japan, Canada

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit, Coast Guard)

Location: 19 00 N, 70 40 W — Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

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

Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Area:
  total area: 48,730 sq km
  land area: 48,380 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

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

Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys
  interspersed
  lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
  highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Land use:
  arable land: 23%
  permanent crops: 7%
  meadows and pastures: 43%
  forest and woodland: 13%
  other: 14%

Environment:
  current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages
  coral reefs; deforestation
  natural hazards: occasional hurricanes (July to October)
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
  Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea

Geographic note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern
two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 1,401,322; female 1,355,530)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 2,541,356; female 2,460,509)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 156,238; female 173,926) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.06 years male: 66.89 years female: 71.34 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 82.1%
  male: 82%
  female: 82.2%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Joaquin BALAGUER
  Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, sixth elected term began 16 August
  1994); Vice President Jacinto PEYNADO Garrigoza (since 16 August
  1994); president is elected for a four-year term by direct vote;
  election last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held 16 May 1996);
  results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD)
  13.2%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%, Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI)
  2.3%
  cabinet: Cabinet was nominated by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
  Senate (Senado): elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA
  May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total)
  PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14
  Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 16
  May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected
by the Senate

Political parties and leaders:
  major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin
  BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Lidio CADET;
  Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez;
  Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA
  minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan
  Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic
  (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD),
  Elias WESSIN Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino
  VINICIO Castillo; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO
  Bogaert; Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde;
  Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist
  Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for
  Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida
  MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA; Democratic Union (UD), Fernando ALVAREZ
  Bogaert
  note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to
  form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain
  individual party structures

International organization participation: ACP, Caricom (observer),
  ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
  LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 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)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171, 221-8100 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Economic reforms launched in late 1994 contributed to exchange rate stabilization, reduced inflation, and relatively strong GDP growth in 1995. Output growth was concentrated in the tourism and free trade zone (ftz) sectors while sugar and non-ftz manufacturing declined last year. Drought in early 1995 hurt agricultural production but favorable world prices for export commodities helped mitigate the impact. Sugar refining was devastated by a disastrous harvest resulting from the drought and ongoing problems at the state-owned sugar company. Unreliable electric supplies continue to hamper expansion in manufacturing; small and medium-sized retail firms also suffer due to the dismal power situation. A presidential election scheduled for May 1996 could lead to increased government spending before and in the immediate aftermath of the vote, raising the potential for rising inflation and increased pressure on the Dominican peso.

Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.8 billion
  expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold
mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Electricity: capacity: 1,450,000 kW production: 5.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 651 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, meat, eggs

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Exports: $837.7 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 47.5%, EC 22%, Puerto Rico 8.4%, Asia 6.7% (1994)

Imports: $2.867 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 60% (1993)

Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 13.589 (December 1995), 13.617 (1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.676 (1993), 12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991)

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)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 31
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 14
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,212,012 males fit for military service: 1,391,472 males reach military age (18) annually: 83,611 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $116 million, 1.4% of GDP (1994)

Location: 2 00 S, 77 30 W — Western South America, bordering the
Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

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

Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at
the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Area:
  total area: 283,560 sq km
  land area: 276,840 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada
  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) lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 17%
  forest and woodland: 51%
  other: 23%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
  pollution
  natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic
  activity; periodic droughts
  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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 2,062,468; female 1,996,679)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 3,403,197; female 3,489,728)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 241,217; female 273,002) (July 1996 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.09 years male: 68.49 years female: 73.82 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 90.1%
  male: 92%
  female: 88.2%

Name of country:
  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

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 and head of government: President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN
  Cordovez (since 10 August 1992); Vice President Eduardo PENA Trivino
  (since 18 October 1995); president and vice president were elected
  for four-year terms by universal suffrage; runoff election held 5
  July 1992; results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as president (next
  election was held 19 May 1996; no presidential candidate received
  more than 50% of the vote; a runoff election between BUCARAM and
  NEBOT will be held on 7 July 1996); note - former Vice President
  DAHIK resigned 11 October 1995 and left the country to escape arrest
  on corruption charges; National Congress chose PENA as his successor
  in accordance with the constitution
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional): elections last held 19 May 1996; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (82 total) PSC 27, PRE 21, DP 10, Pachakutik Movement 7, ID 5, PLRE 3, MPD 2, APRE 2, CFP 1, independent and other 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected
by the Chamber of Representatives

Political parties and leaders:
  Center-Right parties: Republican Unity Party (PUR); Social Christian
  Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president; Ecuadorian Conservative
  Party (PCE), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN (two parties merged in
  1995)
  Center-Left parties: Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos,
  Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leaders; Popular Democracy (DP), Rodrigo
  PAZ, leader; Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (PLRE), Medardo MORA,
  leader; Radical Alfarista Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario,
  director
  Populist parties: Roldosist Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz,
  director; Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO
  Nazur, leader; Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS
  Passos, leader
  Far-Left parties: Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Juan Jose
  CASTELLO, leader; Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS,
  leader; Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, chairman;
  Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, director
  Communists: Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene
  Mauge MOSQUERA, Secretary General; Communist Party of
  Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist)

International organization participation: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
  NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran
  chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
  Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
  consulate(s): Newark

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO
  embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
  mailing address: APO AA 34039
  telephone: [593] (2) 562-890
  FAX: [593] (2) 502-052
  consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Growth has been uneven in recent years because of fluctuations in prices for Ecuador's primary exports - oil and bananas - as well as because of government policies designed to curb inflation. President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN launched a series of macroeconomic reforms when he came into office in August 1992, which included raising domestic fuel prices and utility rates, eliminating most subsidies, and bringing the government budget into balance. These measures helped to reduce inflation from 55% in 1992 to 25% in 1995. DURAN-BALLEN has a much more favorable attitude toward foreign investment than his predecessor and has supported several laws designed to encourage foreign investment. Ecuador has implemented free or complementary trade agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as joined the World Trade Organization. Growth slowed to 2.3% in 1995 due in part to high domestic interest rates and shortages of electric power.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 39% services: 48% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 2.8 million by occupation: agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.3 billion
  expenditures: $3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work,
paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber

Electricity: capacity: 2,230,000 kW production: 6.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Illicit drugs: significant transit country for derivatives of coca
  originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; minor illicit producer
  of coca; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of
  illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub

Exports: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: petroleum 39%, bananas 17%, shrimp 16%, cocoa 3%,
  coffee 6%
  partners: US 42%, Latin America 29%, Caribbean, EU countries 17%

Imports: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles,
  machinery, chemicals
  partners: US 28%, EU 17%, Latin America 31%, Caribbean, Japan

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $153 million (1993)
  note: received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other
  countries in 1995

Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1 - 2914.8 (31 December 1995), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991)

Merchant marine:
  total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 114,701 GRT/171,240 DWT
  ships by type: container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 12,
  passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 188
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
  with paved runways under 914 m: 121
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,968,361 males fit for military service: 2,006,509 males reach military age (20) annually: 121,241 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $386 million, 2.1% of GDP (1995)

Location: 27 00 N, 30 00 E — Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip

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

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Libya and the Gaza Strip

Area:
  total area: 1,001,450 sq km
  land area: 995,450 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of New
  Mexico

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,689 km
  border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km,
  Sudan 1,273 km

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

International disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over this disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high

Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta 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: 3%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 95%

Environment:
  current issues: agricultural land being lost to urbanization and
  windblown sands; increasing soil salinization 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
  natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash
  floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called
  khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
  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,
  Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber 94

Geographic 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: 37% (male 11,970,197; female 11,462,689)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 19,127,696; female 18,738,304)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 1,028,916; female 1,247,305) (July 1996
  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: 0.82 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.43 years male: 59.51 years female: 63.46 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 51.4%
  male: 63.6%
  female: 38.8%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
  conventional short form: Egypt
  local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
  local short form: none
  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 (sworn in as
  president 14 October 1981, eight days after the assassination of
  President SADAT); national referendum held 4 October 1993 validated
  MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third six-year
  presidential term; note - the president is nominated by the People's
  Assembly and that nomination must then be validated by a national,
  popular referendum
  head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed al-GANZOURI (since 4
  January 1996) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral
  People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b): elections last held 29 November
  1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - NDP 72%, idependents 25%,
  opposition 3%; seats - (454 total, 444 elected, 10 appointed by the
  president) NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab
  Democratic Party 1, Liberals 1
  Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): functions only in a consultative
  role; elections last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA); results
  - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats - (264 total, 176 elected, 88
  appointed by the president) seats by party NA

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party (NDP),
  President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party;
  legal opposition parties are as follows: New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad
  SIRAJ AL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party (SLP), Ibrahim SHUKRI; National
  Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid Muhi al-DIN; Socialist
  Liberal Party, Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party,
  Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr
  al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), leader NA; Nasserist Arab
  Democratic Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party,
  Anwar AFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party,
  Muhammad 'ABD-AL-'AL
  note: formation of political parties must be approved by government

Other political or pressure groups: 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 year to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT
  (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), 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, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
  (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.
  embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City,
  Cairo
  mailing address: APO AE 09839-4900, Unit 64900, Cairo
  telephone: [20] (2) 3557371
  FAX: [20] (2) 3573200
  branch office: Alexandria

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Half of Egypt's GDP originates in the public sector, most industrial plants being owned by the government. Overregulation holds back technical modernization and foreign investment. Even so, the economy grew rapidly during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but in 1986 the collapse of world oil prices and an increasingly heavy burden of debt servicing led Egypt to begin negotiations with the IMF for balance-of-payments support. Egypt's first IMF standby arrangement, concluded in mid-1987, was suspended in early 1988 because of the government's failure to adopt promised reforms. Egypt signed a follow-on program with the IMF and also negotiated a structural adjustment loan with the World Bank in 1991. In 1991-93 the government made solid progress on administrative reforms such as liberalizing exchange and interest rates, but resisted implementing major structural reforms like streamlining the public sector. As a result, the economy has not gained enough momentum to tackle the growing problem of unemployment. Egypt made uneven progress in implementing the successor programs it signed onto in late 1993 with the IMF and World Bank; currently it is negotiating another successor program with the IMF. President MUBARAK has cited population growth as the main cause of the country's economic troubles. The addition of about 1.2 million people a year to the already huge population of 63 million exerts enormous pressure on the 5% of the land area available for agriculture along the Nile.

Labor force: 16 million (1994 est.) by occupation: government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces 36%, agriculture 34%, privately owned service and manufacturing enterprises 20% (1984) note: shortage of skilled labor; 2.5 million Egyptians work abroad, mostly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $18 billion
  expenditures: $19.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.8
  billion (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals,
petroleum, construction, cement, metals

Electricity: capacity: 11,830,000 kW production: 44.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 695 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons

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; large domestic consumption of hashish
  from Lebanon and Syria

Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)
  commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw
  cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
  partners: EU, US, Japan

Imports: $15.2 billion (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood
  products, durable consumer goods, capital goods
  partners: US, EU, Japan

Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (LE) per US$1 - 3.4 (November 1994), 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992), 2.7072 (1990); market rate: 3.3920 (January 1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994), 3.3718 (1993), 3.3386 (1992), 3.3322 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 4,751 km
  standard gauge: 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km
  double track)

Highways:
  total: 47,387 km
  paved: 34,593 km
  unpaved: 12,794 km (1992 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: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah,
Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez

Merchant marine:
  total: 164 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,187,290
  GRT/1,833,108 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 74, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
  14, passenger 33, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15,
  short-sea passenger 4 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 80
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 11
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 34
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 16
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 16,530,460 males fit for military service: 10,723,011 males reach military age (20) annually: 660,453 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 8.2% of GDP (FY94/95 est.)

Location: 13 50 N, 88 55 W — Middle America, bordering the North
Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

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

Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Guatemala and Honduras

Area:
  total area: 21,040 sq km
  land area: 20,720 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

International disputes: land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; 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

Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season
(November to April)

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central
  plateau
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 8%
  meadows and pastures: 29%
  forest and woodland: 6%
  other: 30%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;
  contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
  natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and
  sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic note: smallest Central American country and only one
without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38% (male 1,137,804; female 1,097,774)
  15-64 years: 57% (male 1,627,519; female 1,716,261)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 115,973; female 133,656) (July 1996 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.88 years male: 65.44 years female: 72.5 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 71.5%
  male: 73.5%
  female: 69.8%

Name of country:
  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

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Armando CALDERON
  Sol (since 1 June 1994) and Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante
  (since 1 June 1994) were elected for five-year terms by universal
  suffrage; election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA March
  1999); results - 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 24 April 1994; results - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA)
  68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
  cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 20
  March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - ARENA 46.4%,
  FMLN 25.0%, PDC 21.4%, PCN 4.8%, other 2.4%; seats - (84 total)
  ARENA 39, FMLN 21, PDC 18, PCN 4, other 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are
selected by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance
  (ARENA), Juan Jose DOMENECH, president; Farabundo Marti National
  Liberation Front (FMLN), Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren (aka Leonel
  GONZALEZ), general coordinator; Christian Democratic Party (PDC),
  Ronal UMANA, secretary general; National Conciliation Party (PCN),
  Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general; Democratic Convergence (CD),
  Juan Jose MARTEL, secretary general; Unity Movement, Jorge MARTINEZ
  Menendez, president
  note: newly formed parties not yet officially recognized by the
  Supreme Electoral Tribunal: Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Kirio
  Waldo SALGADO, founder; Social Democratic Party (breakaway from
  FMLN), Joaquin VILLALOBOS, founder; Social Christian Renovation
  Movement (MRSC) (breakaway from PDC), Abraham RODRIGUEZ, founder

Other political or pressure groups: labor organizations: Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association; General Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate; United Workers Front (FUT) business organizations: Productive Alliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of Salvadoran Small Businessmen (FENAPES), conservative

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), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ana Cristina SOL chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alan H. FLANIGAN
  embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, San
  Salvador
  mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
  telephone: [503] 278-4444
  FAX: [503] 278-6011

Flag: 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

Economic overview: El Salvador possesses a fast-growing entrepreneurial economy in which 90% of economic activity is in private hands, with growth averaging 5% since 1990. Yet, because the 1980s were a decade of civil war and stagnation, per capita GDP has not regained the level of the late 1970s. The rebound in the 1990s stems from the government program, in conjunction with the IMF, of privatization, deregulation, and fiscal stabilization. The economy now is oriented more toward manufacturing and services compared with agriculture. The sizable trade deficits are in the main covered by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans abroad.

Labor force: 1.7 million (1982 est.) by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%

Budget:
  revenues: $846 million
  expenditures: $890 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992 est.)

Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, tobacco,
chemicals, textiles, furniture

Electricity: capacity: 750,000 kW production: 2.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 408 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseed; beef,
dairy products; shrimp

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced
for local consumption

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: coffee, sugarcane, shrimp
partners: US, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Germany

Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods
partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $777 million (1993) note: US has committed $250 million in aid to El Salvador for 1992-96

Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.755 (December 1995), 8.755 (1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993), 9.170 (1992), 8.080 (1991)

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: 12,251 km
  paved: 1,740 km (including 107 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 10,511 km (1992 est.)

Airports:
  total: 73
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 48
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,415,691 males fit for military service: 905,938 males reach military age (18) annually: 78,660 (1996 est.)

Location: 2 00 N, 10 00 E — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Cameroon and Gabon

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)

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cameroon and Gabon

Area:
  total area: 28,050 sq km
  land area: 28,050 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
  volcanic
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Malabo 3,008 m

Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits
of gold, manganese, uranium

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 51%
  other: 33%

Environment:
  current issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
  natural hazards: violent windstorms
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered
  Species, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 93,319; female 92,753)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 108,706; female 120,129)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 7,235; female 9,140) (July 1996 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.01 years male: 50.79 years female: 55.29 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic divisions: 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

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 78.5%
  male: 89.6%
  female: 68.1%

Name of country:
  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

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
  MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979) election last held 25 February 1996
  (next to be held NA February 2003); results - President OBIANG
  NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected to a seven-year term without opposition
  head of government: Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17
  January 1992); Vice Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (since
  November 1993)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral House of People's Representatives: (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo) elections last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (82 total) PDGE 72, various opposition parties 10

Political parties and leaders:
  ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig.
  Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader
  opposition parties: Progressive Democratic Alliance (ADP),
  Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president; Popular Action of Equatorial
  Guinea (APGE),Casiano Masi Edu, leader; Liberal Democratic
  Convention (CLD), Alfonso Nsue MIFUMU, president; Convergence for
  Social Democracy (CPDS), Santiago Obama Ndong, president; Social
  Democratic and Popular Convergence (CSDP), Secundino Oyono Agueng
  Ada, general secretary; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition
  (PCSD), Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinater; Liberal
  Party (PL), Santos PASCUAL; Party of Progress (PP), Severo MOTO Nsa,
  president; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha
  Balinga Alene, general secretary; Socialist Party of Equatorial
  Guinea (PSGE), Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary; National
  Democratic Union (UDENA), Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president; Democratic
  Social Union (UDS), Camelo Modu, general secretary; Popular Union
  (UP), Juan Bitui, president

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS
  (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
  chancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553
  telephone: [1] (914) 738-9584, 667-6913
  FAX: [1] (914) 667-6838

US diplomatic representation: 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

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. 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. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. In 1995, exports responded to the devaluation of 12 January 1994, apparently resulting in a sizable surplus and strong GDP growth. Increased production from recently discovered oil and natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports in 1996-97.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 47% industry: 26% services: 27% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980) note: labor shortages on plantations

Budget:
  revenues: $32.5 million
  expenditures: $35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3
  million (1992 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 23,000 kW production: 20 million kWh consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc; livestock; timber

Exports: $62 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: coffee, cocoa beans, timber, petroleum
partners: Spain, Nigeria, Cameroon, Japan, Portugal

Imports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
partners: Cameroon, Spain, France, US, Italy, Netherlands

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 92,704 males fit for military service: 47,124 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)

Location: 15 00 N, 39 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the Red
Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

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

Area:
  total area: 121,320 sq km
  land area: 121,320 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries: total: 1,630 km border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

International disputes: a dispute with Yemen over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to arbitration under the auspices of the ICJ

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
  lowest point: Kobar Sink -75 m
  highest point: Soira 3,013 m

Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil
(petroleum geologists are prospecting for it), fish

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 2% (coffee)
  meadows and pastures: 40%
  forest and woodland: 5%
  other: 50%

Environment:
  current issues: famine; deforestation; desertification; soil
  erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
  natural hazards: frequent droughts
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but
  not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification

Geographic 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: 44% (male 755,417; female 743,135)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 910,976; female 913,531)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 54,310; female 50,514) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: it is estimated that between 300,000 and 500,000 Eritrean refugees were still living in Sudan at the end of 1995; their repatriation is being facilitated by the UNHCR

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: 1.08 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.31 years male: 48.57 years female: 52.1 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%

Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Italian, Tigre and Kunama,
Tigrinya, minor tribal languages

Name of country: conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: none local short form: none former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

Type of government: transitional government note: on 29 May 1991 ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served and still serves 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 for the autonomous region of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence, which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular - awraja); Akele Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye; note - information issued by the Eritrean government indicates that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by former colonial powers, will consist of only six regions when the new constitution, presently being drafted, goes into effect sometime in 1996

Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)

Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993; the
promulgation of a draft constitution is expected in 1996

Suffrage: NA; note - the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993 did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the final version of the constitution, to be promulgated some time in 1996, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 in which suffrage was universal for persons 18 years of age or older

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki
  (since 22 May 1993) is head of the State Council and National
  Assembly
  cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
  note: election to be held in 1997

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF) and 75 directly elected members serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections are held in 1997

Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Justice (PFDJ), ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon (the only party
recognized by the government)

Other political or pressure groups: Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ);
  Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean
  Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO), Mohammed Said
  NAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC),
  Ahmed NASSER

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai chancery: Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 429-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 429-9004

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt St., Asmara mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584

Flag: 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

Economic overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of the population will continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. For the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign trade.

Agriculture: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope); livestock (including goats); fish

Exports: $33 million (1995 est.)
commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles
partners: Ethiopia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UK, US, Yemen

Imports: $420 million (1995 est.)
commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum products
partners: NA

Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 - 6.2 (1995 est.), 5.600 (September 1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use Ethiopian currency, the official rate of which was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr

Railways:
  total: 307 km; note - nonoperational since 1978 except for about 5
  km 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)
  narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,573 GRT/13,593
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 14
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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

Location: 59 00 N, 26 00 E — Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990
- three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Area:
  total area: 45,100 sq km
  land area: 43,200 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont
  combined
  note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Maritime claims:
  exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination with
  neighboring states
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora regions - based on boundary established under the 1921 Peace Treaty of Tartu; disputes maritime border with Latvia - primary concern is fishing rights around Ruhne Island in the Gulf of Riga

Terrain: marshy, lowlands lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Land use:
  arable land: 22%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 11%
  forest and woodland: 31%
  other: 36%

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
  natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 148,683; female 143,563)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 467,759; female 501,519)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 63,976; female 133,928) (July 1996 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
  all ages: 0.87 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.13 years male: 62.5 years female: 74.05 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.2%,
Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.1% (1989)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100%

Name of country: 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): Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva), Laane maakond (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polva maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare), Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru) note: county centers are in parentheses

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992) was
  elected for a five-year term by Parliament; election last held 20
  September 1992 (next to be held fall 1996); results - no candidate
  received majority; Parliament elected Lennart MERI
  head of government: Acting Prime Minister Tiit VAHI (since NA March
  1995); the president nominated and Parliament authorized the
  candidate for prime minister
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister,
  approved by Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament (Riigikogu): elections last held 5 March 1995 (next to be
  held NA 1999); results - 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 - (101 total) 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 (KMU), Tiit VAHI, chairman, made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party, Country People's Party, Farmer's Assembly, and Pensioners' and Families' League; Reform Party-Liberals (RE), Siim KALLAS, chairman; Center Party (K), Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland Alliance (Isamaa of Fatherland), Toivo JURGENSON, chairman; National Independence Party (ERSP), Kelam TUNNE, chairman, note - may have disappeared since the last election; Our Home is Estonia made up of 2 parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian People's Party of Estonia; United Peoples Party, Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman; Russian People's Party of Estonia, Sergei KUZNETSOV, chairman; Moderates (M) made up of 2 parties: Social Democratic Party and Rural Center Party; Social Democratic Party, Eiki NESTOR, chairman; Rural Center Party, Vambo KAAL, chairman; Right-Wingers, Ulo NUGIS, chairman

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
  EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC,
  OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner),
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Toomas Hendrik ILVES
  chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
  FAX: [1] (202) 789-0471
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence P. TAYLOR
  embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [372] (6) 312-021
  FAX: [372] (6) 312-025

Flag: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three
equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Economic overview: Estonia continues to experience strong economic growth after its economy bottomed out in 1993. Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate into Western Europe, Estonia has adhered to disciplined fiscal and financial policies and has led the FSU countries in pursuing economic reform. Monthly inflation has been held to under 5% since the beginning of 1992, with monthly inflation in 1995 at 2%. Following four years of decline, Estonia's GDP grew 5% in 1994 and 6% in 1995 - among the highest rates in Europe, according to estimates of the IMF and Estonia's own Economic Ministry. Despite these positive economic indicators, unemployment - 8% in 1994 - is on the rise, and wages - especially for teachers and law enforcement personnel - have not kept pace with inflation. Small- and medium-scale privatization is essentially complete, and large-scale privatization is progressing, but slowly. Estonia has successfully reoriented it trade toward the West, two-thirds of exports now going to Western markets. Estonia's free trade policies were the cornerstone of its negotiations with the European Union, and led to the signing of an association agreement in June 1995. Estonia was the only Baltic state not to have a transition period imposed by the EU prior to its implementation of a free trade agreement.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 37% services: 53% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 750,000 (1992) by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $620 million
  expenditures: $582 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (January-October 1995)

Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

Electricity: capacity: 3,420,000 kW production: 11.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,528 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; very limited illicit opium producer; mostly for domestic consumption

Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: textile 14%, food products 11%, vehicles 11%, metals
  11% (1993)
  partners: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany

Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: machinery 18%, fuels 15%, vehicles 14%, textiles 10%
  (1993)
  partners: Finland, Russia, Germany, Sweden

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $147 million (1993)
  note: Western commitments $285 million (including international
  financial institutions)

Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1 - 11.523 (December 1995), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994), 13.223 (1993); note - krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

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: 14,771 km
  paved: 8,124 km (including 62 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 6,647 km (1993)

Merchant marine:
  total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 353,140 GRT/467,086 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 33, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 6, short-sea passenger 4 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 22
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: system is antiquated; improvements are being
  made piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and international
  connections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for
  subscriber service
  domestic: substantial investment has been made in cellular systems
  which are operational throughout Estonia
  international: international traffic is carried to the other former
  Soviet republics by landline or microwave radio relay and to other
  countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow international
  gateway switch and partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber-optic,
  submarine cable which gives Estonia access to international circuits
  everywhere; access to the international packet-switched digital
  network via Helsinki

Television broadcast stations: 3 note: provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force (not
  officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense
  League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops),
  Coast Guard

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 357,835
  males fit for military service: 280,757
  males reach military age (18) annually: 10,525 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $35 million, 1.5%
of GDP (1995)

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

Area:
  total area: 1,127,127 sq km
  land area: 1,119,683 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

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

International disputes: southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden

Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great
  Rift Valley
  lowest point: Denakil -125 m
  highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 41%
  forest and woodland: 24%
  other: 22%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
  desertification; famine
  natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible
  to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified
  - Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
  Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic note: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea
was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 13,116,158; female 13,080,276)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 14,782,995; female 14,624,779)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 728,808; female 838,646) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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 in 1996; entry into Ethiopia of Sudanese and Somalis
  fleeing the fighting in their own countries is also continuing in
  1996

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.85 years male: 45.71 years female: 48.02 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%

Languages: Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga,
Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 35.5%
  male: 45.5%
  female: 25.3%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
  conventional short form: Ethiopia
  local long form: none
  local short form: Ityop'iya
  abbreviation: FDRE

Type of government: federal republic note: 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

Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) and 1 federal capital*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumaz; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples; Tigray

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 NA August 1995)
  elected by the Council of People's Representatives following the
  elections of legislators in May and June 1995
  head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August
  1995) designated by the party in power, EPRDF, following the
  elections of legislators in May and June 1995
  cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994
  constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
  approved by the Council of People's Representatives

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature
  Federal Council: upper chamber, having NA members, represents the
  ethnic interests of the regional governments and is elected by the
  regional assemblies
  Council of People's Representatives: lower chamber, having 550
  members, elected by popular vote
  note: both bodies have five-year terms of office; regional and
  national popular elections were held in May and June 1995; results -
  EPRDF swept nearly all seats

Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front (EPRDF), MELES Zenawi

Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF);
  All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's
  Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have
  formed since MENGISTU'S resignation, 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,
  IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
  chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-2281, 2282
  FAX: [1] (202) 328-7950

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Irvin HICKS
  embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
  telephone: [251] (1) 550666
  FAX: [251] (1) 552191

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Ethiopia continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for about 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 48% industry: 15% services: 37% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 18 million by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.2 billion
  expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $707
  million (FY93/94)

Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals,
metals processing, cement

Electricity: capacity: 460,000 kW production: 1.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, other vegetables; hides, cattle, sheep, goats

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

Exports: $296 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: coffee, leather products, gold
partners: Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy

Imports: $972 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
partners: US, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan

Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 - 6.3200 (December 1995), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992; note - official rate pegged to the US$

Railways:
  total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
  railroad)
  narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge

Ports: none; Ethiopia is landlocked but by agreement with Eritrea
may use the ports of Assab and Massawa

Merchant marine:
  total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,627 GRT/88,908 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 8, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995
  est.)

Airports:
  total: 58
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 6
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 29 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police
  note: following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopia's naval
  facilities remained in Eritrea's possession; current reorganization
  plans do not include a navy

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 12,912,144
  males fit for military service: 6,707,180
  males reach military age (18) annually: 583,724 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $140 million,
4.1% of GDP (FY93/94)

Location: 22 20 S, 40 22 E — Southern Africa, island in the
Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern
Madagascar to southern Mozambique

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique

Area:
  total area: 28 sq km
  land area: 28 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA% (heavily wooded)
  other: NA%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa

Type of government: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic; resident in Reunion

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) ————————————————-

Location: 51 45 S, 59 00 W — Southern South America, islands in
the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

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

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Area:
  total area: 12,170 sq km
  land area: 12,170 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
  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

Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
  plains
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 99%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 1%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: deeply indented coast provides good natural
harbors; short growing season

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

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

Name of country:
conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the UK since 6 February 1952)
  is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Governor R. RALPH (since NA) was appointed by
  the queen
  cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
  Council, two ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial
  secretary), and the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held 11 October 1989 (next was to be held NA October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10 total, 8 elected) independents 8

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. 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. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. The economy has diversified since 1987, when 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 and support the island's health, education, and welfare system. 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. An agreement between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.

Budget:
  revenues: $42.7 million
  expenditures: $28.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993-94 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 9,200 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)

Exports: $5.4 million
commodities: wool, hides, meat
partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)

Imports: $26.2 million
commodities: food, clothing, timber, and machinery
partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1992)

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: UK, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments totaled $18 million
  (1993-94)

Exchange rates: Falkland pound (LF) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Airports:
  total: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal
Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force

Location: 62 00 N, 7 00 W — Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

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)

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 area: 1,400 sq km
  land area: 1,400 sq km
  comparative area: eight times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 98%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: archipelago of 18 inhabited islands 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: 24% (male 5,461; female 5,280)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 14,488; female 12,617)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 2,661; female 3,350) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 0.99 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.83 years male: 74.75 years female: 80.88 years (1996 est.)

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar

Type of government: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark

Administrative divisions: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (of Denmark since 14 January
  1972), who is a constitutional monarch, is represented by High
  Commissioner Bent KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA)
  head of government: Prime Minister Edmund JOENSEN (since 15
  September 1994) was elected by the Logting
  cabinet: Landsstyri was elected by the Logting

Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament (Logting): elections last held 8 July 1994 (next to be held by July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (32 total) Liberal Party 8, People's Party 6, Social Democrats 5, Republicans 4, Workers' Party 3, Christian Democrats 2, Center Party 2, Home Rule Party 2 Danish Parliament: elections last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) Liberals 2

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Marita
  PETERSEN; Workers Front, Oli JACOBSEN; Home Rule Party, Helena Dam A
  NEYSTABO; The "Coalition Party," Edmund JOENSEN; Republican Party,
  Finnbogi ISAKSON; Centrist Party, Tordur NICLASEN; Christian
  People's Party, Niels Pauli DANIELSEN; People's Party, Arnfinn
  KALLSBERG; Liberal Party, Jorgen ESTRUP; Christian Democratic Party

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: The Faroese economy is experiencing a moderate upturn after several years of decline brought on by over-fishing and declining fish prices, large budget deficits by the Faroese Home Rule Government (FHRG), plummeting property values, and a bail-out merger of the two largest Faroese banks. Near-term forecasts suggest continued economic recovery, and oil finds close to the Faroese area may lay the basis for an eventual economic rebound. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark, the Faroese have enjoyed a standard of living comparable to the Danes and other Scandinavians.

Labor force: 17,585
by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing,
transportation, and commerce

Budget:
  revenues: $407.2 million
  expenditures: $482.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 200 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,953 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: potatoes, vegetables; sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000 metric tons

Exports: $345.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
  commodities: fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs,
  transport equipment (ships) (1989)
  partners: Denmark 20%, Germany 18.3%, UK 14.2%, France 11.2%, Spain
  7.9%, US 4.5%

Imports: $234.4 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures
  24%, food and livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5%
  partners: Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US
  1.3%

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130 million

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 5.652 (January 1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991)

Merchant marine:
  total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,879 GRT/18,444 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea
  passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: good international communications; fair domestic
  facilities
  domestic: NA
  international: 3 coaxial submarine cables

Branches: no organized native military forces; only a small Police
Force and Coast Guard are maintained

Location: 18 00 S, 175 00 E — Oceania, island group in the South
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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

Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area:
  total area: 18,270 sq km
  land area: 18,270 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

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

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: 5%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 65%
  other: 19%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion
  natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Whaling

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 141,652; female 135,829)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 240,621; female 240,620)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 11,235; female 12,424) (July 1996 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.71 years male: 63.39 years female: 68.14 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%

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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 91.6%
  male: 93.8%
  female: 89.3%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Fiji conventional short form: Fiji

Type of government: 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; the 1990 Constitution is under review; the review is
  scheduled to be complete by 1997

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (Acting President
  since 15 December 1993, President since 12 January 1994) was
  appointed for a five-year term by the Great Council of Chiefs; First
  Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 12 January 1994);
  Second Vice President Ratu Inoke TAKIVEIKATA (since 12 January 1994)
  head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June
  1992) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Minister Timoci
  VESIKULA (since NA)
  Presidential Council: advises the president on matters of national
  importance
  Great Council of Chiefs: highest ranking members of the traditional
  chiefly system
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister from among the
  members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: nonelective body, members are appointed by the president and serve five-year terms; seats - (34 total, 24 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 9 for Indians and others, and 1 for the island of Rotuma) House of Representatives: members serve five-year terms; elections last held 18-25 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnic Indians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FAP 5, GVP 4, independents 2, ANC 1

Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party (SVT -
  primarily Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National
  Federation Party (NFP; primarily Indian), Jai Ram REDDY; Fijian
  Nationalist Party (FNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP),
  Mahendra CHAUDHRY; General Voters Party (GVP), Leo SMITH; Fiji
  Conservative Party (FCP), leader NA; Conservative Party of Fiji
  (CPF), leader NA; Fiji Indian Liberal Party, leader NA; Fiji Indian
  Congress Party, leader NA; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim), leader
  NA; Four Corners Party, leader NA; Fijian Association Party (FAP),
  Josevata KAMIKAMICA; General Electors' Association, leader NA
  note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National
  Congress (ANC) merged with the Fijian Association (FA); the
  remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General
  Electors' Association

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
  UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UPU,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Pita Kewa NACUVA
  chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
  FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
  consulate(s): New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Don Lee GEVIRTZ
  embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
  mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
  telephone: [679] 314466
  FAX: [679] 300081

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Fiji, richly 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 tourism are the major sources of foreign exchange. Industry contributes 17% to GDP; 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. In 1992, growth was approximately 3%, based on growth in tourism and a lessening of labor-management disputes in the sugar and gold-mining sectors. In 1993, the government's budgeted growth rate of 3% was not achieved because of a decline in non-sugar agricultural output and damage from Cyclone Kina. Growth in 1994 of 5% was largely attributable to increased tourism and expansion in the manufacturing sector.

Labor force: 235,000
by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary
earners 15% (1987)

Budget:
  revenues: $495.6 million
  expenditures: $591.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber,
small cottage industries

Electricity: capacity: 200,000 kW production: 480 million kWh consumption per capita: 581 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet
potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish catch nearly
33,000 tons (1989)

Exports: $571.8 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: sugar 40%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber
partners: EC 26%, Australia 15%, Pacific Islands 11%, Japan 6%

Imports: $864.3 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, consumer goods, chemicals partners: Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%

Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.4347 (January 1996), 1.4063 (1995), 1.4641 (1994), 1.5418 (1993), 1.5030 (1992), 1.4756 (1991)

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 16,267 GRT/17,884 DWT
  ships by type: chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 21
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 15
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes army,
navy, and air elements)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 205,616 males fit for military service: 113,339 males reach military age (18) annually: 8,746 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $28 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)

Location: 64 00 N, 26 00 E — Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and
Russia

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)

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Area:
  total area: 337,030 sq km
  land area: 305,470 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

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: 4 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 lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 76%
  other: 16%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  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, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic 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: 19% (male 492,616; female 471,736)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,725,113; female 1,687,974)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 275,927; female 451,864) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 73.82 years female: 77.18 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official),
small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

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

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Finland
  conventional short form: Finland
  local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
  local short form: Suomi

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani);
Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu,
Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

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) was
  elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 31
  January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); results -
  Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
  head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
  1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
  were appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of State (Valtioneuvosto) was appointed by the
  president, responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to
  be held NA March 1999); results - Social Democratic Party 28.3%,
  Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%,
  Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%,
  Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian
  League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats -
  (200 total) Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National
  Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22,
  Swedish People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1,
  Finnish Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus), judges appointed
by the president

Political parties and leaders:
  government coalition: Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN;
  National Coalition (conservative) Party, Sauli NIINISTO; Leftist
  Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic League and Democratic
  Alternative, Claes ANDERSSON; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole
  NORRBACK; Green League, Pekka HAAVISTO
  other: Center Party, Esko AHO; Finnish Christian League, Toimi
  KANKAANNIEMI; Rural Party, Raimo VISTBACKA; Liberal People's Party,
  Tuulikki UKKOLA; Greens Ecological Party (EPV); Young Finns, Risto
  PENTTILAE

Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity,
Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners
Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
  ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
  (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
  UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko LAAJAVA
  chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
  FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
  embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
  mailing address: APO AE 09723
  telephone: [358] (0) 171931
  FAX: [358] (0) 174681

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output equaling that of the UK, France and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, and engineering 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, which experienced an average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989, sank into deep recession in 1991 as GDP contracted by 6.5%. The recession - which continued in 1992 with GDP contracting by 4.1% - has been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The Finnish Government has proposed efforts to increase industrial competitiveness and efficiency by an increase in exports to Western markets, cuts in public expenditures, partial privatization of state enterprises, and changes in monetary policy. In June 1991 Helsinki had tied the markka to the European Union's (EU) European Currency Unit (ECU) to promote stability. Ongoing speculation resulting from a lack of confidence in the government's policies forced Helsinki to devalue the markka by about 12% in November 1991 and to indefinitely break the link in September 1992. The devaluations have boosted the competitiveness of Finnish exports. The recession bottomed out in 1993, and Finland participated in the general European upturn of 1994. Unemployment probably will remain a serious problem during the next few years; the majority of Finnish firms face a weak domestic market and the troubled German and Swedish export markets. The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and Finland officially joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Increasing integration with Western Europe will dominate the economic picture over the next few years.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 28% services: 67.4% (1994)

Labor force: 2.533 million
  by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce
  15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture
  and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction
  7.2%

Budget:
  revenues: $21.7 billion
  expenditures: $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993 est.)

Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper
refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Electricity: capacity: 13,360,000 kW production: 58 billion kWh consumption per capita: 12,196 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; annual
fish catch about 160,000 metric tons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for
the West European market

Exports: $29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber partners: EU 46.5% (Germany 13.4%, UK 10.3%), Sweden 11%, US 7.2%, Japan 2.1%, FSU 8.6% (1994)

Imports: $23.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains partners: EU 44% (Germany 15%, UK 8.3%), Sweden 10.4%, US 7.6%, Japan 6.5%, FSU 10.3 (1994)

Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 4.4425 (January 1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994), 5.7123 (1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 5,895 km
  broad gauge: 5,895 km 1.524-m gauge (1,993 km electrified; 480 km
  double- or more-track) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 76,755 km
  paved: 47,588 km (including 318 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 29,167 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km
suitable for steamers

Ports: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori,
Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus

Merchant marine:
  total: 92 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,051,231 GRT/1,075,397
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 20, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 12,
  passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 31,
  short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 157
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 23
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21
  with paved runways under 914 m: 92
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: good service from cable and microwave radio
  relay network
  domestic: cable and microwave radio relay
  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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,307,128 males fit for military service: 1,074,540 males reach military age (17) annually: 32,760 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.9 billion, 1.6% of GDP (1995)

Location: 46 00 N, 2 00 E — 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

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

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 area: 547,030 sq km
  land area: 545,630 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Colorado
  note: includes only metropolitan France (which includes Corsica),
  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
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa
  Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;
  Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles
  claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana;
  Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica
  (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime
  boundary dispute between Canada and France; claims Matthew and
  Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia

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
  lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
  highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Land use:
  arable land: 32%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 23%
  forest and woodland: 27%
  other: 16%
  note: includes Corsica

Environment:
  current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution
  from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban
  wastes, agricultural runoff
  natural hazards: flooding
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
  Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
  Compounds, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: largest West European nation; occasional strong,
cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19.04% (male 5,688,505; female 5,417,355)
  15-64 years: 65.62% (male 19,147,369; female 19,120,935)
  65 years and over: 15.34% (male 3,589,100; female 5,354,186) (July
  1996 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.93 years male: 73.98 years female: 82.11 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  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 are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the 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) was
  elected for a seven-year term by direct universal suffrage; election
  last held 17 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); results -
  Second Ballot Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%
  head of government: Prime Minister Alain JUPPE (since 18 May 1995)
  was appointed by the president
  cabinet: the Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
  the suggestion of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
  Senate (Senat): elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be
  held September 1998; nine-year term, elected by thirds every three
  years); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (321 total;
  296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and
  territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 132, PS
  75, PCF 16, other 7
  National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 21 and
  28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24,
  independents 26; note - seating as of 24 September 1995: RPR 247,
  UDF 208, PS 71, PCF 24, independents 27

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals (Cour de Cassation),
judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High
Council of the Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
  JUPPE, president; Union for French Democracy (UDF - coalition of PR,
  FD, RAD, PSD), Francois LEOTARD; Republican Party (PR), Francois
  LEOTARD; Democratic Force (FD), Francois BAYROU; Radical (RAD),
  Andre ROSSINOT; Socialist Party (PS), Lionel JOSPIN; Left Radical
  Movement (MRG); Communist Party (PCF), Robert HUE; National Front
  (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; The Greens, Dominique VOYNET; Generation
  Ecology (GE), Brice LALONDE; Citizens Movement (MDC), Jean Pierre
  CHEVENEMENT

Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - CGT) nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail - CFDT) about 800,000 members (est.); independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais - CNPF or Patronat)

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG
  (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB
  (non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
  ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,
  NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN
  Security Council, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
  UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Francois BUJON DE L'ESTANG
  chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston,
  Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San
  Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN
  embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
  mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
  telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
  FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
  consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

Flag: 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

Economic overview: One of the four West European trillion-dollar economies, the French economy features considerable - albeit diminishing - state control over its capitalistic market system. In running important industrial segments (railways, airlines, electricity, telecommunications), administrating an exceptionally generous social welfare system, and staffing an enormous bureaucracy, the state spends about 55% of GDP. France has substantial agricultural resources and a diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Largely self-sufficient in agricultural products, France is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. Following stagnation and recession in 1991-93, French GDP expanded 2.4% in 1994 and in 1995. Persistently high unemployment still poses a major problem for the government, as will the need to cut back on welfare benefits and bureaucratic budgets. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsche mark parity, which has kept French interest rates high at the expense of jobs. Although the pace of economic and financial integration within the European Union has slowed down, integration will remain a major force in France, shaping the fortunes of the various economic sectors over the next few years.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2.4% industry: 26.5% services: 71.1% (1994)

Labor force: 24.17 million
  by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2%
  (1987)
  note: includes Corsica

Budget:
  revenues: $220.5 billion
  expenditures: $249.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $47
  billion (1993 budget)

Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 105,250,000 kW production: 447 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,149 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically

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

Exports: $235.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
  foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles
  and clothing
  partners: Germany 17.1%, Italy 9.3%, Spain 7.1%, Belgium-Luxembourg
  8.7%, UK 9.9%, Netherlands 4.6%, US 7.0%, Japan 2.0%, Russia 0.5%

Imports: $229.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products partners: Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.1%, US 8.5%, Netherlands 4.9%, Spain 8.8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.1%, UK 7.9%, Japan 3.7%, Russia 1.2%

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 33,891 km
  standard gauge: 33,524 km 1.435-m gauge; 32,275 km are operated by
  French National Railways (SNCF); 13,741 km of SNCF routes are
  electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked
  narrow gauge: 367 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: includes Corsica; does not include 33 tourist railroads,
  totalling 469 km, many being of very narrow gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 1,511,200 km
  paved: 811,200 km (including 7,700 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 700,000 km (1992 est.)
  note: includes Corsica

Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km;
natural gas 24,746 km

Ports: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La
Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen,
Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg

Merchant marine:
  total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,203,086 GRT/1,779,263
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 5, chemical tanker 5, container 7,
  liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 6, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1
  note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned
  ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 460
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 13
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 26
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 91
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 73
  with paved runways under 914 m: 179
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 75 (1995 est.)
  note: includes Corsica

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: 846 (mostly repeaters) note: Eutelsat receive-only TV service

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force and Air
Defense, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 14,782,577 males fit for military service: 12,299,651 males reach military age (18) annually: 383,252 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $47.7 billion, 2.5% of GDP (1995)

Location: 4 00 N, 53 00 W — Northern South America, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Area:
  total area: 91,000 sq km
  land area: 89,150 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

International disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere
Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)

Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
  mountains
  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: NEGL%
  permanent crops: NEGL%
  meadows and pastures: NEGL%
  forest and woodland: 88%
  other: 12% (1992)

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe
  thunderstorms; flooding
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 24,447; female 23,378)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 52,061; female 43,726)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 3,784; female 3,791) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.13 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.79 years male: 72.55 years female: 79.19 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian,
Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
  total population: 83%
  male: 84%
  female: 82%

Name of country: 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 (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995); represented by Prefect Pierre DARTOUT who was appointed by
  the French Ministry of Interior
  head of government: President of the General Council Stephan
  PHINERA-HORTH (since March 1994)

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
  Regional Council
  General Council: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
  NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total) PSG
  8, RPR 2, UDF 1, other right 1, other 7
  Regional Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held
  NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG
  16, FDG 10, RPR 2, independents 3
  French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
  held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (1 total) PSG 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
  (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (2 total) RPR 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (highest local court based in
Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French
Guiana)

Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG),
  Raymond TRACY; Conservative Union for the Republic (UPR), Leon
  BERTRAND; Rally for the Center Right (URC); Rally for the Republic
  (RPR); Guyana Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY; Walwari
  Committee, Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean
  BART; Union for French Democracy (UDF), R. CHOW-CHINE

Economic 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 that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.

Labor force: 36,597 (1993) by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)

Budget:
  revenues: $133 million
  expenditures: $284 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992 est.)

Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products,
rum, gold mining

Electricity: capacity: 180,000 kW production: 450 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,149 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, corn, manioc, cocoa, vegetables, bananas,
sugar; cattle, pigs, poultry

Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe

Exports: $110 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence partners: France 52%, Spain 15%, US 5% (1992)

Imports: $719 million (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods, producer goods, petroleum partners: France 77%, Germany 11%, US 5% (1992)

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

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:
  total: 10
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 43,412 males fit for military service: 28,171 (1996 est.)

Location: 15 00 S, 140 00 W — Oceania, archipelago in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to
Australia

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

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from South America to Australia

Area:
  total area: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
  land area: 3,660 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of
  Connecticut

Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Orohena 2,241 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 19%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 31%
  other: 44%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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: 35% (male 40,450; female 39,038)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 70,506; female 65,620)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 4,636; female 4,661) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.94 years male: 68.49 years female: 73.5 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%

Literacy: age 14 and over can read and write, but definition of
  literacy not available (1977 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 98%

Name of country:
  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 (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995); represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul
  RONCIERE (since 8 August 1994) who was appointed by the French
  Ministry of Interior
  head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
  French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
  the Territorial Assembly Tinomana EBB (since NA)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
  of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
  ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Territorial Assembly: elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to be
  held NA March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (41 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian
  Union Party 12, New Fatherland Party 7, other 4
  French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
  held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (1 total) party NA
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
  (next to be held NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; Court of the First Instance;
Court of Administrative Law

Political parties and leaders: People's Rally for the Republic
  (Tahoeraa Huiraatira), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party
  (includes Te Tiarama and Here Ai'a Party), Jean JUVENTIN; New
  Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Independent Party (Ia
  Mana Te Nunaa), Jacques DROLLET; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa, Tinomana EBB;
  Haere i Mua, Alexandre LEONTIEFF; other small parties

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WMO

Flag: 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

Economic 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 territory will continue to benefit from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed principally at creating new jobs.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988) by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1992 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $686 million
  expenditures: $884 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1989)

Electricity: capacity: 75,000 kW production: 334 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,189 kWh (1994)

Agriculture: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products

Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: cultured pearls 41.6%, coconut products,
  mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1992)
  partners: France 34%, US 10% (1992)

Imports: $912 million (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
  partners: ECE 64% (France 45.4%), US 13.6%, Australia 6.9%, NZ 5.8%,
  Japan 5% (1992)

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWT
ships by type: passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 41
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
  with paved runways under 914 m: 15
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

@French Southern and Antarctic Lands —————————————————-

Location: 43 00 S, 67 00 E — Southern 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"

Location: Southern 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 area: 7,781 sq km
  land area: 7,781 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
  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

International disputes: "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not
recognized by the US

Terrain: volcanic lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Ross on Kerguelen 1,850 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
  volcanoes
  international agreements: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there were 145 (1995) mostly researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January)

Name of country:
  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

Type of government: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator Christian DORS (since 4 December 1991)

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

Economic 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: $22.6 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Merchant marine:
  total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,133,942 GRT/3,617,863
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 7, container 10,
  liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil
  tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13,
  specialized tanker 1
  note: a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to
  operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than
  permissable under the main French register (1995 est.)

Location: 1 00 S, 11 45 E — Western Africa, bordering the
Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the
Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Area:
  total area: 267,670 sq km
  land area: 257,670 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,551 km
  border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea
  350 km

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

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and
  south
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 18%
  forest and woodland: 78%
  other: 2%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; poaching
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 197,188; female 196,562)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 364,033; female 353,451)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 30,270; female 31,294) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.59 years male: 52.72 years female: 58.56 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Bantu tribes including four major tribal
groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and
Europeans 100,000, including 27,000 French

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 63.2%
  male: 73.7%
  female: 53.3%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
  conventional short form: Gabon
  local long form: Republique Gabonaise
  local short form: Gabon

Type of government: 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: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese
Democratic Party established)

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)
  was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage on 5 December
  1993 (next election to be held 1998); results - President Omar BONGO
  received 51% of the vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9
  December 1994) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in
  consultation with the president

Legislative branch: unicameral; note - the provision of the
  constitution for the establishment of a senate has not been
  implemented
  National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5
  December 1993 (next to be held by July 1996, according to the
  October 1994 Paris Accords; however, President BONGO has indicated
  that date might slip); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (120 total) PDG 64, National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks
  (Morena-Bucherons/RNB) 17, PGP 12, National Recovery Movement
  (Morena-Original) 2, PUP 4, CLR 1, FAR 4, UPG 1, independents 15

Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG,
  former sole party), Simplice Guedet MANZELA, secretary general;
  Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR), General Jean Boniface ASSELE;
  People's Unity Party (PUP), Louis Gaston MAYILA; Gabonese Socialist
  Union (USG), Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE; National Recovery Movement -
  Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE; Gabonese
  Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE, president;
  National Recovery Movement (Morena-Origina), note - this party won 2
  seats in the 5 December 1993 elections for the National Assembly but
  is no longer very active; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre
  Louis AGONDJO OKAWE; African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR), Leon
  MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general; Gabonese People's Union (UPG), Pierre
  MAMBOUNDOU

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
  CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
  chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
  FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth RASPOLIC embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92 FAX: [241] 74 55 07

Economic overview: Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon enjoys a per capita income more than three times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth has been feeble since 1992 and Gabon continues to face the problem of fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable rate of population growth, 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 15% in 1995. Nevertheless, the government must continue to keep a tight rein on spending and wage increases. The IMF and France are considering offering financial assistance in 1996 if Gabon shows progress in privatization and fiscal discipline.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 8.2% industry: 44.7% services: 47.1% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 120,000 salaried by occupation: agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government 2.5%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.3 billion
  expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311
  million (1993 est.)

Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair

Electricity: capacity: 315,000 kW production: 910 million kWh consumption per capita: 757 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil; rubber; okoume (a tropical softwood); cattle; small fishing operations (provide a catch of about 20,000 metric tons)

Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil 80%, timber 14%, manganese 6%, uranium partners: US 50%, France 16%, Japan 8%, Spain 6%, Germany NA (1994 est.)

Imports: $800 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction materials, manufactures, machinery partners: France 35%, African countries, US, Japan, Netherlands (1994)

Railways:
total: 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA)
standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 bulk (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,976 GRT/60,319 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 54
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 21
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National
Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 273,662 males fit for military service: 139,439 males reach military age (20) annually: 10,966 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $154 million, 2.4% of GDP (1993)

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.

Location: 31 25 N, 34 20 E — Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel

Area:
  total area: 360 sq km
  land area: 360 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

International disputes: 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

Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 32%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 55%

Environment: current issues: desertification natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Geographic note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1995 est.)

Population: 923,940 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 5,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza
Strip (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 52% (male 244,026; female 231,976)
  15-64 years: 46% (male 210,706; female 210,764)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 11,553; female 14,915) (July 1996 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.98 years male: 70.69 years female: 73.34 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
(widely understood)

Government note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("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 has taken 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 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 within five years.

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah

Economic overview: In 1991 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and agricultural enterprises, with worker remittances supplementing GDP by roughly 50%. Gaza has depended upon Israel for nearly 90% of its external trade. Aggravating the impact of Israeli military administration, unrest in the territory from 1988 to 1993 (intifadah) raised unemployment and lowered the standard of living of Gazans. The Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks also dealt blows to Gaza since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf states have dropped, unemployment has increased, and exports have fallen. The withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip in May 1994 has brought a new set of adjustment problems. The stringent border restrictions have held back economic growth in 1995 and 1996.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 7% services: 60% (1995 est., includes West Bank)

Labor force: NA
  by occupation: construction 33.4%, agriculture 20.0%, commerce,
  restaurants, and hotels 14.9%, industry 10.0%, other services 21.7%
  (1991)
  note: excluding Israeli settlers

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

Exports: $49 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: citrus
partners: Israel, Egypt

Imports: $339 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
partners: Israel, Egypt

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledges
  in 1995 (includes aid to West Bank)

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295 (January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991)

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

Televisions: NA; note - 59% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)

Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence in 1991, Georgia began to stabilize in 1994. Separatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been dormant for more than two years, although political settlements remain elusive. 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 November 1995, Georgia held peaceful, generally free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. Although the country continues to suffer from a crippling economic crisis, aggravated by a severe energy shortage, some progress has been made and the Georgian Government remains committed to economic reform in cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in 1995.

Location: 42 00 N, 43 30 E — Southwestern Asia, bordering the
Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side
corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Area:
  total area: 69,700 sq km
  land area: 69,700 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than South Carolina

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; 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
  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: 11%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 29%
  forest and woodland: 38%
  other: 18%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 595,524; female 571,207)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 1,643,506; female 1,784,286)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 229,910; female 395,377) (July 1996
  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: 0.58 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.9 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.09 years male: 63.43 years female: 72.98 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: 100%
  female: 98%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Georgia
  conventional short form: Georgia
  local long form: Sak'art'velos Respublika
  local short form: Sak'art'velo
  former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy
  respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia (Sokhumi), Ajaria
  (Bat'umi)
  note: the administrative centers of the autonomous republics are
  included in parentheses; there are no oblasts - the rayons around
  T'bilisi are under direct republic jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state and 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);
  presidential election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA
  April 2001); results - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%; president's term to
  last five years
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Georgian Parliament: elections last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); results - CUG 24%, NDP 8%, All Georgia Revival Union 7%, all other parties received less than 5% each; seats - (235 total) number of seats by party NA

Political parties and leaders: Citizens Union of Georgia (CUG),
  Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Zurab ZHVANIA, general secretary; National
  Democratic Party (NDP), Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTARIA; United
  Republican Party, umbrella organization for parties including the
  GPF and the Charter 1991 Party, Notar NATADZE, chairman; Georgian
  Popular Front (GPF), Nodar NATADZE, chairman; Charter 1991 Party,
  Tedo PAATASHVILI; Georgian Social Democratic Party (GSDP), Guram
  MUCHAIDZE, secretary general; All Georgia Union for Revival, Alsan
  ABASHIDZE; Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Irakli SHENGELAYA;
  Democratic Georgia Union (DGU), Avtandil MARGIANI; National
  Independence Party (NIP), Irakliy TSERETELI, chairman; Georgian
  Monarchists' Party (GMP), Temur ZHORZHOLIANI; Greens Party; Agrarian
  Party of Georgia (APG), Roin LIPARTELIANI; United Communist Party of
  Georgia (UCP), Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: supporters of ousted President
Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) remain a source of
opposition; separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD,
  ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
  chancery: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC
  20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 393-5959
  FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
  embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [7] (8832) 98-99-67, 93-38-03
  FAX: [7] (8832) 93-37-59

Flag: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side
corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Economic overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and 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. Since 1991 the economy has sustained severe damage from civil strife. Georgia has been suffering from acute energy shortages, as it is having problems paying for even minimal imports. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery largely on reestablishing trade ties with Russia and on developing international transportation through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. Statistical estimates on Georgia are subject to a particularly wide margin of error, even compared with other FSU countries. The GDP estimate below probably does not reflect much of its grass roots economic activity. GDP is supplemented by considerable EU and US humanitarian aid.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 70.4% industry: 10.2% services: 19.4% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 2.763 million
by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and
forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)

Unemployment rate: officially less than 5% but real unemployment
may be more than 20%, with even larger numbers of underemployed
workers

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: capacity: 4,410,000 kW production: 9.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,526 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $140 million (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products;
  diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles;
  chemicals; fuel re-exports
  partners: Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Imports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts,
  transport equipment
  partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey; note - EU and US send
  humanitarian food shipments

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $28 million (1993)
  note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,200 million ($675 million
  disbursements)

Railways:
  total: 1,570 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 1,570 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,765 GRT/483,567 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 2, oil tanker 12, short-sea passenger 1
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 28
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 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

Telephone system: poor service; 339,000 unsatisfied applications
  for telephones (December 1990 est.)
  domestic: NA
  international: landline to CIS members and Turkey; satellite earth
  station - 1 Eutelsat; leased connections with other countries via
  the Moscow international gateway switch; international electronic
  mail and telex service available

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,288,291 males fit for military service: 1,021,632 males reach military age (18) annually: 40,654 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $60 million to $65 million, NA% of GDP (1995)

Location: 51 00 N, 9 00 E — Central Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of
Denmark

Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Area:
  total area: 356,910 sq km
  land area: 349,520 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
  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

Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in
  south
  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: 34%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 16%
  forest and woodland: 30%
  other: 19%

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; heavy
  pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents
  from rivers in eastern Germany
  natural hazards: NA
  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, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: strategic location on North European Plain and
along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16.15% (male 6,928,750; female 6,563,026)
  15-64 years: 68.52% (male 29,339,780; female 27,902,549)
  65 years and over: 15.33% (male 4,658,014; female 8,143,996) (July
  1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.95 years male: 72.8 years female: 79.27 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: German 95.1%, Turkish 2.3%, Italians 0.7%,
Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 1.1% (made up largely of people
fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1977 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  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

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 power rights formally relinquished 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) was
  elected by the Federal Convention including members of the Bundestag
  and an equal number of members elected by the Land Parliaments
  head of government: Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October
  1982) was elected by an absolute majority of the Bundestag
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president upon the proposal of
  the chancellor

Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the
  two chambers as a whole)
  Federal Assembly (Bundestag): election last held 16 October 1994
  (next to be held by NA 1998); results - CDU 34.2%, SPD 36.4%,
  Alliance 90/Greens 7.3%, CSU 7.3%, FDP 6.9%, PDS 4.4%, Republicans
  1.9%; seats - (usually 656 total, but 672 for the 1994 term) CDU
  244, SPD 252, Alliance 90/Greens 49, CSU 50, FDP 47, PDS 30; elected
  by direct 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
  Federal Council (Bundesrat): State governments are directly
  represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on size and
  are required to vote as a block; current composition: votes - (68
  total) SPD-led states 41, CDU-led states 27

Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court
(Bundesverfassungsgericht), half the judges are elected by the
Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union (CDU),
  Helmut KOHL, chairman; Christian Social Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL,
  chairman; Free Democratic Party (FDP), Wolfgang GERHARDT, chairman;
  Social Democratic Party (SPD), Oskar LA FONTAINE, chairman; Alliance
  '90/Greens, Krista SAGER, Juergen TRITTIN, cochairpersons; Party of
  Democratic Socialism (PDS), Lothar BISKY, chairman; Republikaner,
  Rolf SCHLIERER, chairman; National Democratic Party (NPD),
  Ellen-Doris SCHERER; Communist Party (DKP), Rolf PRIEMER and Heinz
  STEHR, cochairpersons

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional),
  CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
  MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE,
  PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000 FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles E. REDMAN embassy: Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn mailing address: APO AE 09080, PSC 117, Bonn telephone: [49] (228) 3391 FAX: [49] (228) 339-2663 branch office: Berlin consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart

Economic overview: Germany, the world's third-most powerful economy, faces its own unique problem of bringing its eastern area up to scratch after 45 years of communist rule. Despite substantial progress toward economic integration, the eastern states will continue to rely on subsidies from the federal government into the next century. Assistance to the east of about $100 billion annually has helped the region average nearly 8% annual economic growth since 1991, even though the overall German economy has averaged less than 2% growth. The economic recovery in the east has been led by the construction industries, with growth increasingly supported by the service sectors and light manufacturing industries. Western Germany, which accounts for 90% of overall German GDP and has three times the per capita income of eastern Germany, is perennially the first- or second-largest exporter, after the US, in the world. Nonetheless, business and political leaders have in recent years become increasingly concerned about Germany's apparent decline in attractiveness as a business location. They cite the increasing preference of German companies to locate manufacturing facilities - long the strength of the postwar economy - to foreign countries, including the US, rather than in Germany, so they can be closer to their markets and avoid Germany's high production costs. The conditions under which European economic integration - especially movement toward a single European currency - will proceed will be another key issue facing Germany in the next few years.

GDP:
  Germany: purchasing power parity - $1.4522 trillion (1995 est.)
  western: purchasing power parity - $1.3318 trillion (1995 est.)
  eastern: purchasing power parity - $120.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate:
  Germany: 1.8% (1995 est.)
  western: 1.5% (1995 est.)
  eastern: 6.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita:
  Germany: $17,900 (1995 est.)
  western: $21,100 (1995 est.)
  eastern: $6,600 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
  agriculture: 1%
  industry: 34.2%
  services: 64.8% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): western: 2% (1995 est.) eastern: 2% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 36.75 million by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53% (1987)

Budget:
  revenues: $690 billion
  expenditures: $780 billion, including capital expenditures of $96.5
  billion (1994)

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: capacity: 115,430,000 kW production: 493 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,683 kWh (1993)

Agriculture:
  western: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage;
  cattle, pigs, poultry
  eastern: wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; pork,
  beef, chicken, milk, hides

Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine for West European markets

Exports: $437 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: manufactures 89.3% (including machines and machine tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural products 5.5%, raw materials 2.7%, fuels 1.3% (1993) partners: EC 47.9% (France 11.7%, Netherlands 7.4%, Italy 7.5%, UK 7.7%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.6%), EFTA 15.5%, US 7.7%, Eastern Europe 5.2%, OPEC 3.0% (1993)

Imports: $362 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: manufactures 75.1%, agricultural products 10.0%, fuels 8.3%, raw materials 5.0% (1993) partners: EC 46.4% (France 11.3%, Netherlands 8.4%, Italy 8.1%, UK 6.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.7%), EFTA 14.3%, US 7.3%, Japan 6.3%, Eastern Europe 5.1%, OPEC 2.6% (1993)

Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.4617 (January 1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 43,966 km
  standard gauge: 43,531 km 1.435-m; 40,355 km are owned by Deutsche
  Bahn AG (DB); 17,015 km of the DB system are electrified and 16,941
  km are double- or more-tracked
  narrow gauge: 389 km 1.000-m gauge (DB operates 146 km of 1.000-m
  gauge); 7 km 0.900-m gauge; 39 km 0.750-m gauge
  note: in addition to the DB system there are 54 privately-owned
  industrial or excursion railways, ranging in route length from 2 km
  to 632 km, with a total length of 3,465 km (1995)

Highways:
  total: 636,282 km
  paved: 531,018 km (including 10,955 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 105,264 km (1991 est.)

Waterways:
  western: 5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of
  1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine
  and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic
  Sea and North Sea
  eastern: 2,319 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km;
natural gas 97,564 km (1988)

Ports: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden,
Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck, Magdeburg,
Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart

Merchant marine:
  total: 452 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,054,327
  GRT/6,367,036 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 193, chemical tanker 15, combination
  bulk 4, combination ore/oil 5, container 166, liquefied gas tanker
  12, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 11, passenger 3,
  railcar carrier 3, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14,
  short-sea passenger 7 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 617
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 13
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 65
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 67
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 51
  with paved runways under 914 m: 351
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 55 (1995 est.)

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 is being rapidly 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 many 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); 6 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers; tropospheric scatter links

Radio broadcast stations: western: AM 80, FM 470, shortwave 0 eastern: AM 23, FM 17, shortwave 0

Television broadcast stations: 246 (repeaters 6,000); note - there are 15 Russian repeaters in eastern Germany

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air Force, Border
Police, Coast Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 21,540,919 males fit for military service: 18,537,347 males reach military age (18) annually: 449,292 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $42.8 billion, 1.5% of GDP (1995)

Location: 8 00 N, 2 00 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Area:
  total area: 238,540 sq km
  land area: 230,020 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

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

Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central
  area
  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: 5%
  permanent crops: 7%
  meadows and pastures: 15%
  forest and woodland: 37%
  other: 36%

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
  natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to
  March; droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
  Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial
lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 3,856,673; female 3,819,946)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 4,658,142; female 4,814,060)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 262,159; female 287,291) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.17 years male: 54.18 years female: 58.22 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 64.5%
  male: 75.9%
  female: 53.5%

Name of country: 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 and head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS
  (since 3 November 1992); elected for a four-year term by direct
  universal suffrage; the president can appoint a vice president;
  election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA December 1996)
  cabinet: Cabinet; president nominates members subject to approval by
  the Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament: elections last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA
  December 1996); results - opposition boycotted the election, the
  National Democratic Congress won 198 of the total 200 seats and 2
  seats were won by independents; because of interim bye-elections,
  the National Democratic Congress and its remaining coalition
  partner, Every Ghanian Living Everywhere (EGLE), now control 189
  seats; former coalition partner, NCP, has 8 seats; independents hold
  3

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC),
  Jerry John RAWLINGS; New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Ala ADJETY;
  People's Heritage Party (PHP), Alex ERSKINE; National Convention
  Party (NCP), Kow ARKAAH; Every Ghanian Living Everywhere (EGLE),
  Ashang OKINE; Peoples Convention Party (PCP), B.K. NKETSIA; Peoples
  National Convention (PNC), Alhaji Asuma BANDA

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, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ekwow SPIO-GARBRAH
  chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
  FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Edward BRYNN
  embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
  mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
  telephone: [233] (21) 775348
  FAX: [233] (21) 775747

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Heavily reliant on international assistance, Ghana has made steady progress in liberalizing its economy since 1983. Overall growth continued at a rate of approximately 5% in 1995, due largely to increased gold, timber, and cocoa production - major sources of foreign exchange. The economy, however, continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP and employs 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Public sector wage increases, regional peacekeeping commitments, and the containment of internal unrest in the underdeveloped north have placed substantial demands on the government's budget and have led to inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity program.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 47% industry: 16% services: 37% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 3.7 million
  by occupation: agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales
  and clerical 15.2%, professional 3.7%, services, transportation, and
  communications 7.7%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.05 billion
  expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $178
  million (1993)

Electricity: capacity: 1,180,000 kW production: 6.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 323 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin destined for Europe and the US

Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
  commodities: cocoa 40%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum,
  manganese ore, and diamonds
  partners: Germany , US , UK , Netherlands , Japan (1995)

Imports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
  commodities: petroleum, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods,
  capital equipment
  partners: UK, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands (1995)

Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 - 1,246.11 (September 1995), 956.71 (1994), 649.06 (1993), 437.09 (1992), 367.83 (1991)

Railways:
total: 953 km; note - undergoing major renovation (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge; 32 km double track

Highways:
  total: 38,145 km
  paved: 7,476 km (including 21 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 30,669 km (1990 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: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,427 GRT/35,894 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 12
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: poor to fair system domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 4,135,538 males fit for military service: 2,303,423 males reach military age (18) annually: 176,332 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 0.8% of GDP (1994)

Location: 36 11 N, 5 22 W — Southwestern Europe, bordering the
Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

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

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Area:
  total area: 6.5 sq km
  land area: 6.5 sq km
  comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
  DC

Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, so large
  concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that
links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 3,109; female 2,728)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 10,668; female 8,292)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 1,582; female 2,386) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.29 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.15 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.83 years male: 74.5 years female: 81.31 years (1996 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

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects
resident six months or more

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor and
  Commander in Chief Field Marshal Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March
  1993)
  head of government: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
  was appointed by the governor
  Gibraltar Council: advises the governor
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed from the elected members
  of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the
  chief minister

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held 16 January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1996); results - SL 73.3%, SD 20.2%, NP 4.7%, independents 1.8%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) SL 8, SD 7

Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party
  (SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the
  Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader Adolfo CANEPA;
  Gibraltar Social Democrats (SD), Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar National
  Party (NP), Joe GARCIA

Other political or pressure groups: Housewives Association;
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade and offshore banking. 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, 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.

Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force

Budget:
  revenues: $116 million
  expenditures: $124 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992-93)

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish

Electricity: capacity: 47,000 kW production: 90 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,539 kWh (1993)

Exports: $57 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8% partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

Imports: $420 million (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Highways:
  total: 49.9 km (including 12.9 km public highways)
  paved: 49.9 km
  unpaved: 0 km

Merchant marine:
  total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 357,730 GRT/635,769 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1, oil
  tanker 13 (1995 est.)

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)

Location: 11 30 S, 47 20 E — Southern Africa, group of islands in
the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Madagascar

Area:
  total area: 5 sq km
  land area: 5 sq km
  comparative area: about eight times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC
  note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,
  and South Rock

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: NA

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Type of government: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Location: 39 00 N, 22 00 E — Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

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

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea,
and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Area:
  total area: 131,940 sq km
  land area: 130,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,210 km
  border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,
  The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 6 nm

International disputes: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; border demarcation with Albania, the treatment of Albania's ethnic Greek minority, and migrant Albanian workers in Greece remain unresolved issues

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Land use:
  arable land: 23%
  permanent crops: 8%
  meadows and pastures: 40%
  forest and woodland: 20%
  other: 9%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution; water pollution
  natural hazards: severe earthquakes
  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, Tropical Timber 83,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
  Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Desertification

Geographic 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 899,029; female 837,308)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 3,571,918; female 3,542,556)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 736,818; female 950,965) (July 1996
  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: 0.78 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.1 years male: 75.6 years female: 80.78 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in ======================================================================

Location: 72 00 N, 40 00 W — Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

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

Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean
and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Area:
  total area: 2,175,600 sq km
  land area: 383,600 sq km (ice free)
  comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum,
cryolite, uranium, fish

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 99%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of
  the island
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North
America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements
along coast

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 7,871; female 7,723)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 21,755; female 17,961)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 1,307; female 1,586) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.13 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.24 years male: 63.97 years female: 72.53 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish 14%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Type of government: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner, singular -
kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing
overseas administrative division)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (of Denmark since 14 January
  1972), a constitutional monarch, is represented by High Commissioner
  Steen SPORE (since NA 1993)
  head of government: Prime Minister Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15
  March 1991) was elected by the Landsting
  cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Landsting on basis of
  strength of parties

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament (Landsting): election last held on 4 March 1995 (next to
  be held NA 5 March 1999); results - Siumut 38.5%, Inuit Ataqatigiit
  20.3%, Atassut Party 29.7%; seats - (31 total) Siumut 12, Atassut
  Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2,
  independent 1
  Danish Folketing: election last held on 21 September 1994 (next to
  be held by NA September 1998); Greenland elects two representatives
  to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2
  total) Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; note - 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), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule), Josef MOTZFELDT; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), Daniel SKIFTE; Akulliit Party, Bjarne KREUTZMANN; Issituup (Polar Party), Nicolai HEINRICH

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult. Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and zinc mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely dependent on fishing and fish processing, the sector accounting for 95% of exports. Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near future. The public sector, i.e., the central government and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland, accounting for about two-thirds of total employment. About half the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.

Budget:
  revenues: $667 million
  expenditures: $635 million, including capital expenditures of $103.8
  million (1993 est.)

Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead, zinc,
handicrafts, small shipyards

Electricity: capacity: 84,000 kW production: 210 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,361 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: forage crops, small garden vegetables; sheep; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons

Exports: $330.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%

Imports: $369.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12% partners: Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 5.652 (January 1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991)

Ports: Faeringehavn, Frederikshaab, Holsteinsborg, Nanortalik,
Narsaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Sondre Stromfjord

Merchant marine:
total: 1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,162
GRT/610 DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 8
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Location: 12 07 N, 61 40 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

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

Area:
  total area: 340 sq km
  land area: 340 sq km
  comparative area: twice the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: 26%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 9%
  other: 47%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season
  lasts from June to November
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

Geographic 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 20,975; female 20,246)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 26,089; female 23,068)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 2,112; female 2,471) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.89 years male: 68.39 years female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 98%

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), a
  hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Reginald
  Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992)
  head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June
  1995) was appointed from members of the House of Assembly by the
  governor general
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
  the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition House of Representatives: elections last held on 20 June 1995 (next to be held by NA October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) NDC 5, GULP 2, NNP 8

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC),
  George BRIZAN; Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY;
  The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith
  MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence
  MARRYSHOW; New Democratic Party (NDP), James MITCHELL; Unity Labor
  Party (ULP), Vincent BEACHE

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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE
  chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada; Charge d'Affaires Dennis CARTER embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I. telephone: [1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178 FAX: [1] (809) 444-4820

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but is growing due to a favorable private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has slowed since 1992. The new MITCHELL government has moved forward with a plan to eliminate personal income tax in the hope of spurring domestic consumption.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 10.2% industry: 40.3% services: 49.5% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 36,000
by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%,
manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $75.7 million (1996 est.)
  expenditures: $126.7 million, including capital expenditures of $51
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly
operations, tourism, construction

Electricity: capacity: 12,500 kW production: 60 million kWh consumption per capita: 639 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Exports: $24.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing,
  mace
  partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)

Imports: $162.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%,
  chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
  partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Location: 16 15 N, 61 35 W — Caribbean, islands in the eastern
Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

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

Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea,
southeast of Puerto Rico

Area:
  total area: 1,780 sq km
  land area: 1,706 sq km
  comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC
  note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, of
  which Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, and Marie-Galante are the three
  largest

Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 5%
  meadows and pastures: 13%
  forest and woodland: 40%
  other: 24%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an
  active volcano
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 53,118; female 51,219)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 132,846; female 136,147)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 14,617; female 19,821) (July 1996 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.4 years male: 74.37 years female: 80.58 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
  total population: 90%
  male: 90%
  female: 90%

Name of country:
  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 (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995), represented by Prefect Michel DIEFENBACHER (since NA March
  1995), who was appointed by the French Ministry of Interior
  head of government: President of the General Council Dominique
  LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette
  MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral
  Regional Council
  General Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held
  by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (43
  total) FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1,
  independent 1
  Regional Council: elections last held 31 January 1994 (next to be
  held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR/FGPS-dissadents 48.30%, FGPS
  17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats - (41
  total) RPR/FGPS-dissadents 22, FGPS/FRUI.G 9, PPDG 5, PCG 3, UPLG 2
  French Senate: elections last held in September 1995 (next to be
  held NA September 2004); Guadeloupe elects two representatives;
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PPDG 1,
  FGPS 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held on 21 and 28 March
  1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four
  representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4
  total) FGPS 1, RPR 1, PPDG 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction
over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR),
  Daniel BEAUBRUN; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian
  Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (FGPS), Georges LOUISOR; Popular
  Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), Claude MAKOUKE; FGPS
  Dissidents (FRUI.G), Dominique LARIFLA; Union for French Democracy
  (UDF), Marcel ESDRAS; Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri
  BANGOU

Other political or pressure groups: Movement for Independent
  Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG);
  General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement
  for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important 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, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of 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.)

Labor force: 129,700 by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%, services 65% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $395 million
  expenditures: $407 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Electricity: capacity: 320,000 kW production: 650 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats

Exports: $130 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: bananas, sugar, rum partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

Highways:
  total: 2,082 km (national 329 km, regional 582 km, community/local
  1171 km)
  paved: 1,742 km
  unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.)

Airports:
  total: 9
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)

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

Location: 13 28 N, 144 47 E — Oceania, island in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the
Philippines

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

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Area:
  total area: 541.3 sq km
  land area: 541.3 sq km
  comparative area: three times the size of Washington, DC

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 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%
  meadows and pastures: 15%
  forest and woodland: 18%
  other: 45%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
  rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in
  August)
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific
Ocean

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.29 years male: 72.42 years female: 76.13 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and other 18%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99%

Name of country: conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam

Type of government: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote
in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (of the United States) William Jefferson
  CLINTON (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)
  were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last
  held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results -
  Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) defeated Tommy TANAKA (Republican) with
  54.6% of the vote
  cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
  the consent of the Guam legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democrats 14, Republican 7 US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat 1

Judicial branch: Federal District Court, judge is appointed by the president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the
legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.

Labor force: 46,930 (1990) by occupation: federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $525 million
  expenditures: $395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1991)

Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Electricity: capacity: 300,000 kW production: 750 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,797 kWh (1993)

Exports: $34 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products partners: US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%

Imports: $493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
  commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured
  goods
  partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%

Economic aid:
  recipient: 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 Guamanian Treasury,
  rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by
  military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam

Airports:
  total: 4
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific
  Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan

Location: 15 30 N, 90 15 W — Middle America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North
Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico

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

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
El Salvador and Mexico

Area:
  total area: 108,890 sq km
  land area: 108,430 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,687 km
  border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256
  km, Mexico 962 km

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

International disputes: border with Belize in dispute; talks to
resolve the dispute are stalled

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 12%
  forest and woodland: 40%
  other: 32%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
  natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent
  violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
  tropical storms
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 2,464,498; female 2,362,457)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 3,026,834; female 3,031,278)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 184,927; female 207,620) (July 1996 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.24 years male: 62.64 years female: 67.97 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Mestizo - mixed Amerindian-Spanish ancestry (in
local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly
Amerindian 44%

Languages: Spanish 60%, Indian language 40% (23 Indian dialects,
including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 55.6%
  male: 62.5%
  female: 48.6%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU
  Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES
  Asturias (since 14 January 1996); results - Alvaro Enrique ARZU
  Irigoyen (PAN) 51.2%, Jorge PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 48.8%; ARZU was
  elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage; election runoff
  held on 14 January 1996 (next to be held November 2000)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was named by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica): elections were
  held on 12 November 1995 to select 80 new congressmen (next election
  will be held in November 2000); results - seats (80 total) 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 (UCN),
  (vacant); Solidarity Action Movement (MAS), Oliverio GARCIA Rodas;
  Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo; National
  Advancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen; National Liberation
  Movement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon; Social Democratic Party
  (PSD), Mario SOLORZANO Martinez; Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos
  CHAVARRIA Perez; Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Efrain RIOS
  Montt; Democratic Union (UD), Jose CHEA Urruela; New Guatemalan
  Democratic Front (FDNG), Jorge GONZALEZ del Valle

Other political or pressure groups: Coordinating Committee of
  Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations
  (CACIF); Mutual Support Group (GAM); Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO);
  Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC); leftist guerrilla movement
  known as Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union (URNG) has four
  main factions - Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP); Revolutionary
  Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA); Rebel Armed Forces (FAR);
  Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT/O)

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC,
  FAO, G-24, 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, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNMIH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro LAMPORT Kelsall chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn McAFEE embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] (2) 311541 FAX: [502] (2) 318885

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing, predominantly in private hands, accounts for about 20% of GDP and 12% of the labor force. In both 1990 and 1991, the economy grew by 3%, the fourth and fifth consecutive years of mild growth. In 1992 growth picked up to almost 5% as government policies favoring competition and foreign trade and investment took stronger hold. In 1993-94, despite political unrest, this momentum continued, foreign investment held up, and annual growth averaged 4%. Strong international prices for Guatemala's traditional commodity exports featured 4.9% growth in 1995. Given the markedly uneven distribution of land and income, the government faces major obstacles in its program of economic modernization and the reduction of poverty.

Labor force: 3.2 million (1994 est.) by occupation: agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.7%, mining 0.3% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.6 billion
  expenditures: $1.88 billion, including capital expenditures of $570
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 700,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 211 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens

Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; the government has an active eradication program for cannabis and opium poppy

Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, beef partners: US 30%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras

Imports: $2.85 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles partners: US 44%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany

Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 5.9346 (December 1995), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512 (1994), 5,6354 (1993), 5.1706 (1992), 5.0289 (1991); note - black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)

Railways:
total: 884 km (102 km privately owned)
narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)

Highways:
  total: 12,033 km
  paved: 3,117 km (including 125 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 8,916 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km
navigable during high-water season

Ports: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo
Tomas de Castilla

Airports:
  total: 463
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 320
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 124 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: fairly modern network centered in the city of ======================================================================

Location: 49 28 N, 2 35 W — Western Europe, islands in the
English Channel, northwest of France

Description: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron
saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag

Area:
  total area: 194 sq km
  land area: 194 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
  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

Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 5,592; female 5,439)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 20,636; female 21,472)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 3,925; female 5,856) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.92 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.22 years male: 75.28 years female: 81.27 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist

Name of country: 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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief
  Vice-Admiral Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff Mr. Graham
  Martyn DOREY (since February 1992) were appointed by the queen
  cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees);
  appointed by the Assembly of the States

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States: elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (60 total, 33 elected), all independents

Flag: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) extending to the edges of the flag

Economic overview: Financial services account for about 55% of total income. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a record 26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other major income generators.

GDP: $NA

Budget:
  revenues: $238.3 million
  expenditures: $223.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 173,000 kW production: 525 million kWh consumption per capita: 9,060 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers,
eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle

Exports: $NA
  commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant,
  other vegetables
  partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)

Imports: $NA
commodities: coal, gasoline, and oil
partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)

Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Location: 11 00 N, 10 00 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Area:
  total area: 245,860 sq km
  land area: 245,860 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

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

Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous
  interior
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 12%
  forest and woodland: 42%
  other: 40%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
  desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing
  natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce
  visibility during dry season
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Hazardous
  Wastes

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 1,632,414; female 1,637,007)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 1,928,586; female 2,013,343)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 84,005; female 116,626) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: in prior years Guinea received several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, many of whom are now returning to their own countries

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.06 years male: 42.73 years female: 47.47 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 35.9%
  male: 49.9%
  female: 21.9%

Name of country: 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: 33 administrative regions (regions
  administratives, singular - region administrative); Beyla, Boffa,
  Boke, Conakry, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Faranah,
  Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia,
  Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola,
  Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele,
  Tougue, Yomou

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 and head of government: President Lansana CONTE,
  elected in the first multiparty election 19 December 1993 (president
  must be elected by a majority of the votes cast); prior to the
  election he had ruled as head of military government since 5 April
  1984
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  People's National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire): the
  People's National Assembly was dissolved after the 3 April 1984
  coup; framework established in December 1991 for a new National
  Assembly with 114 seats; legislative elections were held on 11 June
  1995; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (114 total) 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 pro-government: Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) other: Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Alpha CONDE; Union for a New Republic (UNR), Mamadou BAH; Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP), Siradiou DIALLO; Union for Progress of Guinea (UPG), Secretary-General Jean-Marie DORE; Democratic Party of Guinea (DPG), Ahmed Sekou TOURE; National Union for the Prosperity of Guinea (UNPG), Lt.Col. Facine TOURE, leader; Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG), El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN, leader

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM,
  OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Bangoura Mahawa CAMARA
  chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420
  FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM III embassy: Rue KA 038, Conakry mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry telephone: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23 FAX: [224] 44 15 22

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Although possessing major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounted for 85% of exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in literacy, financial institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Except in the bauxite industry, foreign investment remains minimal.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 31% services: 45% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.4 million (1983) by occupation: agriculture 80.0%, industry and commerce 11.0%, services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%

Budget:
  revenues: $449 million
  expenditures: $708 million, including capital expenditures of $361
  million (1990 est.)

Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light
manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Electricity: capacity: 180,000 kW production: 520 million kWh consumption per capita: 77 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Exports: $562 million (1994 est.)
  commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples,
  bananas, palm kernels
  partners: US 23%, Belgium 12%, Ireland 12%, Spain 12%

Imports: $688 million (1994 est.)
  commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport
  equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
  partners: France 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 12%, Hong Kong 6%, Germany 6%

Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 995.3 (August 1995), 976.6 (1994), 955.5 (1993), 902.0 (1992), 753.9 (1991) note: the official exchange rate of the Guinean franc was set and quoted weekly against the US dollar until end-October 1993; since 1 November 1994, the exchange rate is determined in the interbank market for foreign exchange

Railways:
  total: 1,086 km
  standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge; note - includes 662 km in common
  carrier service from Kankan to Conakry

Airports:
  total: 14
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force,
Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National
Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,684,264
males fit for military service: 849,404 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $50 million, 1.6%
of GDP (1994)

Location: 12 00 N, 15 00 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea and Senegal

Area:
  total area: 36,120 sq km
  land area: 28,000 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
  Connecticut

Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m

Natural resources: phosphates, bauxite, unexploited deposits of
petroleum, fish, timber

Land use:
  arable land: 11%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 43%
  forest and woodland: 38%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
  natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce
  visibility during dry season; brush fires
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Wetlands

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 247,471; female 246,725)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 295,132; female 329,681)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 15,603; female 16,718) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.28 years male: 46.63 years female: 49.99 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 54.9%
  male: 68%
  female: 42.5%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
  conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
  local long form: Republica de Guine-Bissau
  local short form: Guine-Bissau
  former: Portuguese Guinea

Type of government: republic, formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao);
Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao
  Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980) was elected for a
  five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held August 1994
  (next to be held 1999); results - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Kumba
  YALLA 48%
  head of government: Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO (since 5
  November 1994) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections
  last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) PAIGC 62, RGB 19,
  PRS 12, Union for Change Coalition 6, FLING 1

Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the
Council of Ministers

Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence
  of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo
  VIEIRA, leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB), Helder Jorge VAZ
  Gomes Lopes, leader; Democratic Front (FD); Social Renovation Party
  (PRS), Koumba YALLA, leader; Union for Change Coalition; Front for
  the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING); Democratic Social
  Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata Movement, Domingos
  Fernandes GARNER, leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB); Union for
  Change Coalition

International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP,
  AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOM
  (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL
  chancery: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006
  telephone: [1] (202) 872-4222
  FAX: [1] (202) 872-4226

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Peggy BLACKFORD embassy: Bairro de Penha, Bissau mailing address: C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau telephone: [245] 252273, 252274, 252275, 252276 FAX: [245] 252282

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development. With IMF support, the country is committed to an economic reform program emphasizing monetary stability and private sector growth. This process will continue at a slow pace because of a heavy foreign debt burden and internal constraints.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 44% industry: 8% services: 48% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 403,000 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%, government 5%

Electricity: capacity: 22,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 37 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts,
peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; fishing and forest potential not
fully exploited

Exports: $32 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
partners: Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire

Imports: $63 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and equipment partners: Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal

Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 17,659 (December 1995), 12,892 (1994), 10,082 (1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185 (1990)

Telephone system: poor system domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiotelephone communications international: NA

Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army,
Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 259,738 males fit for military service: 148,291 (1996 est.)

Location: 5 00 N, 59 00 W — Northern South America, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

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

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Area:
  total area: 214,970 sq km
  land area: 196,850 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho

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

International disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo
  River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper
  Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the
  Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in
  south
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 83%
  other: 8%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and
  industrial chemicals; deforestation
  natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy
  seasons
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
  Timber 83, Whaling

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 118,796; female 114,327)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 224,219; female 222,562)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 14,582; female 17,605) (July 1996 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.1 years male: 57.55 years female: 62.78 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian
4%, European and Chinese 2%

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
  total population: 98.1%
  male: 98.6%
  female: 97.5%

Name of country:
  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: Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 9 October
  1992); the president is elected by the majority party in the
  National Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held
  within five years; legislative elections last held 5 October 1992
  (next to be held NA 1997); results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected
  president by the PPP
  head of government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 9 October 1992)
  was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president; is
  responsible to the legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997); results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total, 53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1

Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP),
  Cheddi JAGAN; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;
  Good and Green Georgetown (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; Working People's
  Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor
  Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM),
  Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The
  United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP),
  Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN;
  Guyana Labor Party (GLP), Nanda GOPAUL

Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC);
  Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties
  Action Committee (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, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
  chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David L. HOBBS embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969 FAX: [592] (2) 58497

Flag: 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

Economic overview: In 1995, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its fifth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold mining and by production of rice, sugar, and forestry products for export. Favorable factors include recovery in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a sharp drop in the inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power 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 $2 billion external debt, control inflation, and extend the privatization program.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 26.5% industry: 27.8% services: 45.7% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 268,000
  by occupation: industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%,
  services 21.7%
  note: public-sector employment amounts to 60%-80% of the total labor
  force (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $209 million
  expenditures: $303 million, including capital expenditures of $109
  million (1995 est.)

Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing
(shrimp), textiles, gold mining

Electricity: capacity: 110,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 286 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork,
poultry, dairy products; development potential exists for fishing
and forestry

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South
America - primarily Venezuela - to the US and Europe; producer of
cannabis

Exports: $453 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses
partners: UK 33%, US 31%, Canada 9%, France 5%, Japan 3% (1992)

Imports: $456 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food partners: US 37%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Italy 8%, Japan 5% (1992)

Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 140.3 (January 1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 88 km
  standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)
  narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)

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: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 47
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 32
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast
Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana
National Service (GNS)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 197,548
males fit for military service: 149,646 (1996 est.)

Location: 19 00 N, 72 25 W — Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

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)

Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Area:
  total area: 27,750 sq km
  land area: 27,560 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 13%
  meadows and pastures: 18%
  forest and woodland: 4%
  other: 45%

Environment:
  current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remaining
  forested land is being cleared for agriculture and use as fuel);
  soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
  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
  international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
  Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear
  Test Ban

Geographic 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: 46% (male 1,568,943; female 1,523,406)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 1,614,679; female 1,758,388)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 132,460; female 133,663) (July 1996 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
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.26 years male: 47.26 years female: 51.35 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo), Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 45%
  male: 48%
  female: 42.2%

Name of country: 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, 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), was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
  election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December
  2000); results - Rene PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
  head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH (since March 1996)
  was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet; was chosen by prime minister in consultation with
  the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
  Nationale)
  Senate: elections last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August
  and runoffs on 17 September (next to be held 25 June 1999); results
  - percent of vote by party NA; seats - 27 total
  Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on
  13 August and runoffs on 17 September; results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - 83 total

Political parties and leaders: National Front for Change and
  Democracy (FNCD), Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE; National Cooperative
  Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; National Congress of
  Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the
  Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National
  Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National
  Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE;
  National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE;
  Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE; Haitian
  Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Fritz PIERRE; Assembly of
  Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National
  Labor Party (PNT), Remy ZAMOR; Mobilization for National Development
  (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of
  Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Haitian Social Christian Party
  (PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE; Movement for the Organization of the
  Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE; Democratic Unity
  Confederation (KID), Evans PAUL; National Lavalas Political
  Organization (OPL), Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES; Open the Gate Party
  (PLB), Renaud BERNARDIN; Haitian National Democratic Progressive
  Party (PNDPH), Turneb DELPE

Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;
  Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade
  Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular
  Assembly (APN); Papaye Peasants Movement (MPP)

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, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean CASIMIR chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 through 4092 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING embassy: 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612 FAX: [509] 23-1641

Flag: 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)

Economic 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 only moderate job creation since President ARISTIDE was returned to power in October 1994. Failure to reach agreement with multilateral lenders in late 1995 led to rising deficit spending and subsequently increasing inflation and a drop in the value of the Haitian currency in the final months of 1995. Potential investors, both foreign and domestic, have been reluctant to risk their capital, planning to "wait and see" what happens in the months following the inauguration of newly elected President Rene PREVAL and the drawdown of UN peacekeeping forces. The PREVAL government will have to grapple with implementing necessary, although unpopular, economic reforms in order to obtain badly needed foreign aid and improve Haiti's ability to attract foreign capital if the Haitian economy is to gain momentum. Haiti will continue to depend heavily on foreign aid in the medium term.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 34.8% industry: 23% services: 42.2% (1991 est.)

Labor force: 2.3 million by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9% note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)

Budget:
  revenues: $242 million
  expenditures: $299.4 million including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95)

Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement,
tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts

Electricity: capacity: 150,000 kW production: 590 million kWh consumption per capita: 86 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en
route to the US and Europe

Exports: $161 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: light manufactures 65%, coffee 19%, other agriculture
  8%, other 8%
  partners: US 81%, Europe 12% (1993)

Imports: $537 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%,
  petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9%
  partners: US 51%, Europe 16%, Latin America 18% (1993)

Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1 - 16.783 (January 1996), 16.160 (1995), 12.947 (1994), 12.805 (1993), 10.953 (1992), 8.240 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)-closed
  in early 1990's
  narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge

Ports: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Cayes, Miragoane,
Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc

Airports:
  total: 11
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic facilities barely adequate,
  international facilities slightly better
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,379,116 males fit for military service: 746,617 males reach military age (18) annually: 67,287 (1996 est.)

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands ————————————————-

Location: 53 06 S, 72 31 E — Southern Africa, islands in the
Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to
Antarctica

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Area:
  total area: 412 sq km
  land area: 412 sq km
  comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano
  called Big Ben
  international agreements: NA

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald
  Islands
  conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Type of government: territory of Australia administered by the
Ministry for Environment, Sport, and Territories

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

Area:
  total area: 0.44 sq km
  land area: 0.44 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain: low hill lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution,
  Environmental Modification

Geographic 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

Name of country:
  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, 22 October (1978)
(John Paul II)
note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October
  1978) was 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); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the
  College of Cardinals
  head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal
  SODANO (since NA 1991) was appointed by the pope
  cabinet: Pontifical Commission was appointed by Pope

Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence
exercised by church officers)

International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat,
IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD,
UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino
  CACCIAVILLAN
  chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153 mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741 FAX: [39] (6) 5758346, 57300682

Flag: 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

Economic 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.

Labor force: NA
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:
  capacity: 5,000 kW standby
  production: power supplied by Italy
  consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely

Railways:
  total: 862 meters; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's
  Saint Peter's station
  narrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge

Telephone system: automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal
Guards are posted at entrances to Vatican City

Location: 15 00 N, 86 30 W — Middle America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the
North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Nicaragua

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

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Area:
  total area: 112,090 sq km
  land area: 111,890 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

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

International disputes: land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; 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

Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains 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: 14%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 30%
  forest and woodland: 34%
  other: 20%

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 freshwater) with heavy metals as well as
  several rivers and streams
  natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging
  hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed,
  but not ratified - Desertification, Tropical Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 1,220,188; female 1,177,725)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 1,496,625; female 1,520,918)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 91,126; female 98,611) (July 1996 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.42 years male: 66.01 years female: 70.96 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 72.7%
  male: 72.6%
  female: 72.7%

Name of country:
  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); 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 and head of government: President Carlos Roberto
  REINA Idiaquez (since 27 January 1994) was elected for a four-year
  term by a simple majority of the people; First Vice President
  General (Ret.) Walter LOPEZ; Second Vice President Juan DE LA CRUZ
  Avelar; Third Vice President Guadeloupe JEREZANO; election last held
  28 November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - Carlos
  Roberto REINA Idiaquez (PLH) 53%, Oswaldo RAMOS Soto (PNH) 41%,
  other 6%
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Congress (Congreso Nacional): elections last held on 27
  November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - PNH 53%,
  PLH 41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%, other 2.5%; seats - (134 total)
  PNH 55, PLH 77, PINU-SD 2

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 (PLH), Rafael PINEDA
  Ponce, president; National Party of Honduras (PNH), Oswaldo RAMOS
  Soto, president; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), Olban
  VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Efrain
  DIAZ Arrivillaga, president

Other political or pressure groups: National Association of
  Honduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
  (COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union of
  Campesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); United
  Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense of
  Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of Popular
  Organizations (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, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto FLORES Bermudez chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 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

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William T. PRYCE embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 36-9320, 38-5114 FAX: [504] 36-9037

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy, employs nearly two-thirds of the labor force and produces two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Manufacturing, still in its early stages, employs about 9% of the labor force, and generates 20% of exports. Many basic problems face the economy, including rapid population growth, high unemployment, inflation, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient public sector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee and bananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations. A far-reaching reform program, initiated by former President CALLEJAS in 1990 and scaled back by President REINA, is beginning to take hold.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 20% services: 50% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 1.3 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $527 million
  expenditures: $668 million, including capital expenditures of $166
  million (1993 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 290,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 445 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics; illicit producer
of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for
local consumption

Exports: $843 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber
partners: US 53%, Germany 11%, Belgium 8%, UK 5%

Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f. 1994) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs partners: US 50%, Mexico 8%, Guatemala 6%

Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 - 10.3432 (December 1994), 10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994), 7.2600 (1993), 5.8300 (1992), 5.4000 (1991); the lempira was allowed to float in 1992

Railways:
  total: 595 km
  narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km
  0.914-m gauge
  note: in 1993, there was a total of 988 km of track (1995)

Ports: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo,
Tela, Puerto Lempira

Merchant marine:
  total: 257 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 769,518 GRT/1,148,423
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 165, chemical tanker 2, combination
  bulk 1, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 3,
  oil tanker 19, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo
  16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier
  1
  note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 8 ships, Vietnam
  4, North Korea 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, US 1, Iran 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 111
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 79
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: inadequate system
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public
Security Forces (FUSEP)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,322,525 males fit for military service: 787,889 males reach military age (18) annually: 64,378 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $41 million, about 0.4% of GDP (1994)

Location: 22 15 N, 114 10 E — Eastern Asia, bordering the South
China Sea and China

Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

Area:
  total area: 1,040 sq km
  land area: 990 sq km
  comparative area: six times the size of Washington, DC

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 12%
  other: 79%

Environment:
  current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
  natural hazards: occasional typhoons
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 609,493; female 593,687)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 2,312,141; female 2,094,156)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 307,186; female 388,750) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.19 years male: 78.88 years female: 85.71 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
  total population: 92.2%
  male: 96%
  female: 88.2%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Hong Kong abbreviation: HK

Type of government: dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China on 1 July 1997

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997

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 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
  Christopher Francis PATTEN (since 9 July 1992) was appointed by the
  Queen; Chief Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November
  1993)
  cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the Governor

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Legislative Council: indirect and direct elections last held 17
  September 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (60 total, 30 indirectly elected by functional
  constituencies, 20 directly elected, 10 elected by election
  committee) Democratic Party 21, Liberal Party 10, Democratic
  Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 6, other parties and
  independents 23

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Martin LEE, chairman; Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Association for Democracy and
  People's Livelihood (ADPL), Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman;
  Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of
  Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and
  Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade
  Unions (pro-democracy), LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman; Hong Kong General
  Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
  (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese
  Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional
  Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in
  Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH,
  chairman

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP
(associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO
(correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Consul General Richard W. MUELLER
  consulate general(s): 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
  mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002
  telephone: [852] 2523-9011
  FAX: [852] 2845-1598

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
  quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on
  the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield
  (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the
  UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the
  shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

Economic overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing and construction account for about 18% of GDP. Goods and services exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, 5.2% in 1993, 5.5% in 1994, and 5.0% in 1995. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s, edged up from 2% to 3.5% in 1995. Notwithstanding, a shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Prospects for 1996 remain bright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous and so long as investors feel China will support free market practices after the takeover in 1997.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 0.2% industry: 18.4% services: 81.4% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2,915,400 (1994) by occupation: manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $19 billion
  expenditures: $14.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $289
  million (FY94/95)

Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks

Electricity: capacity: 8,930,000 kW production: 33 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,628 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse

Exports: $177.1 billion (including re-exports)(f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear,
  electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys
  partners: China 33%, US 22%, Germany 5%, Japan 5%, UK 3% (1993)

Imports: $195.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
  semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is re-exported
  partners: China 38%, Japan 17%, Taiwan 9%, US 7% (1993)

Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992), 7.771 (1991); note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985

Merchant marine:
  total: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,632,224
  GRT/14,820,657 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 129, cargo 32, chemical tanker 1, combination
  bulk 4, combination ore/oil 3, container 39, liquefied gas tanker 3,
  multifunction large load carrier 1, oil tanker 17, refrigerated
  cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 17
  countries among which are UK 51, China 11, Belgium 8, South Africa
  8, US 8, Japan 7, Bermuda 6, Switzerland 6, Germany 3, and Israel 3
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
  note: new international airport to be commissioned in 1997/98

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

Television broadcast stations: 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation repeater 1; British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)

Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy, Royal
Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong
Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,895,535 males fit for military service: 1,442,072 males reach military age (18) annually: 46,248 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $207 million, 0.2% of GDP (FY92/93); this represents 65% of the total cost of defending the colony, the remainder being paid by the UK

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK until 1 July 1997, when China will assume command

Location: 0 48 N, 176 38 W — Oceania, island in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Area:
  total area: 1.6 sq km
  land area: 1.6 sq km
  comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 5%
  other: 95%

Environment:
  current issues: no natural fresh water resources
  natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
  be a maritime hazard
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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; feral cats

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System

Ports: 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

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard

Area:
  total area: 93,030 sq km
  land area: 92,340 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,009 km
  border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
  Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Land use:
  arable land: 51%
  permanent crops: 6%
  meadows and pastures: 13%
  forest and woodland: 18%
  other: 12%

Environment:
  current issues: an early-1996 government study identified 179 areas
  that suffer from air pollution, 54 areas with polluted soil, and 32
  areas with polluted underground water; the study estimated clean-up
  costs at $350 million, but the 1996 government budget allocates only
  about $7 million for this purpose
  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-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic 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: 18% (male 907,963; female 867,536)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 3,325,529; female 3,464,588)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 538,106; female 898,819) (July 1996
  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: 0.6 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.91 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.02 years male: 64.23 years female: 74.04 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 98%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
  conventional short form: Hungary
  local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
  local short form: Magyarorszag

Administrative divisions: 38 counties (megyek, singular - megye)
  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, Zala, Zalaegerszeg

National holiday: St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August (commemorates the founding of Hungarian state circa 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

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 from 2 May 1990) was elected for a
  four-year term by the National Assembly; election last held 19 June
  1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President GONCZ elected by
  parliamentary vote with a total of 259 votes out of 335
  head of government: Prime Minister Gyula HORN (since 15 July 1994)
  was elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
  president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was elected by the National Assembly
  on recommendation of the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Orszaggyules): elections last held on 8 and 29
  May 1994 (next to be held spring 1998); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (386 total) MSzP 209, SzDSz 70, MDF 37, FKgP 26,
  KDNP 22, FiDeSz 20, other 2

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF), Lajos FUR, chairman; Independent Smallholders (FKgP), Jozsef TORGYAN, president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP), Gyula HORN, president; Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), Gyorgy GICZY, president; Federation of Young Democrats (FiDeSz), Viktor ORBAN, chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz), Ivan PETO, chairman note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSzMP) renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) in October 1989; there is still a small MMP

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG,
  OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WEU
  (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Gyorgy BANLAKI
  chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
  FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Donald M. BLINKEN
  embassy: V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
  mailing address: Am Embassy, Unit 1320, APO AE 09213-1320
  telephone: [36] (1) 267-4400, 269-9331
  FAX: [36] (1) 269-9326

Economic overview: Hungary, probably the most Western-oriented economy in East Europe before the transition to a market system began in 1990, made good progress in the initial years of transition. The reform process slowed in 1993-94, however, in part because of the May 1994 elections and the resulting change in government. By 1994 the privatization of state firms had ground to a halt, while both the budget and current account deficits soared to unsustainable levels - about 8% and 10% of GDP, respectively. The situation improved sharply in 1995; an austerity program introduced in March reduced both deficits, and a renewed privatization effort later in 1995 resulted in more than $3 billion worth of sales of state firms to foreign investors - money that will be used to reduce Hungary's large foreign debt. As for other macroeconomic developments, real GDP increased 2.9% in 1994 - following several years of steep decline - and about 1.5% in 1995. Unemployment reached 14% in early 1993 before gradually falling back to 10% in 1995. Inflation has oscillated; it reached 40% in mid-1991, dropped to 17% in early 1994, and then jumped back to 31% by mid-1995. Prospects for 1996 are good. With the government still committed to austerity, both the budget and current account deficits should fall to about 4% of GDP. Economic growth is expected to be about 2% and unemployment at about 10%, with inflation falling to 20% by yearend. In March 1996 the IMF signed a new standby loan agreement with Budapest, and the OECD approved Hungary's application for admission.

Labor force: 4.8 million (1995) by occupation: services, trade, government, and other 47.2%, industry 29.7%, agriculture 16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $12.6 billion
  expenditures: $13.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles

Electricity: capacity: 6,740,000 kW production: 31 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,012 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and transit point for South American cocaine destined for
Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals

Exports: $13 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: raw materials and semi-finished goods 36.4%, consumer
  goods 26.7%, food and agriculture 20.5%, capital goods 13.1%, fuels
  and energy 3.3% (1994)
  partners: Germany 28.2%, Austria 10.9%, Italy 8.5%, Russia 7.5%, US
  4.0% (1994)

Imports: $15 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: fuels and energy 11.0%, raw materials and semi-finished
  goods 36.9%, capital goods 23.3%, consumer goods 22.0%, food and
  agriculture 6.8% (1994)
  partners: Germany 23.4%, Austria 12.0%, Russia 12.0%, Italy 7.0%, UK
  4.0% (1994)

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $136 million (1993)
  note: assistance received from OECD countries and international
  organizations, $3,700 million (1990-93)

Exchange rates: forints per US$1 - 144 (January 1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994), 91.933 (1993), 78.988 (1992), 74.735 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 7,685 km
  broad gauge: 35 km 1.524-m gauge
  standard gauge: 7,474 km 1.435-m gauge (2,162 km electrified; 1,236
  km double track)
  narrow gauge: 176 km mostly 0.760-m gauge (1995)
  note: Hungry and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
  standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurti, and Vasut, a
  distance of about 100 km

Highways:
  total: 158,711 km
  paved: 69,992 km (including 441 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 88,719 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 10 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 46,121 GRT/61,613
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 78
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 34 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network
  based on microwave radio relay system; 608,000 telephones on order;
  12-15 year wait for a telephone; 49% of all telephones are in
  Budapest (1991 est.); 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 phone lines during
  1996-98
  domestic: microwave radio relay
  international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and 1
  Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard,
Territorial Defense

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,552,794 males fit for military service: 2,036,399 males reach military age (18) annually: 82,040 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $620 million, 1.7% of GDP (1995)

Location: 65 00 N, 18 00 W — Northern Europe, island between the
Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

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)

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Area:
  total area: 103,000 sq km
  land area: 100,250 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

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

International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 1%
  other: 78%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
  wastewater treatment
  natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
  ratified - Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
  Conservation

Geographic note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Population: 270,292 (July 1996 est.)
  note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may
  differ slightly from official population data because of volatile
  migration rates

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 33,605; female 31,933)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 88,064; female 85,724)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 13,916; female 17,050) (July 1996 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.08 years male: 77.68 years female: 82.6 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
  total population: 100%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  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 Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August
  1980) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage;
  election last held 29 June 1988 (next to be held June 1996); results
  - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR
  was unopposed
  head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April
  1991) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Althing): elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999); results - 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 - (63 total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur), justices are
appointed for life by the president

Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative),
  David ODDSSON; Progressive Party (liberal), Halldor ASGRIMSSON;
  Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance
  (left socialist), Margret FRIMANNSDOTTIR; Women's Party, Kristin
  ASTGEIRSDOTTIR; People's Movement (centrist); National Awakening
  (People's Revival Party), Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
  chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655
  FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Parker W. BORG
  embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
  mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
  telephone: [354] 5629100
  FAX: [354] 5629139

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 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, in recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth, but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling 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, however, remains divided on the issue of EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 9.6% industry: 22.1% services: 68.3% (1994)

Labor force: 127,900
  by occupation: commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%,
  manufacturing 12.5%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction
  10.8%, agriculture 4.0%, other 0.9% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.9 billion
  expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $297
  million (1994 est.)

Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon
production, geothermal power

Electricity: capacity: 1,070,000 kW production: 4.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 16,458 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite partners: EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)

Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles partners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 65.970 (January 1996), 64.692 (1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991)

Ports: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn,
Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Merchant marine:
  total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1,
  refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 84
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 49
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 22 (1995 est.)

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

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

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 71,317
males fit for military service: 63,126 (1996 est.)

Location: 20 00 N, 77 00 E — Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian
Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

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

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Area:
  total area: 3,287,590 sq km
  land area: 2,973,190 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Land boundaries:
  total: 14,103 km
  border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463
  km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

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

International disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh and China in dispute; status of Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges and Pakistan over the Indus (Wular Barrage)

Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north 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: 55%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 23%
  other: 17%

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
  natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms
  common; earthquakes
  international agreements: party to - 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, Wetlands; signed, but
  not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification

Geographic note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near
important Indian Ocean trade routes

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 168,030,766; female 159,283,151)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 304,805,787; female 281,311,834)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 19,148,385; female 19,527,771) (July
  1996 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.71 years male: 59.12 years female: 60.32 years (1996 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 Hindu/Urdu, is 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 52%
  male: 65.5%
  female: 37.7%

Name of country: 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, Himachel 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 Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992)
  was elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting
  of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures
  of the states; Vice President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 21
  August 1992) was elected by both houses of Parliament
  head of government: Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21
  June 1991) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
  recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad) Council of States (Rajya Sabha): body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 appointed by the president, the remainder chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies People's Assembly (Lok Sabha): elections last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June 1991 (next to be held 27 April through May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2 appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, BJP 119, Janata Dal Party 39, Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20, CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13, AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party 5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1, Congress (S) Party 1, other 23, vacant 9; note - the distribution of seats as of 18 January 1995 is as follows: Congress (I) Party 260, BJP 117, CPI/M 36, Janata Dal Party 24, Samata Party 14, CPI 14, AIADMK 12, Janata Dal (Ajit) 7, Telugu Desam 7, RSP 4, Janata Dal (Ex-Ajit) 3, Samajwadi Party 3, BSP 3, AIFB 3, Shiv Sena 2, Congress (S) Party 1, Kerala Congress (Mani faction) 1, Bihar Peoples Party 1, India National League 1, other 14, vacant 16

Political parties and leaders: Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha
  RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), L.K. ADVANI; Janata
  Dal Party, Laloo Prasad YADAV; Janata Dal (Ajit), Ajit SINGH; Janata
  Dal (Ex-Ajit), leader NA; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M),
  Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), Indrajit
  GUPTA; Telugu Desam (Naidu) (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh),
  Chandrababu NAIDU; All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK;
  a regional party in Tamil Nadu), Jayaram JAYALALITHA; Samajwadi
  Party (SP), Mulayam Singh YADAV (president), Om Prakash CHAUTALA,
  Devi LAL; Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party
  (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM;
  Congress (S) Party, leader NA; Communist Party of
  India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Vinod MISHRA; Dravida Munnetra
  Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI; Akali Dal
  factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;
  National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir),
  Farooq ABDULLAH; Bihar Peoples Party, Lovely ANAND; Samata Party
  (formerly Janata Dal members), George FERNANDES; Indian National
  League, Suliaman SAIT; Kerala Congress (Mani faction), K.M. MANI;
  All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Prem Dutta PALIWAL (chairman), Chitta
  BASU (general secretary); Congress (Tiwari), Arjun SINGH and N.D.
  TIWARI

Other political or pressure groups: 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, AG (observer),
  AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM,
  OAS (observer), PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIL, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Naresh CHANDRA chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Frank G. WISNER embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [91] (11) 600651 FAX: [91] (11) 6872028 consulate(s) general: Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai (Bombay)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. Faster economic growth in the 1980s permitted a significant increase in real per capita private consumption. A large share of the population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford an adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990 and 1991 prompted government austerity measures that slowed industrial growth but permitted India to meet its international payment obligations without rescheduling its debt. Production, trade, and investment reforms since 1991 have provided new opportunities for Indian businessmen and an estimated 200 million plus middle class consumers. New Delhi has always paid its foreign debts on schedule and has stimulated exports, attracted foreign investment, and revived confidence in India's economic prospects. GDP growth in 1992-95 has averaged nearly 5%. Most of the country's external fundamentals - including the current account balance and reserves (now nearly $17 billion) are healthy. Party politics is increasingly shaping the debate over economic reforms. In addition, the 25 Indian states and several union territories, which are playing a more active role in determining economic policy, are further complicating the economic climate. The Indian Government will also have to watch closely rising government expenditures and higher debt servicing which could create a debt trap by the turn of the century. Nevertheless, India should achieve economic growth of 5.5%-6.5% annually through the next several years. Even if a weak coalition government comes to power in 1996 and is unable to push reforms aggressively, parts of the economy that have already benefited from deregulation will continue to grow. Moreover, the country can build on other strengths, including its diverse industrial base, large scientific and technical pool, well-developed legal system, and its large middle class to achieve higher growth.

Budget:
  revenues: $36.5 billion
  expenditures: $54.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.4
  billion (FY94/95)

Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel,
transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery

Electricity:
  capacity: 81,200,000 kW (March 1995)
  production: 314 billion kWh (1993)
  consumption per capita: 324 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane,
  potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catch
  of about 3 million metric tons ranks India among the world's top 10
  fishing nations

Illicit drugs: licit producer of 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; produced 70 metric tons of illicit opium in 1995

Exports: $29.96 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: clothing, gems and jewelry, engineering goods,
  chemicals, leather manufactures, cotton yarn, and fabric
  partners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Hong Kong

Imports: $33.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, machinery, gems,
  fertilizer, chemicals
  partners: US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UK, Belgium, Japan

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $1.237 billion (1993); US ODA bilateral commitments
  $171 million; US Ex-Im bilateral commitments $680 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA bilateral commitments $2.48 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid $200 million; World Bank (IBRD) multilateral
  commitments $2.8 billion; Asian Development Bank (AsDB) multilateral
  commitments $760 million; International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  multilateral commitments $200 million; other multilateral
  commitments $554 million (1995-96)

Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 62,462 km (11,793 km electrified; 12,617 km double track)
  broad gauge: 37,824 km 1.676-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 20,653 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,985 km 0.762-m and 0.610-m
  gauge (1995 est.)

Highways: total: 2.037 million km paved: 981,834 km unpaved: 1,055,166 km (1995 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,005 km; petroleum products 2,687 km;
natural gas 1,700 km (1995)

Ports: Calcutta, Cochin, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Madras, Mumbai
(Bombay), Vishakhapatnam

Merchant marine:
  total: 310 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,787,834
  GRT/11,296,222 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 133, cargo 65, chemical tanker 10, combination
  bulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 11, liquefied gas tanker 6,
  oil tanker 73, passenger-cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,
  short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 288
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 11
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 48
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 59
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 68
  with paved runways under 914 m: 62
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 36 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: probably the least adequate telephone system of any of the industrializing countries; three of every four villages have no telephone service; only 5% of India's villages have long-distance service; poor telephone service significantly impedes commercial and industrial growth and penalizes India in global markets; slow 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 mostly by open wire and obsolete electromechanical and manual switchboard systems; within the last 10 years a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been introduced for local service; long-distance traffic is carried mostly by open wire, 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 over 100 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); submarine cables to Malaysia and UAE

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 260,624,007 males fit for military service: 153,176,413 males reach military age (17) annually: 9,770,331 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.0 billion, 2.7% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 30 00 S, 80 00 E — body of water between Africa,
Antarctica, Asia, and Australia

Area:
  total area: 73.6 million sq km
  comparative area: 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)
  note: includes Arabian Sea, Bass Straight, Bay of Bengal, Great
  Australian Bight, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of
  Malacca, and other tributary water bodies

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 Ninety East Ridge lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and
gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Environment:
  current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
  turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,
  and Red Sea
  natural hazards: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
  south near Antarctica from May to October
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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

Economic 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, 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.

Ports: Calcutta (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South
Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Madras (India), Melbourne (Australia),
Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richard's Bay (South Africa)

Telephone system:
international: submarine cables from India to UAE and Malaysia and
from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia

Location: 5 00 S, 120 00 E — Southeastern Asia, archipelago
between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean
and the Pacific Ocean

Area:
  total area: 1,919,440 sq km
  land area: 1,826,440 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: total: 2,602 km border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor
Province) disputed with Portugal and not recognized by the UN; two
islands in dispute with Malaysia

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
  mountains
  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: 8%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 7%
  forest and woodland: 67%
  other: 15%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; water pollution from industrial
  wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas
  natural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  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 -
  Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: archipelago of 13,500 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: 32% (male 33,354,840; female 32,414,363)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 66,385,852; female 66,827,085)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 3,380,567; female 4,248,893) (July 1996
  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: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.64 years male: 59.51 years female: 63.88 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%,
coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%

Religions: Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%,
Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)

Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay),
English, Dutch, local dialects the most widely spoken of which is
Javanese

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 83.8%
  male: 89.6%
  female: 78%

Name of country:
  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:
  chief of state and head of government: President Gen. (Ret.)
  SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968) and Vice President Gen. (Ret.) Try
  SUTRISNO (since 11 March 1993) were elected for five-year terms by
  the People's Consultative Assembly
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral
  House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR): elections
  last held 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - GOLKAR
  68%, PPP 17%, PDI 15%; seats - (500 total, 400 elected, 100 military
  representatives appointed) GOLKAR 282, PPP 62, PDI 56
  note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan
  Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected members
  who meet every five years to elect the president and vice president
  and, theoretically, to determine national policy

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges are
appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: GOLKAR (quasi-official party based
  on functional groups), HARMOKO, general chairman; Indonesia
  Democracy Party (PDI - federation of former Nationalist and
  Christian Parties), Megawati SUKARNOPUTRI, chairman; Development
  Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties), Ismail
  Hasan METAREUM, 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC,
  OPEC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Arifin Mohamad SIREGAR
  chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
  FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
  Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
  embassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta
  mailing address: Box 1, APO AP 96520
  telephone: [62] (21) 360360
  FAX: [62] (21) 3862259
  consulate(s) general: Medan, Surabaya

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with some central planning but with an emphasis on rapid deregulation and private enterprise. Real GDP growth in 1985-95 averaged about 7%, quite impressive, but not sufficient to both slash underemployment and absorb the 2.3 million workers annually entering the labor force. Plantation crops - rubber and palm oil - and textiles and plywood are being encouraged for both export and job generation. Industrial output is based on a supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, timber, metals, and coal. Foreign investment has also boosted manufacturing output and exports in recent years. Indeed, the economy's growth is highly dependent on the continuing expansion of nonoil exports. Japan remains Indonesia's most important customer and supplier of aid. Like some other rapidly developing countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is struggling to keep the economy from overheating.

Labor force: 67 million by occupation: agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%, transport and communications 3% (1985 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $38.1 billion
  expenditures: $38.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $14.5
  billion (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement,
chemical fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber

Electricity: capacity: 12,100,000 kW production: 44 billion kWh consumption per capita: 207 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, other tropical products; poultry, beef, pork, eggs

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; government actively eradicating plantings and prosecuting traffickers; minor role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin

Exports: $39.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: manufactures 51.9%, fuels 26.4%, foodstuffs 12.7%, raw
  materials 9.0%
  partners: Japan 27.4%, US 14.6%, Singapore 10.1%, South Korea 6.5%,
  Taiwan 4.1%, Netherlands 3.3%, China 3.3%, Hong Kong 3.3%, Germany
  3.2%

Imports: $32 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: manufactures 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%, foodstuffs
  7.8%, fuels 7.7%
  partners: Japan 24.2%, US 11.2%, Germany 7.7%, South Korea 6.8%,
  Singapore 5.9%, Australia 4.8%, Taiwan 4.5%, China 4.3%

Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,306.3 (January 1996), 2,248.6 (1995), 2,160.8 (1994), 2,087.1 (1993), 2,029.9 (1992), 1,950.3 (1991)

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: 283,516 km
  paved: 125,051 km
  unpaved: 158,465 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820
km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, 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: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Semarang,
Surabaya, Ujungpandang

Merchant marine:
  total: 457 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,098,958
  GRT/3,056,040 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 30, cargo 265, chemical tanker 6, container 11,
  liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 98,
  passenger 5, passenger-cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea
  passenger 6, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 4 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 414
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 35
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 41
  with paved runways under 914 m: 299
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 23 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 57,222,025 males fit for military service: 33,702,395 males reach military age (18) annually: 2,280,360 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, 1.4% of GNP (FY95/96)

Location: 32 00 N, 53 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Gulf of
Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and
Pakistan

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian
Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Area:
  total area: 1.648 million sq km
  land area: 1.636 million sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,440 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
  Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq
  1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km

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

International disputes: 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); in 1992 the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region, but in 1994 it increased its military presence on the disputed islands; periodic disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined; support to clients in Afghanistan

Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts 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: 8%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 27%
  forest and woodland: 11%
  other: 54%

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
  natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms;
  earthquakes along the Western border
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
  Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,
  but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 15,166,131; female 14,289,283)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 17,326,388; female 16,731,470)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 1,327,718; female 1,253,274) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.39 years male: 66.12 years female: 68.72 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%,
other 2%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1994 est.)
  total population: 72.1%
  male: 78.4%
  female: 65.8%

Name of country:
  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

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Executive branch:
  supreme leader (rahbar-e moazam) and functional chief of sta: Leader
  of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4
  June 1989) was appointed for life by Council of Experts
  head of government: President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3
  August 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage;
  First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA August 1989);
  election last held 11 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997);
  results - Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of the
  vote
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was selected by the president with
  legislative approval

Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami): elections last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by party NA

Political parties and leaders: there are at least 76 licensed parties, none are, as yet, openly active; the most important groupings are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association, leader NA; Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Servants of Reconstruction (G-6), leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: 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, Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran; 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Iran has an
  Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by Faramarz
  FATH-NEJAD; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy,
  2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202)
  965-4990

US diplomatic representation: none; note - protecting power in
Iran is Switzerland

Flag: 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

Economic 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. Over the past several years, the government has introduced several measures to liberalize the economy and reduce government intervention, but most of these changes have moved slowly or have been reversed because of political opposition. Iran has faced increasingly severe financial difficulties since mid-1992 due to an import surge that began in 1989 and general financial mismanagement. At yearend 1993 the Iranian Government estimated that it owed foreign creditors about $30 billion; an estimated $8 billion of this debt was in arrears. At yearend 1994, Iran rescheduled $12 billion in debt. Earnings from oil exports - which provide 85% of Iran's export revenues - are providing less relief to Iran than usual because of reduced oil prices. Iran's financial situation will remain tight in 1996 because the bulk of payments due under its rescheduling agreements in 1993-94 will be coming due.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 37% services: 42% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 15.4 million by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21% note: shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other
construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining
and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments

Electricity: capacity: 19,080,000 kW production: 50.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 745 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic
  and international drug trade; produced 35-70 metric tons in 1993;
  net opiate importer but also a key transshipment point for Southwest
  Asian heroin to Europe

Exports: $16 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, iron, steel
  partners: Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg,
  Spain, and Germany

Imports: $13 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,
  pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
  partners: Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, UAE

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 - 1,750 (January 1996), 1,747.93 (1995), 1,748.75 (1994), 1,267.77 (1993), 65.55 (1992), 67.51 (1991); black market rate: 4,000 rials per US$1 (December 1995); 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, wheras 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

Railways:
  total: 5,093 km
  broad gauge: 96 km 1.676-m gauge
  standard gauge: 4,997 km 1.432-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 140,200 km
  paved: 42,700 km
  unpaved: 97,500 km (1995 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: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),
  Ahvaz, Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-e
  Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Mah Shahr, Bandar-e Torkeman,
  Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr
  (limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr

Merchant marine:
  total: 130 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,791,892
  GRT/4,891,615 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 47, cargo 41, chemical tanker 5, combination
  bulk 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1,
  oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9,
  short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 212
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 30
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 31
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 17
  with paved runways under 914 m: 22
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 88 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system
  centered in Tehran
  international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic
  Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); HF
  radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait,
  Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE

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

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 15,157,796
  males fit for military service: 9,010,648
  males reach military age (21) annually: 632,602 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: according to official Iranian data, Iran in 1994 budgeted 4,377 billion rials and in 1993 spent 2,182 billion rials, including $850 million in hard currency; note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using current exchange rates could produce misleading results

Location: 33 00 N, 44 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Persian
Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

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

Area:
  total area: 437,072 sq km
  land area: 432,162 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

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 which melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq

Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 9%
  forest and woodland: 3%
  other: 75%

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
  (salinization) and erosion; desertification
  natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms, floods
  international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
  Ban; signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 5,179,240; female 5,014,141)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 5,342,529; female 5,228,802)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 307,097; female 350,483) (July 1996 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.95 years male: 65.92 years female: 68.03 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 58%
  male: 70.7%
  female: 45%

Name of country:
  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) were elected by a
  two-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Council
  head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since NA May
  1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979)
  Revolutionary Command Council: Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman
  Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
  cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 24 March
  1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats -
  (250 total, 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent three
  northern provonces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah)
  note: in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992
  and calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq;
  the assembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government

Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity severely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members of the Ba'th Party, Army officers, tribes, and Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish dissidents; the Green Party (government-controlled)

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 US: none; note - Iraq has an Interest
  Section in the Algerian Embassy; address: Iraqi Interests Section,
  Algerian Embassy, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone:
  [1] (202) 483-7500; FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066

US diplomatic representation: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad, which is in the Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club); address: P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad; telephone: [964] (1) 719-6138, 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791; Telex 212287

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The 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 and to 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. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial and transportation facilities, which suffered severe damage, have been partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 5% of the previous level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living standards deteriorated even further in 1994 and 1995; consumer prices have more than doubled in both 1994 and 1995. The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The Iraqi Government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo can 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. In brief, per capita output for 1994-95 is well below the 1989-90 level, but any estimate has a wide range of error.

Labor force: 4.4 million (1989) by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22% note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing

Electricity: capacity: 7,170,000 kW production: 25.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,247 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit,
cotton; cattle, sheep

Exports: $NA
commodities: crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur
partners: US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)

Imports: $NA
commodities: manufactures, food
partners: Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)

External debt: $50 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about
$35 billion owed to Gulf Arab states

Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2169 (fixed official rate since 1982); black-market rate (December 1995) US$1 = 2,900 Iraqi dinars; semi-official rate US$1 = 1,000 Iraqi dinars

Highways:
  total: 45,554 km
  paved: 38,402 km (including 976 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 7,152 km (1989 est.)

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

Merchant marine:
  total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 795,346 GRT/1,432,292
  DWT
  ships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo
  1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 102
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 21
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 34
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
  with paved runways under 914 m: 16
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

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; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan,
  Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational

Branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard,
Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Internal
Security Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 4,832,001 males fit for military service: 2,711,312 males reach military age (18) annually: 237,843 (1996 est.)

Location: 53 00 N, 8 00 W — Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

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

Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Area:
  total area: 70,280 sq km
  land area: 68,890 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: not specified
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK;
  Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and
  the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the
  Rockall area)

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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohill 1,041 m

Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite,
copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

Land use:
  arable land: 14%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 71%
  forest and woodland: 5%
  other: 10%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from
  agricultural runoff
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Climate Change, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
  signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
  Conservation

Geographic note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 424,558; female 402,062)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 1,175,383; female 1,157,960)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 173,150; female 233,720) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.58 years male: 72.88 years female: 78.46 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish

Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%,
other 1% (1981)

Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along
the western seaboard, English is the language generally used

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
  total population: 98%
  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 Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November
  1990) was elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election
  last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1997);
  results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
  head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December
  1994) was nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by
  the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by president with previous nomination
  of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held NA February 1992 (next to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6 House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held 25 November 1992 (next to be held by NA November 1997); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Bertie AHERN; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Mary HARNEY; The Workers' Party, Marion DONNELLY; Green Alliance, Bronwen MAHER note: Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
  IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
  UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 6688777 FAX: [353] (1) 6689946

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 38% 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. Ireland has substantially reduced its external debt since 1987, to 40% of GDP in 1994. Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.8% industry: 35.3% services: 57.9% (1994)

Labor force: 1.37 million
  by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%,
  agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5%
  (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $19.3 billion
  expenditures: $20.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.6
  billion (1994)

Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

Electricity: capacity: 3,930,000 kW production: 14.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,938 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; meat
and dairy products

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africa
to the UK and Netherlands

Exports: $29.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial
  machinery, live animals, animal products
  partners: EU 73% (UK 27%, Germany 14%, France 9%), US 9%

Imports: $25.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum
  and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing
  partners: EU 58% (UK 36%, Germany 7%, France 4%), US 18%

Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1 - 0.6315 (January 1996), 0.6235 (1995), 0.6676 (1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 1,944 km
  broad gauge: 1,944 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified; 485 km
  double track) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 92,327 km
  paved: 86,787 km (including 32 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,540 km (1992 est.)

Ports: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick,
New Ross, Waterford

Merchant marine:
  total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,027 GRT/155,371 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oil
  tanker 2, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 40
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 29
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwave
  radio relay
  domestic: microwave radio relay
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National
Police (Garda Siochana)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 939,237 males fit for military service: 761,048 males reach military age (17) annually: 35,904 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $618 million, 1.3% of GDP (1994)

Note: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below. 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: 31 30 N, 34 45 E — Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Lebanon

Area:
  total area: 20,770 sq km
  land area: 20,330 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,006 km
  border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
  Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

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 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: 5%
  meadows and pastures: 40%
  forest and woodland: 6%
  other: 32%

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
  natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
  Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: there are 202 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 26 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)

Population: 5,421,995 (July 1996 est.)
  note: includes 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, 14,800 in
  the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and
  153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 29% (male 793,712; female 756,735)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 1,670,082; female 1,669,481)
  65 years and over: 9% (male 230,082; female 301,903) (July 1996 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
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.01 years male: 76.16 years female: 79.96 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Jewish 82% (Israel-born 50%,
Europe/Americas/Oceania-born 20%, Africa-born 7%, Asia-born 5%),
non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab) (1993 est.)

Religions: Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian
2%, Druze and other 2%

Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab
minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.)
  total population: 95%
  male: 97%
  female: 93%

Name of country: 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 (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) was
  elected for a five-year term by the Knesset; election last held 24
  March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); results - Ezer WEIZMAN
  elected by Knesset
  head of government: Prime Minister Shimon PERES (since 15 November
  1995) was appointed by the president following the assassination of
  Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN
  cabinet: Cabinet was selected from and approved by the Knesset

Legislative branch: unicameral
  parliament (Knesset): elections last held NA June 1992 (next to be
  held 29 May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (120 total) Labor 44, Likud 32, MERETZ 12, Tzomet 8, National
  Religious Party 6, SHAS 6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front
  for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party
  2; note - the distribution of seats as of January 1996 is as follows
  - Labor Party 45, Likud bloc 33, MERETZ 12, National Religious Party
  6, SHAS 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for
  Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 2, Arab Democratic Party 2,
  Yi'ud 1 (in coalition), Right of Israel 1

Political parties and leaders:
  members of the government: Labor Party, Prime Minister Shimon PERES;
  MERETZ, Minister of Environment Yossi SARID; Yi'ud, Gonen SEGEV
  not in coalition but voting with the government: Democratic Front
  for Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic
  Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH
  opposition parties: Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael
  EITAN; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry,
  Avraham SHAPIRA; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Peace Guard (independent),
  Shaul GUTMAN; SHAS, Arieh DERI; Right of Israel, leader NA
  note: Israel currently has a coalition government comprising three
  parties that hold 58 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats

Other political or pressure groups: 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: AG (observer), BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH
  chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
  FAX: [1] (202) 364-5610
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
  Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Martin S. INDYK
  embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
  mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, APO AE 09830
  telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575
  FAX: [972] (3) 517-3227
  consulate(s) general: Jerusalem

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Israel has a 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. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli workers, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, 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 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. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR, which topped 525,000 during the period 1990-95, increased unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the government budget. At the same time, the immigrants bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.

Labor force: 1.9 million (1992) by occupation: public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce 13.9%, finance and business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%, construction 6.5%, transport, storage, and communications 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $41 billion
  expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996)

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: capacity: 4,140,000 kW production: 23 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,290 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: citrus and other fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef,
poultry, dairy products

Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin
abuse and trafficking

Exports: $28.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals,
  textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metals
  partners: US, EU, Japan

Imports: $40.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds,
  oil, other productive inputs, consumer goods
  partners: EU, US, Japan

Economic aid:
recipient: total receipts $12.14 billion of which $11.38 billion
from the US (1990-93)

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295 (January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991)

Highways:
  total: 13,461 km
  paved: 13,461 km (including 56 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 577,747 GRT/701,459 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 5, container 20, refrigerated cargo 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 50
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8
  with paved runways under 914 m: 22
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,390,603 females age 15-49: 1,363,986 males fit for military service: 1,139,137 females fit for military service: 1,112,947 males reach military age (18) annually: 50,508 females reach military age (18) annually: 48,176 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.2 billion, about 9.8% of GDP (1996)

Location: 42 50 N, 12 50 E — Southern Europe, a peninsula
extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

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

Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Area:
  total area: 301,230 sq km
  land area: 294,020 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona
  note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,935.2 km
  border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican
  City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 235 km, Switzerland 740 km

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

International disputes: Italy is negotiating with Slovenia over
property and minority rights issues dating from World War II

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal
  lowlands
  lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling
natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal

Land use:
  arable land: 32%
  permanent crops: 10%
  meadows and pastures: 17%
  forest and woodland: 22%
  other: 19%

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
  natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows,
  avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land
  subsidence in Venice
  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, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification

Geographic note: strategic location dominating central
Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western
Europe

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 15% (male 4,419,636; female 4,167,860)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 19,656,546; female 19,629,291)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 3,902,426; female 5,684,515) (July 1996
  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: 0.69 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.06 years male: 74.85 years female: 81.48 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Italian (includes small clusters of German-,
French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and
Greek-Italians in the south), Sicilians, Sardinians

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: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 98%
  female: 96%

Name of country: 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)
  was elected for a seven-year term by an electoral college consisting
  of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives
  head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the
  President of the Council of Ministers) Romano PRODI (since 18 May
  1996) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the President of the
  Council (i.e., Prime Minister) and approved by the President of the
  Republic

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlamento)
  Senate (Senato della Repubblica): elections last held 22 April 1996
  (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (326 total, 315 elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life)
  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 (Camera dei Deputati): elections last held 22
  April 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (630 total) 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 (Corte Costituzionale),
  composed of 15 judges (one-third appointed by the president,
  one-third elected by Parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary
  and administrative supreme courts)

Political parties and leaders:
  Olive Tree: Democratic Party of the Left (PDS), Massimo D'ALEMA;
  Greens, Carlo RIPA DI MEANA; Italian Renewal, Lamberto DINI;
  Southern Tyrols List (German speakers)
  Freedom Alliance: Forza Italia (FI), Silvio BERLUSCONI; National
  Alliance (AN), Gianfranco FINI; Christian Democratic Center (CCD),
  Pier Ferdinando CASINI; Democratic Union Party, Antonio MACCANICO
  other: Northern League (NL), Umberto BOSSI; Italian Social Movement,
  Pino RAUTI; Communist Refoundation (RC), Fausto BERTINOTTI; Italian
  Socialists, Enrico BOSELLI; Rete (The Network), Leoluca ORLANDO;
  Christian Socialists, Luciano GUERZONI; Democratic Pact for Italy,
  Mario SEGNI; Italian Popular Party (PPI), Gerardo BIANCO; Pannella's
  Reformers, Marco PANNELLA; Christian Democratic Union (United
  Christian Democrats - CDU), Rocco BUTTIGLIONE; Democratic Alliance,
  Willer BORDON; Union for the New Republic, Raffaele COSTA; Unitary
  Communists, Famiano CRUCIANELLI; Autonomous List (a group of minor
  parties); Social Movement-Tricolor Flames

Other political or pressure groups: the Roman Catholic Church;
  three major trade union confederations (Confederazione Generale
  Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL which is PDS-dominated, Confederazione
  Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL which is centrist, and
  Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL which is center-left); Italian
  manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria,
  Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori,
  Confagricoltura)

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN,
  EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, 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),
  MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
  OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU,
  WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinando SALLEO chancery: 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 328-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 483-2187 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit and New Orleans

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Reginald BARTHOLOMEW embassy: Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, Rome; APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741 FAX: [39] (6) 488-2672 consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples

Flag: 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

Economic 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. The country is still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and an undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by large public enterprises. 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. Monetary officials were forced to withdraw the lira from the European monetary system in September 1992, when it came under extreme pressure in currency markets. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of pushing ahead with fiscal reform, refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing pollution in major industrial centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces accompanying the ongoing expansion and economic integration of the EU.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2.9% industry: 31.6% services: 65.5% (1994)

Labor force: 23.988 million by occupation: services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)

Budget:
  revenues: $339 billion
  expenditures: $431 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food
processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Electricity: capacity: 61,630,000 kW production: 209 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,033 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; meat and dairy products; fish catch of 525,000 metric tons in 1990

Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market

Exports: $190.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: metals, textiles and clothing, production machinery,
  motor vehicles, transportation equipment, chemicals
  partners: EU 53.4%, US 7.8%, OPEC 3.8% (1994)

Imports: $168.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: industrial machinery, chemicals, transport equipment,
  petroleum, metals, food, agricultural products
  partners: EU 56.3%, OPEC 5.3%, US 4.6% (1994)

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 18,961 km
  standard gauge: 17,981 km 1.435-m gauge; Italian Railways (FS)
  operates 16,118 km of the total standard gauge routes (10,560 km
  electrified)
  narrow gauge: 113 km 1.000-m gauge (113 km electrified); 867 km
  0.950-m gauge (144 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 305,388 km (including 45,076 km major roads, 112,111 km
  secondary roads, 6,301 km motorways)
  paved: 271,674 km
  unpaved: 33,714 km (1991 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: Ancona, Augusta, Bari, Cagliari (Sardinia), Catania, Gaeta,
  Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Oristano (Sardinia), Palermo
  (Sicily), Piombino, Porto Torres (Sardinia), Ravenna, Savona,
  Trieste, Venice

Merchant marine:
  total: 419 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,480,320
  GRT/7,919,064 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 57, chemical tanker 39, combination
  bulk 1, combination ore/oil 3, container 16, liquefied gas tanker
  37, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 123, passenger 5,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 53, short-sea passenger 31, specialized
  tanker 11, vehicle carrier 7 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 132
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 34
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 24
  with paved runways under 914 m: 32
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 20 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 14,739,097 males fit for military service: 12,769,628 males reach military age (18) annually: 358,884 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $20.4 billion, 1.9% of GDP (1995)

Location: 18 15 N, 77 30 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, south of Cuba

Description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Area:
  total area: 10,990 sq km
  land area: 10,830 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

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, discontinuous coastal plain lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 6%
  meadows and pastures: 18%
  forest and woodland: 28%
  other: 29%

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
  natural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
  Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

Geographic note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and
Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 430,609; female 411,966)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 781,626; female 795,808)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 77,725; female 97,541) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.88 years male: 72.6 years female: 77.29 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian
and Afro-East Indian 3%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%,
other 1.2%

Religions: Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%,
  Anglican 7.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%,
  Methodist 3.1%, United Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%,
  other, including some spiritual cults 39.1% (1982)

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
  total population: 85%
  male: 80.8%
  female: 89.1%

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), a
  hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Sir Howard
  COOKE (since 1 August 1991) who was appointed by the queen on
  recommendation of the prime minister
  head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since
  30 March 1992) and the Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since
  NA 1993) were appointed by the governor general
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice
  of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
  Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor
  general
  House of Representatives: elections last held 30 March 1993 (next to
  be held by March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the governor
general on advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: People's National Party (PNP), P.
J. PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA; National
Democratic Movement (NDM), Bruce GOLDING

Other political or pressure groups: Rastafarians (black
religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement
(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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
  ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,
  UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660 FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador J. Gary COOPER
  embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,
  Kingston
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [1] (809) 929-4850 through 4859
  FAX: [1] (809) 926-6743

Flag: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles -
green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Economic 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 consolidated the market-oriented reforms initiated by his predecessor, Michael MANLEY, to make Jamaica a regional leader in economic reform. PATTERSON has eliminated most price controls, streamlined tax schedules, and privatized government enterprises. Tight monetary and fiscal policies under an IMF program have helped slow inflation and stabilize the exchange rate, but, as a result, economic growth has slowed down and unemployment remains high. Jamaica's medium-term prospects depend largely on its ability to continue to attract foreign capital and limit speculation against the Jamaican dollar.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 7.9% industry: 28.1% services: 64% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1,062,100 by occupation: services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%, unemployed 17.5% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.45 billion
  expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $732
  million (FY95/96 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 730,000 kW production: 2.6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 988 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine from Central and
South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of
cannabis; government has an active cannabis eradication program

Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum
partners: US 47%, UK 11%, Canada 9%, Norway 7%, France 4% (1993)

Imports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, fuel, food, chemicals partners: US 54%, Japan 4.0%, Mexico 6%, UK 4%, Venezuela 3% (1993)

Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 39.86 (December 1995), 33.086 (1994), 24.949 (1993), 22.960 (1992), 12.116 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 272 km
  standard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km belonging to the
  Jamaica Railway Corporation which were in common carrier service are
  no longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned and
  used to transport bauxite

Ports: Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho
Rios, Port Antonio, Longs Wharf, Rocky Point

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,435 GRT/6,105 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 27
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 21
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: fully automatic domestic telephone network
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables

Branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast
Guard and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 680,965 males fit for military service: 481,616 males reach military age (18) annually: 25,810 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, NA% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 71 00 N, 8 00 W — Northern Europe, island between the
Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and
the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Area:
  total area: 373 sq km
  land area: 373 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

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

Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen (Beerenberg) 2,277 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Beerenberg; volcanic
  activity resumed in 1970
  international agreements: NA

Population: no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who man the Long Range Navigation (LORAN) C base and the weather and coastal services radio station

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen

Executive branch: administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard); however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service

Economic 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.

Electricity:
  capacity: 15,000 kW
  production: 40 million kWh
  consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: radio and meteorological station

Location: 36 00 N, 138 00 E — Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Description: white with a large red disk (representing the sun
without rays) in the center

Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific
Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Area:
  total area: 377,835 sq km
  land area: 374,744 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than California
  note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,
  Minami-jima, Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and
  Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Maritime claims:
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the international straits - La
  Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of
  the Korea or Tsushima Strait

International disputes: 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 disputed
  with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by China
  and Taiwan

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 67%
  other: 18%

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's appetite for fish and
  tropical timber is contributing to the depletion of these resources
  in Asia and elsewhere
  natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500
  seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 10,121,414; female 9,644,243)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 43,624,464; female 43,359,249)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 7,737,781; female 10,962,552) (July
  1996 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.55 years male: 76.57 years female: 82.68 years (1996 est.)

Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
  total population: 99%
  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) is a
  constitutional monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Ryutaro HASHIMOTO (since 11
  January 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Wataru KUBO (since 11
  January 1996) were designated by the Diet and appointed by the
  emperor
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Diet (Kokkai) House of Councillors (Sangi-in): half of the members elected every three years to six-year terms; elections last held 23 July 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (252 total, with 126 up for election) LDP 110 (49 newly won), Shinshinto 56 (40 newly won), SDP 38 (16 newly won), JCP 14 (8 newly won), Sakigate 3 (3 newly won), others 19 (4 newly won), independents 12 (6 newly won); note - the distribution of seats as of 1 March 1996 is as follows - LDP 111, Heisei-kai 69, SDP 35, JCP 14, Sakigake 3, others and independents 19, vacancies 1 House of Representatives (Shugi-in): all members elected every four years to four-year terms; elections last held 18 July 1993 (next to be held by July 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (511 total) LDP 223, SDP 70, Shinseito 55, Komeito 51, JNP 35, JCP 15, DSP 15, Sakigake 13, others 4, independents 30; note - the distribution of seats as of 1 March 1996 is as follows - LDP 207, Shinshinto 170, SDP 63, Sakigake 22, JCP 15, others and independents 19, vacant 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the emperor after designation by the cabinet, all other justices are appointed by the cabinet

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),
  Ryutaro HASHIMOTO, president and Koichi KATO, secretary general;
  Social Democratic Party (SDP), Tomiichi MURAYAMA, president and
  Kanju SATO, secretary general; Sakigake (Harbinger), Masayoshi
  TAKEMURA, chairman and Yukio HATOYAMA, secretary general; Shinshinto
  (New Frontier Party, NFP), Ichiro OZAWA, chairman and Takashi
  YONEZAWA, secretary general; Japan Communist Party (JCP), Tetsuzo
  FUWA, presidium chairman
  note: Shinshinto was formed in December 1994 by the merger of
  Shinseito (Japan Renewal Party, JRP), Komeito (Clean Government
  Party, CGP), Japan New Party (JNP), Democratic Socialist Party
  (DSP), and several minor groups; Heisei-kai is a joint bloc of
  Shinshinto and Komei members; Komei is a group formed from what
  remains of Komeito in the upper house

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2,
  G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE (partner),
  PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNU, UPU,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kunihiko SAITO chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Agana (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)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Walter F. MONDALE embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-0001 telephone: [81] (3) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (3) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Flag: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without
rays) in the center

Economic overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (roughly 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 slowly 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 economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. Growth came to a halt 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. At yearend 1995, the financial structure is shaky with banks holding hundreds of billions of dollars of suspect assets. At the same time, the continued basic strength of the economy has been reflected in substantial trade surpluses, sizable foreign investments, and remarkably low rates of unemployment, inflation, and social disorder. The crowding of the habitable land area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2.1% industry: 40.2% services: 57.7% (1994)

Labor force: 65.87 million (December 1994) by occupation: trade and services 54%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%, government 3%, other 3% (1988)

Budget:
  revenues: $595 billion
  expenditures: $829 billion, including capital expenditures (public
  works only) of about $122 billion (1995 est.)

Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of steel and non-ferrous 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:
  capacity: 205,140,000 kW (1993)
  production: 915 billion kWh (1995)
  consumption per capita: 7,293 kWh (1995)

Agriculture: rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; world's largest fish catch of 10 million metric tons in 1991

Exports: $442.84 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: manufactures 97% (including machinery 46%, motor
  vehicles 20%, consumer electronics 10%)
  partners: Southeast Asia 38%, US 27%, Western Europe 17%, China 5%

Imports: $336.09 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: manufactures 52%, fossil fuels 20%, foodstuffs and raw
  materials 28%
  partners: Southeast Asia 25%, US 22%, Western Europe 16%, China 11%

Economic aid: donor: ODA, $11.259 billion (1993) note: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-95), $143 billion

Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1 - 105.84 (January 1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 26,506 km
  standard gauge: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (entirely electrified)
  narrow gauge: 72 km 1.372-m gauge (72 km electrified); 23,154 km
  1.067-m gauge (13,835 km electrified); 47 km 0.762-m gauge (47 km
  electrified) (1994)

Highways:
  total: 1,112,844 km
  paved: 790,119 km (including 5,054 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 322,725 km (1992 est.)

Ports: 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: 796 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,944,137
  GRT/23,662,930 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 192, cargo 57, chemical tanker 6, combination
  bulk 2, combination ore/oil 6, container 38, liquefied gas tanker
  39, oil tanker 259, passenger 9, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated
  cargo 35, roll-on/roll-off cargo 43, short-sea passenger 28,
  specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 77
  note: Japan owns an additional 1,587 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 50,072,815 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,
  Liberia, Vanuatu, The Bahamas, Singapore, Cyprus, Philippines, Hong
  Kong, and Malta (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 164
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 32
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 34
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 30
  with paved runways under 914 m: 60
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 31,833,691 males fit for military service: 27,322,517 males reach military age (18) annually: 858,912 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $50.2 billion, 1% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 0 22 S, 160 03 W — Oceania, island in the South Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands

Area:
  total area: 4.5 sq km
  land area: 4.5 sq km
  comparative area: about eight times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 23 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: no natural fresh water resources
  natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
  be a maritime hazard
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

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 only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System

Ports: 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

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard

Location: 49 15 N, 2 10 W — Western Europe, island in the English
Channel, northwest of France

Description: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick
(patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag

Area:
  total area: 117 sq km
  land area: 117 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north
  coast
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Land use:
  arable land: 57%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Geographic note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands;
about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 7,787; female 7,284)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 29,928; female 30,395)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 5,107; female 7,347) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.36 years male: 75.63 years female: 81.39 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts

Name of country: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey

Executive branch:
  Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
  Head of Government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir
  Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE
  (since NA 1995) were appointed by the queen
  cabinet: committees were appointed by the Assembly of the States

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States: elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (56 total, 52 elected) independents 52

Judicial branch: Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff

Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron
saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag

Economic 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 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. 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.

Budget:
  revenues: $643.7 million
  expenditures: $597.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity:
  capacity: 50,000 kW standby
  production: power supplied by France
  consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

Exports: $NA
  commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs,
  textiles
  partners: UK

Imports: $NA
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
  foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
  partners: UK

Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Location: 16 45 N, 169 30 W — Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands

Area:
  total area: 2.8 sq km
  land area: 2.8 sq km
  comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly flat lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Summit Peak 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: no natural fresh water resources
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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 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 (July 1996 est.)

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Economic 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.

Telephone system: 52 telephone lines; excellent system 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, and amateur radio international: NA

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

Area:
  total area: 89,213 sq km
  land area: 88,884 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,619 km
  border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km,
  Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,754 m

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 0.5%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 0.5%
  other: 94%

Environment:
  current issues: limited natural fresh water resources;
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 949,822; female 903,043)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 1,153,360; female 1,091,416)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 57,783; female 56,728) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.48 years male: 70.62 years female: 74.45 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood among
upper and middle classes

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 86.6%
  male: 93.4%
  female: 79.4%

Name of country:
  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: 8 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az
Zarqa', Irbid, Ma'an

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 HUSSEIN Bin Talal Al Hashimi (since 2 May 1953)
  is a constitutional monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Karim al-KABARITI (since 4
  February 1996) was appointed by the king
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the king

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-'Umma) House of Notables (Majlis al-A'ayan): consists of a 40-member body appointed by the king from designated categories of public figures House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) IAF 16, Jordanian National Alliance Party 4, Al-Yaqazah Party 2, Al-Watan Party 2, Al-'Ahd Party 2, Jordanian Arab Democratic Party 2, Al-Mustaqbal Party 1, Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 1, Jordanian Democratic Progressive Party 1, Jordanian People's Democratic Party-Hashd 1, Jordanian Socialist Democratic Party 1, independents 47 note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the king several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held

Political parties and leaders: Al-'Ahd (Pledge) Party, 'Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI, secretary general; Al-Ahrar (Liberals) Party, Ahmad al-ZU'BI, secretary general; Al-Taqaddumi (Progressive) Party, Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general; Al-Watan (Homeland) Party, 'Akif al-FAYIZ; Al-Yaqazah (Awakening) Party, 'Abd al-Ra'uf al-RAWABIDAH, secretary general; Constitutional Jordanian Arab Front Party, Milhim al-TALL; Democratic Arab Islamic Movement Party-Du'a', Yusuf Abu BAKR, secretary general; Democratic Arab Unionist Party-Wad, Anis al-MU'ASHIR, secretary general; Islamic Action Front (IAF), Ishaq al-FARHAN, secretary general; Jordanian Arab Masses Party, 'Abd al-Khaliq SHATAT, secretary general; Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'th Party, Taysir al-HIMSI, command first secretary; Jordanian Communist Party (JCP), Ya'qub ZAYADIN, secretary general; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party, 'Azmi al-KHAWAJA, secretary general; Jordanian National Alliance Party, Mijhim al-KHURAYSHAH, secretary general; Jordanian People's Democratic Party-Hashd, Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general; Jordanian Unionist Democratic Party, 'Isa MADANAT (secretary general), Ali AMIR (secretary general), Munis al-RAZZAZ (secretary general); Pan-Arab Action Front Party, Muhammad al-ZU'BI, secretary general; Popular Unity Party-the Unionists, Mustafa AL-'ISAWI, secretary general; Progress and Justice Party, 'Ali al-SA'D, secretary general; Progressive Arab Ba'th Party, Mahmud al-MA'AYITAH, command secretary; Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party, Sulayman 'ARAR, secretary general; Jordanian Arab Partisans Party, Muhammad al-MAJALI, leader, Muhammad SHURAYDAH, secretary general note: in 1995, the Jordanian Arab Democratic Party, the Jordanian Democratic Progressive Party, and the Jordanian Socialist Democratic Party merged to form the Jordanian Unionist Democratic Party

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR,
  UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
  UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Fayiz A. TARAWNEH chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Wesley W. EGAN, Jr. embassy: Jabel Amman, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 820101 FAX: [962] (6) 820159

Flag: 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

Economic 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 the recovery was uneven throughout 1994 and 1995. The government is implementing the reform program adopted in 1992 and continues to secure rescheduling and write-offs of its heavy foreign debt. Debt, poverty, and unemployment remain Jordan's biggest on-going problems.

Labor force: 600,000 (1992) by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10.0%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52.0% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.5 billion
  expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $640
  million (1996 est.)

Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,
light manufacturing

Electricity: capacity: 1,050,000 kW production: 4.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,072 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives;
sheep, goats, poultry

Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products,
  manufactures
  partners: India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE

Imports: $3.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live
  animals, manufactured goods
  partners: EU, US, Iraq, Japan, Turkey

Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 676 km
  narrow gauge: 676 km 1.050-m gauge; note - an additional 110 km
  stretch of the old Hedjaz railroad is out of use

Highways:
  total: 5,680 km
  paved: 5,680 km (including 1,712 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 bulk ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,960 GRT/67,515
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 14
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 10
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: adequate telephone system domestic: microwave radio relay, cable, and radiotelephone links international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria; microwave radio relay to Lebanon is inactive; participant in Medarabtel

Branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian
  Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force);
  Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF
  only in wartime or crisis situations)

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 1,011,588
  males fit for military service: 721,460
  males reach military age (18) annually: 45,406 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $589 million,
8.2% of GDP (1996)

Location: 17 03 S, 42 45 E — Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

Area:
  total area: 4.4 sq km
  land area: 4.4 sq km
  comparative area: about seven times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

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

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 90%
  other: 10%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: NA

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova

Type of government: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

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

Area:
  total area: 2,717,300 sq km
  land area: 2,669,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 12,012 km
  border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846
  km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) note: Kazakstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 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 oasis and desert in Central Asia lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m highest point: Zhengis Shingy 7,439 m

Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: NEGL%
  meadows and pastures: 57%
  forest and woodland: 4%
  other: 24%

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 salinization from faulty irrigation practices
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 2,576,204; female 2,486,937)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 5,203,035; female 5,451,404)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 384,341; female 814,542) (July 1996 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: 0.47 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.93 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.09 years male: 58.56 years female: 69.9 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Kazak (Qazaq) 41.9%, Russian 37%, Ukrainian
5.2%, German 4.7%, Uzbek 2.1%, Tatar 2%, other 7.1% (1991 official
data)

Languages: Kazak (Qazaqz) official language spoken by over 40% of
population, Russian (language of interethnic communication) spoken
by two-thirds of population and used in everyday business

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 96%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Kazakstan
  conventional short form: Kazakstan
  local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
  local short form: none
  former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 19 oblystar (singular - oblys) and 1
  city (qalalar, singular - qala)*; Almaty Qalasy*, Almaty Oblysy,
  Aqmola Oblysy, Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy
  (Oral), Kokshetau Oblysy, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik
  Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy,
  Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Semey Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan
  Oblysy (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan
  Oblysy (Petropavl), Taldyqorghan Oblysy, Torghay Oblysy, Zhambyl
  Oblysy, Zhezqazghan Oblysy
  note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name
  differs from oblys name

Constitution: adopted 28 January 1993; has been amended in April 1995 and August 1995

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (since 22 February
  1990) was elected chairman of the Supreme Soviet 22 February 1990,
  and president by popular election 1 December 1991; was elected for a
  five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 1 December
  1991 (next to be held NA 2000); results - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV
  ran unopposed; note - President NAZARBAYEV's term was extended to
  the year 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995
  head of government: Prime Minister Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since 12
  October 1994) and First Deputy Prime Ministers Nigmatzhan ISINGARIN
  (since 12 October 1994) were appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister
  note: President NAZARBAYEV has 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
  Senate: elections (indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be
  held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47
  total) "independent" state officials 25, progovernment parties 11,
  other parties 2, vacant 9 (of which 7 are to be nominated by the
  president)
  Majilis: elections last held 9 December and 23 December 1995 (next
  to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA; seats - (67 total)
  seats by party NA; note - 172 candidates were forwarded by parties
  and social organizations and 113 candidates were independents

Political parties and leaders: ALASH party; People's Unity Party
  (PUP; was Union of People's Unity), Akhan BIZHANOV, chairman;
  Democratic Party, Tulegen ZHUKEYEV and Altynbek SARSENBAYEV,
  cochairmen; People's Congress of Kazakstan (PCK), Olzhas SULEYMENOV,
  chairman; Socialist Party of Kazakstan (SPK; former Communist
  Party), Petr SVOIK, chairman; Communist Party, Baidabek TULEPBAYEV;
  National Democratic Party, Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman; AZAT party,
  Khasen KOZH-AKHMET, chairman; Confederation of Trade Unions of the
  Republic of Kazakstan; Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakstan
  (KPU); Slavic Movement LAD, Aleksandra DOKUCHAYEVA, chairman; Party
  for Social Justice and Economic Revival "Tagibat"; Social Democratic
  Party, Dos KUSHIMOV, cochairman; People's Cooperative Party, Umirzak
  SARSENOV, chairman; Organization of Veterans; Republican Party

Other political or pressure groups: Independent Trade Union
  Center, Leonid SOLOMIN, president; Kazakstani-American Bureau on
  Human Rights, Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director; Democratic
  Committee on Human Rights; Independent Miners Union

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD,
  ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Bolat NURGALIYEV
  chancery: (temporary) 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
  20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 333-4504 through 4507
  FAX: [1] (202) 333-4509

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador A. Elizabeth JONES
  embassy: 99/97 Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakstan 480012
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [7] (3272) 63-39-05, 63-13-75, 63-24-26
  FAX: [7] (3272) 63-29-42

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Kazakstan, the second largest of the former Soviet states 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. Kazakstan'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 Kazakstan's traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since 1991, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. The government has pursued a moderate program of economic reform and privatization, resulting in a gradual lifting of state controls over economic activity and a shifting of assets into the private sector. Nevertheless, government control over key sectors of the economy remains strong. Moreover, continued lack of pipeline transportation for expanded oil exports has closed off a likely source of economic recovery.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $46.9 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 28.5% industry: 41.5% services: 30% (1991 est.)

Labor force: 7.356 million
by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and
forestry 26%, other 43% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 1.4% includes only officially registered
unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers (September
1995 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: capacity: 17,380,000 kW production: 65.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,700 kWh (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy;
  mostly for CIS consumption; government eradication program; used as
  transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North
  America from Southwest Asia

Exports: $5.1 billion (1995)
  commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain,
  wool, meat, coal
  partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Imports: $3.9 billion (1995) commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas partners: Russia and other former Soviet republics, China

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993)
  note: commitments, 1992-95, $4,780 million ($1,795 million
  disbursements)

Railways:
  total: 13,841 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 13,841 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1992)

Highways:
  total: 87,873 km public roads
  paved: 82,568 km
  unpaved: 5,305 km (1994)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural
gas 3,480 km (1992)

Ports: Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen
(Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Airports:
  total: 352
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 23
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 11
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 9
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 25
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 65
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 190 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: service is poor domestic: landline and microwave radio relay 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 satellite earth station established at Almaty of unknown type

Radios: 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program
diffusion 6.082 million)

Branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard,
  Security Forces (internal and border troops); Kazakstan may also be
  establishing a maritime force - navy or coast guard - on the Caspian
  Sea

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 4,399,356
  males fit for military service: 3,516,583
  males reach military age (18) annually: 154,750 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 18.9 billion tenges, NA% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 1 00 N, 38 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian
Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

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

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Somalia and Tanzania

Area:
  total area: 582,650 sq km
  land area: 569,250 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,446 km
  border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
  Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

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

International disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis

Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes,
rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 7%
  forest and woodland: 4%
  other: 85%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic 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: 45% (male 6,362,160; female 6,226,333)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 7,413,876; female 7,448,733)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 328,649; female 396,935) (July 1996 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.61 years male: 55.53 years female: 55.69 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%,
Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%, other 15%

Religions: Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic
28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, other 8%

Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous
indigenous languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 78.1%
  male: 86.3%
  female: 70%

Name of country: 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, and 1992

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 and head of government: President Daniel Toroitich
  arap MOI (since 14 October 1978) elected for a five-year term from
  the National Assembly by direct popular vote; election last held 29
  December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998); results - President
  Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37% of the vote; Kenneth
  MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%; Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%, Oginga ODINGA
  (FORD-Kenya) 17%; Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989)
  was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Bunge): election last held 29 December 1992 (next
  to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (188
  total) KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller
  parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members; note - as of 9
  April 1996 seat distribution was: KANU 106, FORD-Kenya 32,
  FORD-Asili 22, DP 22, smaller parties and vacancies 6
  note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law
  in 1991

Political parties and leaders: ruling party is Kenya African
  National Union (KANU), President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI;
  opposition parties include Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
  (FORD-Kenya), Michael WAMALWA; Forum for the Restoration of
  Democracy (FORD-Asili), Kenneth MATIBA; Democratic Party of Kenya
  (DP), Mwai KIBAKI

Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; Roman Catholic
Church; unregistered SAFINA party with which prominent naturalist
Richard Leakey is associated

International organization participation: ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR
  chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
  FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia E. BRAZEAL
  embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
  mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
  telephone: [254] (2) 334141
  FAX: [254] (2) 340838

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Kenya in recent years has had one of the highest natural rates of growth in population, but the statistics have been complicated by the large-scale movement of nomadic groups and of Somalis back and forth across the border. Population growth has been accompanied by deforestation, deterioration in the road system, the water supply, and other parts of the infrastructure. In industry and services, Nairobi's reluctance to embrace IMF-supported reforms had held back investment and growth in 1991-93. Nairobi's push on economic reform in 1994, however, helped support a 3.3% increase in output. The strong economy continued into 1995 with inflation cut sharply and GDP growth at 5%.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 19% services: 54% (1992 est.)

Labor force:
by occupation: agriculture 75%-80% (1993 est.), non-agriculture
20%-25% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.4 billion
  expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $740
  million (1990 est.)

Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing; oil refining, cement; tourism

Electricity: capacity: 810,000 kW production: 3.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 117 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); most locally consumed; transit country for Southwest Asian heroin moving to West Africa and onward to Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990) partners: EC 47%, Africa 23%, Asia 11%, US 4%, Middle East 3% (1991)

Imports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 29%, petroleum and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989) partners: EC 46%, Asia 23%, Middle East 20%, US 5% (1991)

Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 - 56.715 (January 1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994), 58.001 (1993), 32.217 (1992), 27.508 (1991)

Waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of ======================================================================

Location: 6 24 N, 162 24 W — Oceania, reef in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half
of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Area:
  total area: 1 sq km
  land area: 1 sq km
  comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Terrain: low and nearly level lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
  about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon;
closed to the public

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered 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: 1 25 N, 173 00 E — Oceania, group of islands in the
Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator and the International Date
Line, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator and the International Date Line, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Area:
  total area: 717 sq km
  land area: 717 sq km
  comparative area: four times the size of Washington, DC
  note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
  Phoenix Islands

Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
  reefs
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 51%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 3%
  other: 46%

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
  natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November
  to March; occasional tornadoes
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

Geographic 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

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.02 years male: 60.25 years female: 64.03 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati note: pronounced kiribas 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 (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru,
  Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei,
  Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa,
  Teraina; note - one council for each of the inhabited islands)

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President (Beretitenti)
  Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994) was elected by popular vote;
  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 30 September 1994 (next to be
  held by NA 1999); results - Teburoro TITO 51.2%, Tewareka TENTOA
  18.3%, Roniti TEIWAKI 16.0%, Peter Taberannang TIMEON 14.5%; Vice
  President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October
  1994) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from among the
  members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
  House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu): elections last held 22
  July 1994 (next to be held by NA 1999); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (40 total, 39 elected) Maneaban Te Mauri 13,
  National Progressive Party 7, independents 19

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

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao
  TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement
  Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaban Te Mauri
  Party, Roniti TEIWAKI
  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, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Flag: 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

Economic 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 in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP growth has declined from about 10% in 1988 to about 2.6% in 1995. 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. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal in amount to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years.

Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $32.5 million
  expenditures: $54.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 5,000 kW production: 13 million kWh consumption per capita: 131 kWh (1993)

Exports: $6.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15% partners: Denmark, Fiji, US

Imports: $38.6 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel partners: Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991)

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,248 GRT/4,496 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 20
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out
law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police
posts are on all islands)

Location: 40 00 N, 127 00 E — Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

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

Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Area:
  total area: 120,540 sq km
  land area: 120,410 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi

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
  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

International disputes: short section of boundary with China is
indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east 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: 18%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 74%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate
  industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable
  water
  natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe
  flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ship Pollution; signed,
  but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea,
  Ozone Layer Protection

Geographic note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 3,605,972; female 3,465,038)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 7,871,783; female 7,956,935)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 355,284; female 649,112) (July 1996 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: 0.55 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.32 years male: 67.23 years female: 73.57 years (1996 est.)

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: age 15 and over can read and write Korean (1990 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99%

Name of country:
  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 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

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 [defacto]; note - President KIM Il-song
  was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994
  leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor; however the
  son has not assumed the titles that his father held and no new
  elections have been held or scheduled
  head of government: Premier KANG Song-san (since NA December 1992)
  was elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
  cabinet: State Administration Council was appointed by the Supreme
  People's Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui): elections last held
  7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (687 total) 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

Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party
  (KWP), KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social
  Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party,
  YU Mi-yong, chairwoman

International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO,
ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - North Korea has a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by PAK Kil-yon

Flag: 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

Economic overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song in the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by an average of 4%-5% annually during 1989-95 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations and technological links with the former USSR and China. The leadership has insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since World War II. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, and a cumbersome distribution system have resulted in chronic food shortages. The year 1995 was marked by serious summer floods that worsened an already tenuous food situation. Substantial grain shipments from Japan and South Korea offset a portion of the losses. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 60% services: 15% (1995 est.)

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: capacity: 9,500,000 kW production: 50 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,053 kWh (1993)

Exports: $840 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and
  fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
  partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia

Imports: $1.27 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment,
  consumer goods
  partners: China, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Singapore

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: small amounts of grant aid from Japan and other countries

Exchange rates: 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)

Railways:
  total: 4,915 km
  standard gauge: 4,250 km 1.435-m gauge (3,397 km electrified; 159 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge (1989)

Ports: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong,
Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang,
Wonsan

Merchant marine:
  total: 88 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 712,480 GRT/1,140,923
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 71, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 3,
  passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1
  note: North Korea owns an additional 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling approximately 34,782 DWT operating under the registries of
  Hondurus and Poland (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 49
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: system is believed to be available principally
  for government business
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
  and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international
  connections through Moscow and Beijing

Branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
Civil Security Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 6,844,035 males fit for military service: 4,143,713 males reach military age (18) annually: 194,922 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5 billion to $7 billion, 25% to 33% of GDP (1995 est.)

Location: 37 00 N, 127 30 E — Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, south of North Korea

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

Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula
bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, south of North Korea

Area:
  total area: 98,480 sq km
  land area: 98,190 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana

Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait

International disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea;
Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west
  and south
  lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
  highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m

Land use:
  arable land: 21%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 67%
  other: 10%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from
  the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
  natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
  earthquakes in southwest
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
  Tropical Timber 94; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law
  of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 5,531,032; female 4,962,915)
  15-64 years: 71% (male 16,374,678; female 15,910,846)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,014,649; female 1,688,171) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.26 years male: 69.65 years female: 77.39 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) 0.2%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 99.3%
  female: 96.7%

Name of country:
  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 "Hanguk" 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 Yong-sam (since 25 February 1993) was
  elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18
  December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - KIM
  Yong-sam (DLP) 41.9%, KIM Tae-chung (DP) 33.8%, CHONG Chu-yong (UPP)
  16.3%, other 8%
  head of government: Prime Minister YI Su-song (since 15 December
  1995) was appointed by the president with the consent of the
  National Assembly; Deputy Prime Ministers NA Ung-pae (since 20
  December 1995) and KWON O-ki (since 20 December 1995) were appointed
  by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
  cabinet: State Council was appointed by the president on the prime
  minister's recommendation

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Kukhoe): members elected for four-year terms; elections last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (299 total) NKP 139, NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president subject to the consent of the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders:
  majority party: New Korea Party (NKP), KIM Yong-sam, president
  opposition: United Liberal Democratic Party (ULD), KIM Chong-p'il,
  president; Democratic Party (DP), KIM Won-ki, co-chairman and CHANG
  Ul-pyong, co-chairman; National Congress for New Politics (NCNP),
  KIM Tae-chung, president

Other political or pressure groups: 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

International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC,
  CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
  ITU, MINURSO, OAS (observer), OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador PAK Kun-u
  chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600, 524-9273
  consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
  Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
  Francisco, and Seattle

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James T. LANEY
  embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul
  mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001
  telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
  FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
  consulate(s): Pusan

Flag: 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

Economic 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 nine times India's, 14 times North Korea's, and already up with the lesser economies of the European Union. This success has been achieved by a unique combination of authoritarian government guidance of what is at bottom an essentially entrepreneurial process. The government has sponsored large-scale adoption of technology and management from Japan and other modern nations; has successfully pushed the development of export industries while encouraging the import of machinery and materials at the expense of consumer goods; and has pushed its labor force to a work effort seldom matched anywhere even in wartime. Real GDP grew by an average 10% in 1986-91, then paused to a "mere" 5% in 1992-93, only to move back up to 8% in 1994 and 9% in 1995. With a much higher standard of living and with a considerable easing of authoritarian controls, the work pace has softened. Growth rates will probably slow down over the medium term because of the exhaustion of former growth opportunities and the need to deal with pollution and the other problems of success.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 45% services: 47% (1991 est.)

Labor force: 20 million
by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%,
agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)

Budget:
  revenues: $69 billion
  expenditures: $67 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing

Electricity: capacity: 28,750,000 kW production: 165 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,899 kWh (1994)

Agriculture: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh largest in world

Exports: $125.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel,
  automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
  partners: US 19%, Japan 14%, EU 13%

Imports: $135.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
  steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
  partners: Japan 24%, US 22%, EU 13%

Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 787.27 (January 1996), 771.27 (1995), 803.45 (1994), 802.67 (1993), 780.65 (1992), 733.35 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 3,101 km
  standard gauge: 3,081 km 1.435-m gauge (560 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 20 km 0.762-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 61,296 km
  paved: 51,918 km (including 1,550 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 9,378 km (1993)

Merchant marine:
  total: 428 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,076,981
  GRT/9,822,089 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 124, cargo 122, chemical tanker 21, combination
  bulk 3, combination ore/oil 1, container 59, liquefied gas tanker
  12, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 61, refrigerated
  cargo 13, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 10
  note: South Korea owns an additional 231 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 10,128,506 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,
  Liberia, Cyprus, Malta, The Bahamas, and Thailand (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 105
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 20
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14
  with paved runways under 914 m: 54
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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: 256 (57 of which are 1 kW or greater) (1987 est.)

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime
Police (Coast Guard)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 13,602,115 males fit for military service: 8,706,545 males reach military age (18) annually: 398,322 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $17.4 billion, 3.3% of GNP (1996)

Location: 29 30 N, 45 45 E — Middle East, bordering the Persian
Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,
and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq
and Saudi Arabia

Area:
  total area: 17,820 sq km
  land area: 17,820 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: total: 464 km border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

International disputes: 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

Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 8%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 92%

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
  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
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental
  Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 33% (male 334,778; female 317,241)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 757,535; female 507,064)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 18,459; female 14,970) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 6.65% (1996 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of nationals and expatriates

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.49 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.32 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.92 years male: 73.59 years female: 78.38 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%,
Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions: Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%),
Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 78.6%
  male: 82.2%
  female: 74.9%

Name of country: 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 Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli, Al Farwaniyah

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 will be eligible to vote

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
  December 1977) is a hereditary monarch of the MUBARAK line of the
  ruling Sabah family
  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),
  and Second Deputy Prime Minister Nasir Abdallah al-RUDAN (since NA)
  were appointed by the Amir
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister
  and approved by the amir

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-umma): elected members serve four-year terms; elections last held 5 October 1992 (next to be held NA September 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (50 total) independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly

Other political or pressure groups: 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH
  chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
  FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
  embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel),
  Kuwait City
  mailing address: P.O. Box 77, SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; Unit 6900,
  APO AE 09880-9000
  telephone: [965] 2424151 through 2424159
  FAX: [965] 2442855

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red
with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

Economic overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its crude oil production averaged 2.0 million barrels per day in 1994. The government continues to record large fiscal deficits. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 70% 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. Because of its high per capita income, comparable with Western European incomes, Kuwait provides its citizens with extensive health, educational, and retirement benefits. Per capita military expenditures are among the highest in the world. The economy improved moderately in 1994-95, with the growth in industry and finance. The World Bank has urged Kuwait to push ahead with privatization, including in the oil industry, but the government will move slowly on this front.

Labor force: 1 million (1994 est.) by occupation: industry and agriculture 25.0%, services 25.0%, government and social services 50.0% note: 80% of labor force non-Kuwaiti (1994 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $9.7 billion
  expenditures: $14.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food
processing, construction materials, salt, construction

Electricity: capacity: 7,070,000 kW production: 11 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,007 kWh (1993)

Exports: $11.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: oil partners: US 23%, Japan 13%, Germany 10%, UK 9%, France 8%

Imports: $6.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts,
  clothing
  partners: US 14%, Japan 12%, Germany 8%, UK 7%, France 6% (1994 est.)

Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.2993 (January 1996), 0.2984 (1995), 0.2976 (1994), 0.3017 (1993), 0.2934 (1992), 0.2843 (1991)

Highways:
  total: 4,273 km
  paved: NA km (including 280 km of expressways) (1989 est.)
  unpaved: NA km

Ports: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah,
Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud

Merchant marine:
  total: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,053,667 GRT/3,242,305
  DWT
  ships by type: cargo 10, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 7,
  livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 21, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 4
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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 and the country is well supplied
  with pay telephones
  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

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Ministry of
Interior Forces, Coast Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 658,270 males fit for military service: 391,586 males reach military age (18) annually: 17,544 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 12.8% of GDP (FY95/96)

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

Area:
  total area: 198,500 sq km
  land area: 191,300 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,878 km
  border countries: China 858 km, Kazakstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870
  km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

International disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on
southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area

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
  lowest point: Kara-Daryya 132 m
  highest point: Jengish Chokusu 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: NEGL%
  meadows and pastures: 42%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 51%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37% (male 847,859; female 828,889)
  15-64 years: 57% (male 1,263,044; female 1,312,040)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 100,524; female 177,292) (July 1996 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: 0.57 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.86 years male: 59.18 years female: 68.77 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%,
Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 8.3%

Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian -
  official language
  note: in March 1996, the Kyrgyz legislature amended the constitution
  to make Russian an official language, along with Kyrgyz, in
  territories and work places where Russian-speaking citizens
  predominate

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

Name of country: 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: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name
  differs from oblast name

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) was
  elected for a five-year term by popular vote; elections last held 24
  December 1995 (next to be held NA); results - Askar AKAYEV won
  election with 75% of vote with 86% of electorate voting; 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
  head of government: Prime Minister Apas JUMAGULOV (since NA December
  1993) was appointed by the president and reappointed February 1996
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council (Zhogorku Kenesh) Assembly of People's Representatives: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (70 total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly Legislative Assembly: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (35 total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off elections were held note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-year
term by the Zhogorku Kenesh on recommendation of the president;
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (SDP);
  Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan (DDK), Jypar JEKSHEYEV, chairman;
  National Unity; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan (PCK), Absamat
  MASALIYEV, chairman; Democratic Movement of Free Kyrgyzstan (ErK),
  Tursunbay Bakir UULU, chairman; Republican Popular Party of
  Kyrgyzstan; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan; Atu Meken Party, Omurbek
  TEKEBAYEV; ASABA

Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic
Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of
Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party

International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EBRD, ECE,
  ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Acting Ambassador Almas CHUKIN
  chancery: (temporary) Suite 706, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC
  20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 347-3732
  FAX: [1] (202) 347-3718

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY
  embassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [7] (3312) 22-29-20, 22-27-77, 22-26-31, 22-24-73
  FAX: [7] (3312) 22-35-51

Flag: 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

Economic 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 included 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 has lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 32% for 1995, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. About half of government stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production have been severe since the break up of the Soviet Union, but by mid-1995 production began to level off as exports began to increase. The level of hardship for pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salaries arrears continues to be very high. Foreign assistance plays a substantial role in the country's budget. In early 1996, the economy apparently is slowly beginning to restore previous levels of output.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

Labor force: 1.836 million
by occupation: agriculture and forestry 38%, industry and
construction 21%, other 41% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 4.8% includes officially registered unemployed;
also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed
workers (December 1995)

Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement,
shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold,
rare earth metals

Electricity: capacity: 3,660,000 kW production: 12.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,500 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Southwest Asia

Exports: $380 million (1995) commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Turkey, Cuba, and Germany

Imports: $439 million (1995) commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, China, and UK

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $56 million (1993)
  note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,695 million ($390 million
  disbursements)

Railways:
  total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
  lines
  broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Airports:
  total: 54
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones domestic: principally microwave radio relay 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

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note -1
state-run radio broadcast station

Radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for
program diffusion 748,000)

Branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and
border troops), Civil Defense

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,096,985 males fit for military service: 890,901 males reach military age (18) annually: 44,159 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 151 million soms, NA% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double
width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Area:
  total area: 236,800 sq km
  land area: 230,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,083 km
  border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
  Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 58%
  other: 35%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the
  population does not have access to potable water
  natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
  international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification,
  Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
  Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 1,142,825; female 1,114,628)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 1,237,660; female 1,316,591)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 75,748; female 88,320) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.69 years male: 51.14 years female: 54.31 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 56.6%
  male: 69.4%
  female: 44.4%

Name of country:
  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) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural);
  Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan,
  Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan,
  Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, 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 NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992)
  was elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly
  head of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15
  August 1991) was appointed for a five-year term by the president
  with the approval of the National Assembly; Deputy Prime Minister
  KHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since NA)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president,
  approved by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: members elected for five-year terms; elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (85 total) LPRP 85

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court, the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee

Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party
(LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed

Other political or pressure groups: noncommunist political groups
proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN
  (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,
  Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH
  chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416, 6417
  FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Victor L. TOMSETH embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: [856] (21) 212584

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width),
and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Economic 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 has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, 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 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; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.

Budget:
  revenues: $198 million
  expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994)

Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction

Electricity: capacity: 260,000 kW production: 870 million kWh consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Illicit drugs: world's third largest opium producer (180 metric tons from nearly 20,000 hectares in 1995); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis

Exports: $278 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments
partners: Thailand, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands

Imports: $486 million (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
partners: Thailand, China, Japan, France, US

Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 920 (1995), 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July 1993), 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)

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
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 39
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 16
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: service to general public very poor; radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic service to government users domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and
militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,087,264 males fit for military service: 586,664 males reach military age (18) annually: 53,250 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $105 million, 8.1% of GDP (FY92/93)

Location: 57 00 N, 25 00 E — Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Description: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom),
white (middle, narrower than other two bands)

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Estonia and Lithuania

Area:
  total area: 64,100 sq km
  land area: 64,100 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,078 km
  border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km,
  Russia 217 km

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

International disputes: the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; the maritime borders with Lithuania and Estonia

Terrain: low plain lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 13%
  forest and woodland: 39%
  other: 21%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed,
  but not ratified - Ozone Layer Protection

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 254,664; female 244,502)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 775,690; female 848,128)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 108,814; female 237,184) (July 1996
  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: 0.46 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.86 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.91 years male: 60.84 years female: 73.27 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%,
Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 99%

Name of country: 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, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas
  Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons,
  Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) was
  elected by Parliament (Saeima) in the third round of balloting;
  election last held 7 July 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December
  1995) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the prime minister
  and appointed by the Supreme Council

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament (Saeima): elections last held 30 September-1 October 1995
  (next to be held NA October 1998); results - Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%,
  For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%,
  Socialist 6%; seats - (100 total) Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia
  16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed
by the Saeima

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party "Saimnieks" (DPS),
  Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman; Latvia's Way (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS;
  People's Movement For Latvia, Joachim SIEGERIST; Fatherland and
  Freedom (TB), Maris GRINBLATS; Latvian Unity Party (LVP), A. KAULS;
  Latvian National Conservative Party (LNNK), A. SEILE; Green Party
  (LSZ), O. BATAREVSK; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), A. ROZENTALS;
  Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), P. KLAVINS; National Harmony Party
  (TSP), Janis JURKANS; Latvian Socialist Party (LSP), F. STROGANOVS;
  Latvian Liberal Party (LLP), J. DANOSS; Political Association of the
  Underprivileged (MPA), B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS; Latvian
  Democratic Labor Party (LDDP), J. BOJARS; Party of Russian Citizens
  (LKPP), V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis
  AUGSTKALNS; Political Union of Economists (TPA), E. KIDE; Latvian
  National Democratic Party (LNDP), A. MALINS; "Our Land" (MZ), M.
  DAMBEKALNE; Anticommunist Union (PA), P. MUCENIEKS; Latvian
  Social-Democratic Workers Party (LSDSP); Party for the Defense of
  Latvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party (LNP), V.
  KONOVALOUS

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
  EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
  chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
  telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
  FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] (2) 210-005 FAX: [371] (2) 226-530

Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white
(middle, narrower than other two bands)

Economic overview: Latvia's economic transformation to a modern market economy - rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states - faltered in 1995 as a result of banking and budget crises. Latvia's largely unregulated financial sector suffered a series of bank failures, including the collapse of the country's largest commercial bank - Bank Baltija - due largely to criminal activity by the owners. The government's attempts to compensate depositors of failed banks exacerbated an existing budget shortfall; poor revenue collection and a soft treasury bill market had already caused the government to incur a larger than expected deficit early in the year. As a result of the crises, Latvia's budget deficit for 1995 was $168 million, double that originally planned. In addition, GDP growth came to a halt. The Central Bank maintained its tough monetary policies - severely limiting credits to the state, despite the budget problems - helping to keep annual inflation the lowest among the Baltic states, at about 20%. New Prime Minister SKELE wants to invigorate the privatization of industry; agriculture already is mainly in private hands.

GDP per capita: $5,300 (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World
Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 31% services: 60% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)

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: capacity: 2,080,000 kW production: 5.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,864 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: timber, textiles, dairy products
partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, UK, Lithuania

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: fuels, cars, chemicals
partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, Lithuania, Finland

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993)
  note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525
  million (1992-95)

Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.544 (January 1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)

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: 66,718 km
  paved: 12,076 km
  unpaved: 54,642 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 519,859 GRT/678,987 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 18,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 50
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 27
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: service is better than in most of the other
  former Soviet republics
  domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of
  Latvia's population
  international: international traffic carried by leased connection to
  the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson
  digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular
  net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there
are 25 radio broadcast stations of unknown type

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 583,134 males fit for military service: 457,067 males reach military age (18) annually: 16,180 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results

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 began in 1975. 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. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed four cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 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 most of 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 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in 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 Beirut.

Location: 33 50 N, 35 50 E — Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria

Area:
  total area: 10,400 sq km
  land area: 10,230 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut

International disputes: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

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 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%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 8%
  other: 61%

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
  natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine
  Life Conservation

Geographic 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: 36% (male 687,631; female 662,100)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 1,049,689; female 1,163,255)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 98,406; female 115,236) (July 1996 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.99 years male: 67.49 years female: 72.62 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 92.4%
  male: 94.7%
  female: 90.3%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Lebanon
  conventional short form: Lebanon
  local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
  local short form: none

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 Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) was
  elected for a six-year term by the National Assembly and in 1995 the
  National Assembly amended the constitution to extend his term by
  three years; note - 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
  head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October
  1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Michel al-MURR (since NA) were
  appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
  cabinet: Cabinet was chosen by the prime minister in consultation
  with the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was
  formed in 1995

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab French - Assembl: elections last held in the summer of 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (128 total, one-half Christian and one-half Muslim) independents 128

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)

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, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Riyad TABBARAH chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
  embassy: Antelias, Beirut
  mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE
  09836-0002
  telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 406650, 406651, 426183, 417774,
  889926
  FAX: [961] (1) 407112

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width),
and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

Economic 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. Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid are the main sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991, industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed substantial gains. The rebuilding of the war-ravaged country was delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in political wrangling. In October 1992, Rafiq al-HARIRI was appointed prime minister. A billionaire entrepreneur, al-HARIRI, announced ambitious plans for Lebanon's reconstruction, which involve a substantial influx of foreign aid and investment. The economy has posted considerable gains since 1992, with GDP rebounding, inflation falling, and foreign capital inflows jumping. Signs of strain have emerged in recent years, however, as the government budget deficit has risen and grassroots economic dissatisfaction has grown. Meantime, the future fate of Lebanon and its economy is being determined largely by outside forces - in Syria, other Arab nations, Israel, and the West.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 28% services: 59% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 650,000
by occupation: services 60%, industry 28%, agriculture 12% (1990
est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.4 billion
  expenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil
refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating

Electricity: capacity: 1,220,000 kW production: 2.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 676 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: citrus, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; a key locus of cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian 1994 eradication campaign practically eliminated the opium crop and caused a 50% decrease in the cannabis crop

Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious
  and semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products
  partners: Saudi Arabia 13%, Switzerland 12%, UAE 11%, Syria 9%, US 5%

Imports: $7.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment,
  petroleum products
  partners: Italy 14%, France 9%, US 8%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%

Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1 - 1,584.0 (March 1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8 (1992), 928.2 (1991)

Railways: total: 222 km standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)

Ports: Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani,
Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre

Merchant marine:
  total: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 192,075 GRT/296,256 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 39, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
  1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 4,
  refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker
  1, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 7
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding still 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: more than 100 AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by various factions

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 889,517 males fit for military service: 553,538 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $278 million, 5.5% of GDP (1994)

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

Area:
  total area: 30,350 sq km
  land area: 30,350 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point: Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some
diamonds and other minerals

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 66%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 24%

Environment:
  current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal
  areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion;
  desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and
  redirect water to South Africa
  natural hazards: periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Endangered Species, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Dumping

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41% (male 404,733; female 402,813)
  15-64 years: 54% (male 519,493; female 553,618)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 37,237; female 52,887) (July 1996 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.08 years male: 50.08 years female: 54.14 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 71.3%
  male: 81.1%
  female: 62.3%

Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,
Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's 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); the king is
  the former Crown Prince David Monato BERENG Seeiso and succeeded his
  father King MOSHOESHOE II, who died in an automobile accident on 16
  January 1996; King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November
  1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile
  note: the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the
  constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election,
  he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under
  traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority
  vote of the College of Chiefs
  head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
  Senate: consists of 33 members (the 22 principal chiefs and 11 other
  members appointed by the ruling party)
  Assembly: members elected by popular vote; election last held NA
  March 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats (65 total) BCP 65

Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court;
customary or traditional court

Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP),
  Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basotho Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE;
  National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom
  Party (MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United Democratic Party, Charles
  MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob M. KENA

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, SACU,
  SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
  chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
  FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK embassy: address NA, Maseru mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 312666 FAX: [266] 310116

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed in South Africa (these remittances supplement domestic income by as much as 45%). The great majority of households gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a large portion of the adult male work force is employed in South African mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, improvement of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of water to South Africa and will support the economy's continued expansion.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 10.4% industry: 48.8% services: 40.8% (1993)

Labor force: 689,000 economically active by occupation: 86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa

Budget:
  revenues: $445 million
  expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $128
  million (FY94/95 est.)

Exports: $142 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: clothing, furniture, footwear, wool
  partners: South Africa 39%, EC 22%, North and South America 33%
  (1993)

Imports: $1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles,
  machinery, medicines, petroleum products
  partners: South Africa 83%, Asia 12%, EC 3% (1993)

Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991); note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand

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

Airports:
  total: 29
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 23
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing),
Lesotho Mounted Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 455,218 males fit for military service: 245,774 (1996 est.)

Years of civil strife have destroyed much of Liberia's economic infrastructure, made civil administration nearly impossible, and brought economic activity virtually to a halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of most business people with their expertise and capital. Civil order ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces. The ensuing civil war persisted until August 1995 when the major factions signed the Abuja peace accord and, in September 1995, formed a transitional coalition government under Wilton SANKAWULO. The war was resumed in April 1996, when forces loyal to faction leaders Charles TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival factions in Monrovia, further damaging the capital's already dilapidated infrastructure and causing panic among the remaining foreign residents, thousands of whom sought refuge in US facilities. Prospects for peace became extremely uncertain again.

Location: 6 30 N, 9 30 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Area:
  total area: 111,370 sq km
  land area: 96,320 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 2%
  forest and woodland: 39%
  other: 55%

Environment:
  current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil
  erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of rivers from the dumping
  of iron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
  sewage
  natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
  (December to March)
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear
  Test Ban, 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 475,138; female 470,970)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 557,855; female 532,143)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 35,544; female 38,139) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: until the Ghanaian-led peace negotiations are successful, many
Liberian refugees will be unable to return from exile

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
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.59 years male: 56.05 years female: 61.22 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle,
Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai,
and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)

Languages: English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group
about 20 local languages come from this group

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 38.3%
  male: 53.9%
  female: 22.4%

Name of country: 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 and head of government: Chairman of the Council of
  State Wilton SANKAWULO (since NA September 1995); president was to
  be elected for a six-year term by universal suffrage at the end of
  1995; election last held 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA August
  1996); results - Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP)
  26.4%, other 22.7%
  note: constitutional government ended in September 1990 when
  President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; civil war
  ensued and in August 1995 the Abuja peace accord was signed by the
  major warring factions; a transitional coalition government under
  Wilton SANKAWULO was formed in September 1995; presidential
  elections are scheduled for August 1996
  cabinet: Cabinet was selected by the leaders of the major factions
  in the civil war

Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly,
  the members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major
  factions in the civil war
  note: the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and is
  unlikely to be reconstituted soon

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman; Liberian Action Party (LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Joseph KOFA, chairman; United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman; National Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles TAYLOR, chairman; Liberian Peoples Party (LPP), Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman

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 (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Konah K.
  BLACKETT
  chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
  telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission William MILAM
  embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
  mailing address: P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia
  telephone: [231] 226-370
  FAX: [231] 226-148

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. 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. Political instability threatens prospects for economic reconstruction and repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. The continued political turmoil has prevented restoration of normal economic life, including the re-establishment of a strong central government with effective economic development programs. The economy deteriorated further in 1995.

Labor force: 510,000 including 220,000 in the monetary economy by occupation: agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and commerce 4.5%, other 14.2% note: non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and engineering jobs

Budget:
  revenues: $225 million
  expenditures: $285 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction
materials, furniture, palm oil processing, iron ore, diamonds

Electricity: capacity: 330,000 kW production: 440 million kWh consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm
oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Exports: $530 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: iron ore 61%, rubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee partners: US, EC, Netherlands, Singapore

Imports: NA (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs partners: US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS, South Korea

Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate of US$1 - L$50 (October 1995), L$7 (January 1992), market rate floats against the US dollar

Railways:
  total: 490 km (single track); note - three rail systems owned and
  operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction
  with Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed
  in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two have been
  shut down by the civil war
  standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine:
  total: 1,601 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,449,296
  GRT/98,819,081 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 411, cargo 121, chemical tanker
  108, combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 56, container 143,
  liquefied gas tanker 77, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil
  tanker 463, passenger 42, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 64,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 23, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker
  9, vehicle carrier 48
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 59
  countries among which are US 253, Japan 172, Norway 165, Germany
  149, Greece 137, Hong Kong 114, UK 78, China 49, Monaco 41, and
  Cyprus 34 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 39
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 29
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
  radio relay network; main center is Monrovia; most
  telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency movement
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: NA; the ultimate structure of the Liberian military
force will depend on who is the victor in the ongoing civil war

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 479,274 males fit for military service: 256,200 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 2.9% of GDP (1993)

Location: 25 00 N, 17 00 E — Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia

Description: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam
(the state religion)

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

Area:
  total area: 1,759,540 sq km
  land area: 1,759,540 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,383 km
  border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km,
  Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32 degrees 30 minutes north

International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains part of the airfield and a small military presence at the airfield's water supply located in Chad; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; claims part of northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria

Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus,
  depressions
  lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
  highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 8%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 90%

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
  natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind
  lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
  international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 1,319,696; female 1,274,865)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 1,375,441; female 1,308,613)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 87,434; female 79,387) (July 1996 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: 1.1 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.67 years male: 62.48 years female: 66.97 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 76.2%
  male: 87.9%
  female: 63%

Name of country:
  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

Type of government: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat); 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 muncipalities may have been replaced by 1,500 communes in 1992

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) was elected by the General
  People's Congress
  head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
  (Premier) Abd al Majid al-QA'UD (since 29 January 1994)
  cabinet: General People's Committee was established by the General
  People's Congress
  note: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
  peoples' committees

Legislative branch: unicameral
General People's Congress: national elections are indirect through a
hierarchy of peoples' committees

Other political or pressure groups: 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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

US diplomatic representation: the US suspended all embassy
activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980

Economic 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. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but subsequently GDP growth has slowed on average and has fluctuated sharply in response to changes in the world oil market. 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. Although 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 have not yet had a major impact on the economy because Libya's oil revenues generate sufficient foreign exchange to sustain imports of food, consumer goods, and equipment for the oil industry and ongoing development projects.

Labor force: 1 million (includes about 280,000 resident foreigners) by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%

Budget:
  revenues: $8.1 billion
  expenditures: $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1
  billion (1989 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 4,600,000 kW production: 16.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,078 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; meat, eggs

Exports: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt

Imports: $6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe

Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.3617 (January 1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993), 0.3013 (1992), 0.2684 (1991)

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 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km

Ports: 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 686,834 GRT/1,209,263
  DWT
  ships by type: cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2,
  oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4
  note: Libya owns an additional 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
  38,260 DWT operating under the registries of Algeria and Turkey
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 130
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 24
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
  with paved runways under 914 m: 13
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 38 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: modern telecommunications system domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); planned Arabsat and Intersputnik satellite earth stations; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel

Branches: Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (includes
Army, Navy, and Air and Air Defense Command), Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,170,100 males fit for military service: 696,288 males reach military age (17) annually: 56,834 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion, 6.1% of GDP (1994 est.)

Description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with
a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Area:
  total area: 160 sq km
  land area: 160 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 78 km border countries: Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km

International disputes: claims 1,600 square kilometers of Czech territory 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

Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
  third
  lowest point: Ruggleller Riet 430 m
  highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 38%
  forest and woodland: 19%
  other: 18%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,
  but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of
  the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations
based on elevation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 2,961; female 2,871)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 10,775; female 11,113)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 1,366; female 2,036) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.84 years male: 75.92 years female: 82.17 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988)

Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
  conventional short form: Liechtenstein
  local long form: Furstentum 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, who is
  a hereditary monarch, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir
  Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
  head of government: Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy
  Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) were
  elected by the Landtag for a four-year term and confirmed by the
  prince
  cabinet: Cabinet was elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince

Legislative branch: unicameral Diet (Landtag): elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be held by March 1997); results - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats - (25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal
cases; Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases

Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Oswald
KRANTZ; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Otmar HASLER; The Free
List (FL)

International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: Liechtenstein does not have an
embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in
routine diplomatic matters

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has
consular accreditation in Vaduz

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold
crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Economic overview: Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector and living standards on 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 25,000 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. Liechtenstein plans to join the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) in 1995.

Labor force: 20,000 of which 12,000 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day by occupation: industry, trade, and building 48.1%, services 50.2%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.7% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $455 million
  expenditures: $442 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 23,000 kW production: 150 million kWh consumption per capita: 5,230 kWh (1992)

Exports: $1.636 billion (1993)
  commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps,
  hardware, pottery
  partners: EC countries 42.7%, EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland
  15.4%), other 36.4% (1990)

Imports: $NA
  commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor
  vehicles
  partners: NA

Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.1810 (January 1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991)

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)

Telephone system: limited, but sufficient automatic telephone
  system
  domestic: NA
  international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
  relay

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: linked to Swiss networks

Location: 56 00 N, 24 00 E — Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Area:
  total area: 65,200 sq km
  land area: 65,200 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,273 km
  border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
  Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

International disputes: dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by international standards; disputes maritime border with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights); treaty with Belarus defining the border awaits ratification

Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapine Kalnas 292 m

Land use:
  arable land: 49%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 22%
  forest and woodland: 16%
  other: 13%

Environment:
  current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
  products and chemicals at military bases
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Ship Pollution,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Ozone Layer
  Protection

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 400,823; female 384,592)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 1,162,626; female 1,244,103)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 154,862; female 299,035) (July 1996
  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: 0.52 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.03 years male: 62.15 years female: 74.21 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%

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

Name of country:
  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, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*,
  Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko
  Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno
  Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos
  Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas,
  Marijampole*, 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, Salcininky Rajonas,
  Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas,
  Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages
  Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos
  Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas,
  Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25
  November 1992; elected acting president by Parliament 25 November
  1992 and elected by direct vote 15 February 1993) was elected for a
  five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 14 February
  1993 (next to be held spring 1997); results - Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS
  was elected; percent of vote NA
  head of government: Premier Mindaugas STANKEVICIUS (since 15
  February 1996) was appointed by the president on approval of the
  Seimas
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on the
  nomination of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Seimas (parliament): elections last held 26 October and 25 November
  1992 (next to be held NA October 1996); results - LDDP 51%; seats -
  (141 total) LDDP 73, Conservative Party 30, LKDP 17, LTS 8, Farmers'
  Union 4, LLS 4, Center Union 2, others 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Seimas;
Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Seimas

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (LKDP), Algirdas SAUDARGAS, chairman; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP), Mindaugas STANKEVICIUS , chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union (LTS), Rimantas SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman; Farmers' Union, Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman; Center Union, Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman; Homeland Union/Conservative Party, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman; Lithuanian Polish Union (LLS), Rytardas MACIEKIANIEC, chairman

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
  EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS
  chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860, 2639
  FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr.
  embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
  mailing address: PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723
  telephone: [78] (8) 973-0000, 227-224
  FAX: [78] (8) 670-6084

Economic overview: Since declaring independence in 1990, Lithuania has implemented reforms aimed at eliminating the vestiges of the former socialist system. With the help of the IMF and other international institutions, the government has adopted a disciplined program to restrain inflation, reduce price controls, lower the budget deficit and privatize the economy. Lithuania has embarked on a series of price liberalizations; most price controls have been abolished. More than two-thirds of its industrial facilities as well as most housing and agricultural enterprises have been privatized, although important "strategic" enterprises have been exempted from privatization - namely energy and telecommunications. While Lithuania has reduced its trade dependence on Russia and other republics of the FSU from 85% in 1991 to about 40% in 1995, Russia remains Lithuania's leading trading partner. Lithuania has made great strides in reducing its annual rate of inflation - from over 1,100% in 1992 to about 35% in 1995. Production bottomed out in 1994-95. A banking crisis beginning in September, during which central bank reserves dropped one-third, held back growth in 1995. If the government can stay the course on economic reform and fiscal discipline - which may be politically difficult in the election year of 1996 - Lithuania could be set for strong economic growth in the near term. As for real resources, Lithuania's growth depends largely on its ability to exploit its strategic location - with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in Vilnius connecting it with Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.3 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 42% services: 38% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1.836 million by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40% (1990)

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: capacity: 6,190,000 kW production: 18.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,608 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption

Exports: $2.2 billion (1994) commodities: electronics 18%, food 10%, chemicals 6%, petroleum products 5% (1989) partners: Russia, Ukraine, Germany

Imports: $2.7 billion (1994) commodities: oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989) partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $144 million (1993)
  note: commitments from the West and international financial
  institutions, $765 million (1992-95)

Exchange rates: litai per US$1 - 4.000 (January 1996), 4.000 (1995), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992); note - fixed rate since 1 May 1994

Railways: total: 2,002 km broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Highways:
  total: 55,603 km
  paved: 42,209 km (including 382 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 13,394 km (1994)

Merchant marine:
  total: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 264,639 GRT/303,649 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar
  carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1995
  est.)

Airports:
  total: 96
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 14
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: telecommunications system ranks among the most
  modern of the former Soviet republics
  domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in
  Vilnius and other cities; landlines and microwave radio relay
  connect switching centers
  international: international connections no longer depend on the
  Moscow international gateway switch, but are established by
  satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from
  Kaunas; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat
  (Atlantic Ocean); cellular network linked internationally through
  Copenhagen by Eutelsat; international electronic mail is available;
  landlines or microwave radio relay to former Soviet republics

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security
Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 903,437 males fit for military service: 712,875 males reach military age (18) annually: 26,162 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $31.7 million, 1% of GDP (1995)

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

Area:
  total area: 2,586 sq km
  land area: 2,586 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

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 lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Burgplatz 559 m

Land use:
  arable land: 24%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 21%
  other: 34%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; air and water pollution in urban areas
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
  Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83;
  signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
  Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 39,199; female 37,239)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 142,394; female 138,349)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 23,118; female 35,571) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.26 years male: 75.24 years female: 81.56 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Celtic base (with French and German blend),
Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)

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

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
  conventional short form: Luxembourg
  local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
  local short form: Luxembourg

Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, ======================================================================

Location: 22 10 N, 113 33 E — Eastern Asia, bordering the South
China Sea and China

Area:
  total area: 16 sq km
  land area: 16 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: generally flat lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection
  (extended from Portugal)

Geographic note: essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge
connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 60,709; female 57,004)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 167,466; female 169,486)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 17,569; female 24,603) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.95 years male: 77.49 years female: 82.54 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none
45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)

Languages: Portuguese (official) 4%, Chinese (Cantonese) is the
language of commerce

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
  total population: 90%
  male: 93%
  female: 86%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau

Type of government: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China 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; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing promulgated 31 March 1993

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since
  9 March 1986)
  head of government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since
  20 March 1991) was appointed by the President of Portugal after
  consultation with the Legislative Assembly
  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

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held 10 March 1991 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total, 8 elected by direct vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates
including the president; lower court judges appointed for three
years by governor

Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests
of Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of
Macau; Macau Independent Group

Other political or pressure groups: 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), WToO
(associate), WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (Chinese territory under
Portuguese administration)

US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Macau, and
US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Economic 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.

Budget:
  revenues: $305 million
  expenditures: $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1989 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 258,000 kW production: 950 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,093 kWh (1993)

Exports: $1.9 billion (1995 est.) commodities: textiles, clothing, toys partners: US 35%, Hong Kong 12.5%, Germany 12%, China 9.9%, France 8% (1992 est.)

Imports: $2 billion (1992 est.) commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods partners: Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)

Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991-95), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989); 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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 142,704 males fit for military service: 79,225 (1996 est.)

@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of —————————————————————

Description: a rising yellow sun with 8 rays extending to the
edges of the red field

Area:
  total area: 25,333 sq km
  land area: 24,856 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries:
  total: 748 km
  border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)

International disputes: 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

Climate: hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters
with heavy snowfall

Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Korab 2,753 m

Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten,
nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 5%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 30%
  other: 40%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
  natural hazards: high seismic risks
  international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
  Protection

Geographic note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from
Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to
Western Europe

Population: 2,104,035 (July 1996 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: 22% (male 242,593; female 228,563)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 728,969; female 703,665)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 90,363; female 109,882) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.94 years male: 69.86 years female: 74.18 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 4%

Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%,
Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Name of country:
  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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991) was
  elected by the Assembly in 1991 and reelected by popular vote in
  1994; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1997);
  results - percent of vote NA; note - following a failed
  assassination attempt on the president in October 1995, then
  Parliamentary Speaker Stojan ANDOV was acting president; GLIGOROV
  resumed his duties in early 1996
  head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4
  September 1992) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers were elected by the majority vote of
  all the deputies in the Assembly; note - after the withdrawal of the
  Liberal Party from the ruling coalition in early 1996, the Council
  of Ministers was reorganized without LP participation

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly (Sobranje): elections last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) SDSM 58, LP 29, SPM 8, PDP 10, NDP 4, independents 7, other 4

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
  Macedonia (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko CRVENKOVSKI,
  president; Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP), Abdurahman HALITI,
  president; National Democratic Party (NDP), Ilijas HALINI,
  president; Alliance of Reform Forces of Macedonia - Liberal Party
  (SRSM-LP), Stojan ANDOV, president; Socialist Party of Macedonia
  (SPM), Kiro POPOVSKI, president; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
  Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity
  (VMRO-DPMNE), Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president; Party of Yugoslavs in
  Macedonia (SJM), Milan DURCINOV, president; Democratic Party (DP),
  Petar GOSEV, president; Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians
  (PDPA), Arben XHAFFERI, president

Other political or pressure groups: Movement for All Macedonian
Action (MAAK); Democratic Party of Serbs; Democratic Party of Turks;
Party for Democratic Action (Slavic Muslim)

International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE,
  FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337 3063 FAX: [1] (202) 337 3093

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Christopher HILL; Charge d'Affaires Victor D. COMRAS embassy: ul. 27 Mart No. 5, 9100 Skopje mailing address: United States Liaison Office Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] (91) 116-180 FAX: [389] (91) 117-103 note: the US agreed to establish full diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in September 1995, and to upgrade the Liaison Office to an Embassy

Economic overview: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, although the poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and energy needs through its own agricultural and coal resources. Its economic decline will continue unless ties are reforged or enlarged with its neighbors Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria. The economy depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. An important supplement of GDP is the remittances from thousands of Macedonians working in Germany and other West European nations. The end of sanctions on Serbia and the lifting of the Greek embargo on Macedonia have reopened its natural trade corridors, but the country has been slow to capitalize on these opportunities. Moreover, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's geographical isolation, technological underdevelopment, and potential political instability place it far down the list of countries of interest to Western investors. An internal commitment to economic reform would encourage foreign investment over the long run.

Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994) by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)

Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco

Electricity: capacity: 1,600,000 kW production: 6.046 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,941 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame,
mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Illicit drugs: limited illicit opium cultivation; transshipment
point for Southwest Asian heroin

Exports: $916.2 million (1995)
  commodities: manufactured goods 40%, machinery and transport
  equipment 14%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 23%, raw
  materials 7.6%, food (rice) and live animals 5.7%, beverages and
  tobacco 4.5%, chemicals 4.7% (1990)
  partners: principally Serbia and Montenegro and the other former
  Yugoslav republics, Germany, Greece, Albania

Imports: $199 million (1995)
  commodities: fuels and lubricants 19%, manufactured goods 18%,
  machinery and transport equipment 15%, food and live animals 14%,
  chemicals 11.4%, raw materials 10%, miscellaneous manufactured
  articles 8.0%, beverages and tobacco 3.5% (1990)
  partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Greece, Albania, Germany,
  Bulgaria

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: US, $10 million (for humanitarian and technical assistance);
  in December 1995, the EU agreed to provide a credit line of ECU 21.7
  million for investment projects

Currency: the denar, which was adopted by the Macedonian
  legislature 26 April 1992, was initially issued in the form of a
  coupon pegged to the German mark; subsequently repegged to a basket
  of seven currencies

Exchange rates: denar per US$1 - 38.8 (December 1995), 39
(November 1994), 865 (October 1992)

Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1995)

Airports:
  total: 16
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 12
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 571,927 males fit for military service: 458,231 males reach military age (19) annually: 16,698 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 7 billion denars, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 20 00 S, 47 00 E — Southern Africa, island in the
Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green
with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Area:
  total area: 587,040 sq km
  land area: 581,540 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all
administered by France)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center 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%
  meadows and pastures: 58%
  forest and woodland: 26%
  other: 11%

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
  natural hazards: periodic cyclones
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location
along Mozambique Channel

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 3,105,958; female 3,034,279)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 3,499,021; female 3,573,052)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 224,710; female 233,487) (July 1996 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.19 years male: 51.11 years female: 53.3 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),
  Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry -
  Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian,
  Creole, Comoran

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 80%
  male: 88%
  female: 73%

Name of country:
  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, Toliary

Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional
Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993) was
  elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 10
  February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Albert ZAFY
  (UNDD) 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 33%
  head of government: Prime Minister Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY (since 30
  October 1995) was elected by the National Assembly
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate (Senat): two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; decentralization and formation of regional assemblies is not expected before 1997 National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 16 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (138 total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High Constitutional
Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)

Political parties and leaders: Committee of Living Forces (CFV),
  an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD),
  Support Group for Democracy and Development in Madagascar (CSDDM),
  Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar
  (GRAD), Congress Party for Madagascar Independence - Renewal
  (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and
  religious groups; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar
  (PMDM/MFM), formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power, Manandafy
  RAKOTONIRINA; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development
  (CSCD), Guy Willy RAZANAMASY; Association of United Malagasys
  (Famima); Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre TSIRANANA

Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Christian
Churches (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, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
  WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO
  chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki J. HUDDLESTON embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18 FAX: [261] (2) 234-539

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Economic overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering 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 35% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; it accounts for 15% of GDP. In 1986, the government introduced a five-year development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for export, and reduced energy imports. Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform. Since 1993, corruption and political instability have caused the economy and infrastructure to decay further. Since April 1994, the government commitment to economic reforms has been erratic. Enormous obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 15% services: 50% (1995 est.)

Labor force:
  total workers: 4.9 million
  workers not receiving money wages: 4.7 million (96% of total labor
  force); note - 4.3 million workers are in subsistence agriculture
  wage earners: 175,400 (3.6% of total work force)
  wage earners by occupation: agriculture 45,500, domestic service
  29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250,
  service 15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $250 million
  expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180
  million (1991 est.)

Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum

Electricity: capacity: 220,000 kW production: 560 million kWh consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

Exports: $240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
  commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar,
  petroleum products
  partners: France, US, Germany, Japan, Russia

Imports: $510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
  commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%,
  petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13%
  partners: France, Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Netherlands

Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 4,239.5 (November 1995), 3,067.3 (1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991)

Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small
portions of Canal des Pangalanes

Merchant marine:
  total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,132 GRT/31,261 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1,
  oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 105
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21
  with paved runways under 914 m: 31
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 45 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces,
Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force),
Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,103,022 males fit for military service: 1,843,732 males reach military age (20) annually: 132,146 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.0% of GDP (1994)

Description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and
green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Area:
  total area: 118,480 sq km
  land area: 94,080 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

International disputes: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)

Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded
  hills, some mountains
  lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary
  with Mozambique 37 m
  highest point: Mount Mlanje Sapitwa 3,002 m

Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 50%
  other: 5%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution
  from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of
  spawning grounds endangers fish populations
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
  signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 2,189,223; female 2,168,317)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 2,371,518; female 2,472,245)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 107,701; female 143,840) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: the return of refugees to Mozambique is apparently complete

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
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.16 years male: 35.87 years female: 36.46 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 56.4%
  male: 71.9%
  female: 41.8%

Name of country: 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 and head of government: President Bakili MULUZI
  (since 21 May 1994), leader of the UDF, was elected for a five-year
  term by universal suffrage
  cabinet: Cabinet was named by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly: elections last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held
  NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total)
  UDF 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note - because of defections and
  a bi-election of 18 December 1995, the seats in the National
  Assembly were held at the end of the year as follows: UDF 87, MCP
  55, AFORD 35
  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

Political parties and leaders: ruling party: United Democratic Front (UDF), Bakili MULUZI opposition groups: Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Green MUNLO, secretary general (top party position); Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Chakufwa CHIHANA; Christian Democratic Party (CDP), Eston KAKHOME, president; Malawi Democratic Party (MDP), Kampelo KALUA, president

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,
  SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CHAVEAS embassy: address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] 783 166 FAX: [265] 780 471

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Economic 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 31% 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. Drought hurt the 1994 economy, with GDP down by 12.4%. Good weather and a strong tobacco crop resulted in an upturn in 1995. In December 1995, donors pledged $332 million in aid for 1996.

Labor force: 428,000 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services 15%, commerce 9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other permanently employed 6% (1986)

Budget:
  revenues: $530 million
  expenditures: $674 million, including capital expenditures of $129
  million (1993)

Electricity: capacity: 190,000 kW production: 905 million kWh (1993) consumption per capita: 92 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; cattle, goats

Exports: $365 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products partners: US, South Africa, Germany, Japan (1994)

Imports: $240 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment partners: South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe

Economic aid: recipient: in December 1995, donors pledged for 1996, $332 million

Exchange rates: Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1 - 16.3516 (November 1995), 8.7364 (1994), 4.4028 (1993), 3.6033 (1992), 2.8033 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 41
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 20
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police
(includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,106,905
males fit for military service: 1,076,788 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $10.4 million,
NA% of GDP (FY94/95)

Location: 2 30 N, 112 30 E — Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Area:
  total area: 329,750 sq km
  land area: 328,550 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

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 fishing zone: 200 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the
  Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and
  possibly Brunei; State of Sabah claimed by the Philippines; Brunei
  may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides Brunei into
  two parts; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in
  dispute with Indonesia

Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and
northeast (October to February) monsoons

Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore,
natural gas, bauxite

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 10%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 63%
  other: 24%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular
  emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation
  natural hazards: flooding
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
  Tropical Timber 94, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and
southern South China Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 3,684,510; female 3,483,893)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 5,996,369; female 6,017,327)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 342,742; female 438,052) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.75 years male: 66.82 years female: 72.89 years (1996 est.)

Religions:
  Peninsular Malaysia: Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu
  (Indians)
  Sabah: Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45%
  Sarawak: tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim
  20%, Christian 16%, other 5%

Languages:
  Peninsular Malaysia: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects,
  Tamil
  Sabah: English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin
  and Hakka dialects predominate)
  Sarawak: English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 83.5%
  male: 89.1%
  female: 78.1%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union

Type of government: constitutional monarchy note: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where governors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers of state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah - self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state, 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*

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) were elected for five-year terms by
  and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states
  head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since
  16 July 1981) was appointed by the paramount ruler; Deputy Prime
  Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December 1993)
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the paramount ruler from among the
  members of Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlimen) Senate (Dewan Negara): elected members serve six-year terms; elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (58 total, 32 appointed by the paramount ruler and 26 elected by the state legislatures) seats by party NA House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat): members elected for five-year terms; elections last held NA April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - National Front 63%, other 37%; seats - (192 total) National Front 162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Semangat'46 6

Political parties and leaders:
  Peninsular Malaysia: National Front, a confederation of 13 political
  parties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO
  Baru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA),
  LING Liong Sik; Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian
  Indian Congress (MIC), S. Samy VELLU; Spirit of '46 (Semangat '46),
  Tengku Tan Sri RAZALEIGH, president
  Sabah: National Front, SALLEH Said Keruak, Sabah Chief Minister,
  Sakaran DANDAI, head of Sabah State; United Sabah National
  Organizaton (USNO), leader NA; Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu
  Sabah, PBS), Datuk Seri Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan
  Sarawak: coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party
  Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB
  Mahmud; Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG
  Soon Kai; Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG;
  Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition
  parties are Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and
  Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C,
  CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM III,
  UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador DALI Mahmud Hashim
  chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 328-2700
  FAX: [1] (202) 483-7661
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador John R. MALOTT
  embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
  mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur, APO AP
  96535-8152
  telephone: [60] (3) 2489011
  FAX: [60] (3) 2422207

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and public management, has posted a remarkable record of 9% average annual growth in 1988-95. The official growth target for 1996 is 8.3%. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Manufactured goods exports expanded rapidly, and foreign investors continued to commit large sums in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policies.

Budget:
  revenues: $20.2 billion
  expenditures: $19.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.8
  billion (1995 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:
  capacity: 6,700,000 kW
  production: 31 billion kWh
  consumption per capita: 1,528 kWh (1993)

Agriculture:
  Peninsular Malaysia: natural rubber, palm oil, rice
  Sabah: subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconut, rice
  Sarawak: rubber, pepper; timber

Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World despite severe penalties for drug trafficking

Exports: $72 billion (1995)
  commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products,
  palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
  partners: Singapore 21%, US 20%, Japan 12%, UK 4%, Thailand 4%,
  Germany 3% (1994)

Imports: $72.2 billion (1995)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, petroleum
  products
  partners: Japan 26%, US 17%, Singapore 14%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%,
  UK 3%, South Korea 3% (1993)

Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.5567 (January 1996), 2.5044 (1995), 2.6243 (1994), 2.5741 (1993), 2.5474 (1992), 2.7501 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 1,806 km (Peninsular Malaysia 1,672 km; Sabah 134 km; Sarawak
  0 km)
  narrow gauge: 1,806 km 1.000-m gauge (Peninsular Malaysia 1,672 km;
  Sabah 134 km)

Highways:
  total: 92,545 km
  paved: 69,409 km (including 574 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 23,136 km (1992 est.)

Waterways:
  Peninsular Malaysia: 3,209 km
  Sabah: 1,569 km
  Sarawak: 2,518 km

Ports: Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Lahad Datu, Labuan,
Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang,
Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjong Berhala, Tanjong Kidurong, Tawau

Merchant marine:
  total: 248 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,035,684
  GRT/4,494,476 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 83, chemical tanker 13, container 31,
  liquefied gas tanker 12, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 55,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 105
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 11
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
  with paved runways under 914 m: 74
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian
Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak
Border Scouts

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,160,884 males fit for military service: 3,129,626 males reach military age (21) annually: 184,236 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 2.9% of GDP (1995)

Location: 3 15 N, 73 00 E — Southern Asia, group of atolls in the
Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

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

Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean,
south-southwest of India

Area:
  total area: 300 sq km
  land area: 300 sq km
  comparative area: nearly twice the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims:
  exclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm as defined by geographic
  coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with
  India
  territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to
March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Terrain: flat lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 3%
  other: 84%

Environment:
  current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water
  supplies
  natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to
  sea level rise
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
  Law of the Sea

Geographic 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 65,559; female 62,399)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 69,071; female 65,659)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 4,336; female 3,734) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.17 years male: 64.6 years female: 67.82 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Maldivian Divehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived
from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 93.2%
  male: 93.3%
  female: 93%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives

Administrative divisions: 19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa,
  Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu,
  Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani,
  Thaa, Waavu

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 and head of government: President Maumoon Abdul
  GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978) was reelected for a five-year term
  by secret ballot of the Majlis; election last held 1 October 1993
  (next to be held NA 1998); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM
  was reelected with 92.76% of the vote
  cabinet: Ministry of Atolls was appointed by the president; note -
  need not be members of Majilis

Legislative branch: unicameral; members elected for five-year terms or appointed by the president Citizens' Council (Majlis): elections last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected, 8 appointed by the president) independents 40

Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not
banned, none exist

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
  G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: Maldives does not have an embassy
in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York,
headed by Ahmed ZAKI

US diplomatic representation: 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: 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

Economic overview: During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1994, tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounted for about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The Maldivian Government initiated 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. In 1994, industry which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about 15% of GDP.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21.5% industry: 15.3% services: 63.2% (1994 est.)

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: capacity: 5,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 123 kWh (1993)

Exports: $75.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: fish, clothing partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK

Imports: $195.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods,
  petroleum products
  partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand

Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (January 1996), 11.770 (1995), 11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991)

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: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 73,284 GRT/113,669 DWT
ships by type: cargo 17, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 59,179 males fit for military service: 33,016 (1996 est.)

Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Area:
  total area: 1.24 million sq km
  land area: 1.22 million sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 7,243 km
  border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
  858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
  Senegal 419 km

International disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina Faso and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina Faso and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

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 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%
  meadows and pastures: 25%
  forest and woodland: 7%
  other: 66%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;
  inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
  natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry
  seasons; recurring droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 2,310,294; female 2,308,941)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 2,231,244; female 2,488,276)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 149,370; female 165,136) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.84 years male: 45.12 years female: 48.6 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 31%
  male: 39.4%
  female: 23.1%

Name of country: 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) was
  elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held NA April 1992 (next to be held NA April 1997); Alpha KONARE was
  elected in runoff race against Montaga TALL
  head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since NA
  March 1994) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly: elections last held 8 March 1992 (next to be held
  NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (116 total) Adema 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the
  Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3,
  UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy (Adema),
  Ibrahim Baubacar KEITA; National Congress for Democratic Initiative
  (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally
  (US/RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA; Popular Movement for the
  Development of the Republic of West Africa; Rally for Democracy and
  Progress (RDP), Almamy SYLLA; Union for Democracy and Development
  (UDD), Moussa Balla COULIBALY; Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT);
  Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), Dembo DIALLO; Party
  for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Malian Union for
  Democracy and Development (UMDD); Movement for the Independence, the
  Renaissance and Integration of Africa (MIRIA), Mohammed Lamine TRAORE

Other political or pressure groups: United Movement and Fronts of
Azawad (MFUA); Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Kaye (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, NAM, OAU,
  OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,
  WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David RAWSON embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] 22 54 70 FAX: [223] 22 37 12

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow,
and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economic 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 agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The economy is beginning to turn around after contracting through 1992-93, largely because of enhanced exports and import substitute production in the wake of the 50% devaluation of 12 January 1994. Post-devaluation inflation peaked at 35% in 1994, and the government appears to be keeping on track with its IMF structural adjustment program.

Labor force: 2.666 million (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981)

Budget:
  revenues: $376 million
  expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992 est.)

Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food
processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 310 million kWh consumption per capita: 33 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports: $415 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: cotton, livestock, gold partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Imports: $842 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Railways:
total: 641 km; note - linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes
narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)

Airports:
  total: 24
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National
Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,925,205 males fit for military service: 1,100,599 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 2.2% of GDP (1994)

Location: 35 50 N, 14 35 E — Southern Europe, islands in the
Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

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

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south
of Sicily (Italy)

Area:
  total area: 320 sq km
  land area: 320 sq km
  comparative area: less than twice the size of Washington, DC

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

International disputes: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal
  cliffs
  lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m

Land use:
  arable land: 38%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 59%

Environment:
  current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources;
  increasing reliance on desalination
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification

Geographic note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 42,067; female 39,958)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 126,179; female 125,321)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 17,766; female 24,285) (July 1996 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.11 years male: 75.77 years female: 80.6 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.)
  total population: 84%
  male: 86%
  female: 82%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional 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)
  was elected for a five-year term by the House of Representatives
  head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI
  (since 12 May 1987) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime
  Minister (since 14 May 1987) and Foreign Minister (since 1990) Dr.
  Guido DE MARCO
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on advice of the
  prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  House of Representatives: elections last held 22 February 1992 (next
  to be held by February 1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats -
  (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given
  to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative
  majority; current total: 69 (NP 36, MLP 33 after adjustment)

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

Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party (NP), Edward
FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
  EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph R. PAOLINO, Jr.
embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
======================================================================

Location: 54 15 N, 4 30 W — Western Europe, island in the Irish
Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland

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

Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland

Area:
  total area: 588 sq km
  land area: 588 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
  Washington, DC

Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m highest point: Snaefell 620 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA% (extensive arable land and forests)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Geographic note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the
southwest, and is a bird sanctuary

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 6,606; female 6,348)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 23,917; female 23,815)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 5,239; female 7,912) (July 1996 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.15 years male: 73.56 years female: 80.91 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United
  Kingdom since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor
  His Excellency Sir Timothy DAUNT (since NA 1995) who was appointed
  for a five-year term by the queen
  head of government: President of the Legislative Council Sir Charles
  KERRUISH (since NA 1990); was elected by the Tynwald
  cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald Legislative Council: consists of 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 House of Keys: elections last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (24 total) 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: 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

Economic 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 now contributes about 45% to GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

Labor force: 31,829 (1991)
  by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 11%, transport and
  communication 6%, retail distribution 9%, professional and
  scientific services 17%, public administration 7%, banking and
  finance 8%

Budget:
  revenues: $130.4 million
  expenditures: $114.4 million, including capital expenditures of
  $18.1 million (1985 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 61,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,965 kWh (1992)

Exports: $NA
commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
partners: UK

Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1 - 0.6537 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Merchant marine:
  total: 83 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,099,888 GRT/3,569,632
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 4, container 12,
  liquefied gas tanker 8, oil tanker 18, passenger 2, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 13, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 2
  note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 10 ships, Switzerland
  2, South Africa 2, Denmark 1, and Netherlands 1 (1995 est.)

Location: 9 00 N, 168 00 E — Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

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

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 area: 181.3 sq km
  land area: 181.3 sq km
  comparative area: about the size of Washington, DC
  note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein

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

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 60%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 40%

Environment:
  current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water
  natural hazards: occasional typhoons
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

Geographic 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: 51% (male 15,043; female 14,435)
  15-64 years: 47% (male 14,084; female 13,399)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 657; female 745) (July 1996 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.81 years male: 62.25 years female: 65.45 years (1996 est.)

Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 93%
  male: 100%
  female: 88%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
  conventional short form: Marshall Islands
  former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
  Islands)

Type of government: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

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 and head of government: President Amata KABUA (since
  NA 1979) was elected for a four-year term by the Nitijela from among
  its own members; election last held 20 November 1995 (next to be
  held NA 1999); results - President Amata KABUA was reelected
  cabinet: Cabinet; president selects from among the members of
  Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Nitijela): elections last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total) seats by party NA

Political parties and leaders:
government: Our Islands Party, President Amata KABUA
opposition: Ralik/Ratak Democratic Party (RRDP), Ramsey REIMERS

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joan PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379; Majuro, 20521-4380 (pouch) telephone: [692] 247-4011 FAX: [692] 247-4012

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and employs about 10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. The government is drafting economic reforms designed to increase revenue and compensate for reductions in US Government grants - in 1994, the US Government provided grants of $50 million, equal to 55% of the Marshall Islands' GDP. About 25% of the government's 1995/96 budget is devoted to debt repayment.

Budget:
  revenues: $67.2 million
  expenditures: $79.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood,
and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)

Electricity: capacity: 42,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,840 kWh (1990)

Exports: $21.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: coconut oil, fish, live animals, trochus shells partners: US, Japan, Australia

Imports: $69.9 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages and
  tobacco, fuels
  partners: US, Japan, Australia

Economic aid:
recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the
US is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually

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: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,068,782 GRT/5,073,125
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk carrier 43, cargo 4, combination ore/oil 1,
  container 17, oil tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 1
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 16
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: telex services domestic: 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

Branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be
established); Police Force

Location: 14 40 N, 61 00 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

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

Area:
  total area: 1,100 sq km
  land area: 1,060 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of
  Washington, DC

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to
October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every
eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid

Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 8%
  meadows and pastures: 30%
  forest and woodland: 26%
  other: 26%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an
  average of one major natural disaster every five years)
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 46,851; female 45,300)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 132,161; female 135,707)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 16,542; female 22,590) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.81 years male: 76.07 years female: 81.68 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%,
white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
  total population: 93%
  male: 92%
  female: 93%

Name of country:
  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 (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA) was appointed by the
  French Ministry of the Interior
  head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
  (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Emile
  CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992);

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
  Regional Assembly
  General Council: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
  NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44 total)
  number of seats by party NA; note - the PPM won a plurality
  Regional Assembly: elections last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be
  held by March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (41 total) RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2
  French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
  held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (2 total) UDF 1, PPM 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to
  be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (4 total) RPR 2, UDF 1, PPM 1

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alex
  URSULET; Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP); Martinique
  Progressive Party (PPM), Aime CESAIRE; Socialist Federation of
  Martinique (FSM), Jean CRUSOL; Martinique Communist Party (PCM),
  George ERICHOT; Martinique Patriots (PM); Union for French Democracy
  (UDF), Miguel LAVENTURE; Martinique Independence Movement (MIM),
  Alfred MARIE-JEANNE; Republican Party (PR), Jean BAILLY

Other political or pressure groups: Proletarian Action Group (GAP); Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group (GRS); Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance (ARC); Central Union for Martinique Workers (CSTM), Marc PULVAR; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste (PMS); Association for the Protection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)

Flag: 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

Economic 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. Banana workers launched protests late in 1992 because of falling banana prices and fears of greater competition in the European market from other producers.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 121,600 by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $657 million
  expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 113,100 kW production: 761 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,677 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables,
sugarcane for rum

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound
for the US and Europe

Exports: $218 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)

Imports: $1.76 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: French aid $600 million (1989-93); EU aid $137 million

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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)

Location: 20 00 N, 12 00 W — Northern Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

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

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Senegal and Western Sahara

Area:
  total area: 1,030,700 sq km
  land area: 1,030,400 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than three times the size of New
  Mexico

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,074 km
  border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
  Western Sahara 1,561 km

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 barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central
  hills
  lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
  highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 38%
  forest and woodland: 5%
  other: 56%

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
  natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
  primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: most of the population concentrated along the
Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 568,828; female 562,342)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 560,540; female 592,914)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 21,753; female 29,671) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.01 years male: 46.09 years female: 52.06 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 37.7%
  male: 49.6%
  female: 26.3%

Name of country:
  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); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza note: there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott

Legal system: three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, and state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
  December 1984) was reelected for a six-year term by universal
  suffrage; election last held 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA
  January 1998); results - President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
  was reelected
  head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed
  KHOUNA (since NA January 1996) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature
  Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh): elections last held 15 April 1994 (next
  to be held 12 April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats (56 total, with 17 up for election every two years) PRDS 16,
  UFD/NE 1
  National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 6 and 13
  March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) UFD/NE 67, PMR 1, RDU 1,
  independents 10

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 (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI

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, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ismail Ould IYAHI chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS embassy: address NA, Nouakchott mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63 FAX: [222] (2) 515-92

Flag: 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

Economic 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 gloomy because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 27.1% industry: 29.5% services: 43.4% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980) by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%

Budget:
  revenues: $254 million
  expenditures: $280 million, including capital expenditures of $94
  million (1994 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 110,000 kW production: 135 million kWh consumption per capita: 61 kWh (1993)

Exports: $390 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products partners: Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg

Imports: $355 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital
  goods
  partners: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy

Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 135.690 (January 1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993), 87.027 (1992), 81.946 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 704 km (single track); note - owned and operated by
  government mining company
  standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Airports:
  total: 24
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

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 international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National
Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 500,754 males fit for military service: 244,546 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $33 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)

Location: 20 17 S, 57 33 E — Southern Africa, island in the
Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Area:
  total area: 1,860 sq km
  land area: 1,850 sq km
  comparative area: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
  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

International disputes: claims the island of Diego Garcia in
UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island

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 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire 828 m

Land use:
  arable land: 54%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 31%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution
  natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely
  surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27% (male 157,174; female 152,980)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 379,840; female 383,295)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 27,429; female 39,538) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.53 years male: 66.72 years female: 74.33 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 82.9%
  male: 87.1%
  female: 78.8%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius

Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega
  Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, 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 Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992) were elected
  for five-year terms by the National Assembly
  head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 27
  December 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 27
  December 1995) were appointed by the president and are responsible
  to the National Assembly
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
  recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000); results - MMM/MLP 65%, MSM/RMM 20%, other 15%; seats - (66 total; 62 elected, 4 appointed) MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, Gaetan Duval Party 1, Hizballah 1

Political parties and leaders:
  government coalition: MLP/MMM alliance - Mauritian Labor Party
  (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLAM; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul
  BERENGER
  opposition: Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis
  Serge CLAIR; Rodrigues Movement, Nicolas VONMALLY; Gaetan Duval
  Party, Gaetan DUVAL; Hizbullah, Imam Mustapha BEEHARRY; Militant
  Socialist Movement (MSM); Mauritian Militant Resurgence (MMR)

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, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Anund Priyay NEEWOOR
  chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
  FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767 FAX: [230] 208-9534

Economic overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to middle income diversified economy with growing industrial 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 40% 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 1991-93 continued strong with solid real growth and low unemployment.

Labor force: 335,000
by occupation: government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%,
manufacturing 22%, other 22%

Budget:
  revenues: $653 million
  expenditures: $567 million, including capital expenditures of $143
  million (FY92/93 est.)

Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 340,000 kW production: 920 million kWh consumption per capita: 777 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses;
cattle, goats; fish

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10% partners: EU and US have preferential treatment, EU 77%, US 15%

Imports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% partners: EU, US, South Africa, Japan

Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 17.842 (January 1996), 17.386 (1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563 (1992), 15.652 (1991)

Highways:
  total: 1,831 km
  paved: 1,703 km (including 29 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 128 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 221,446 GRT/308,478 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 1,
  oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 4
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special
Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National
Coast Guard)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 327,403
males fit for military service: 166,466 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11.2 million,
0.4% of GDP (FY92/93)

Location: 12 50 S, 45 10 E — Southern Africa, island in the
Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern
Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Area:
  total area: 375 sq km
  land area: 375 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November)

Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient
  volcanic peaks
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Benara 660 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 50% (male 25,099; female 24,881)
  15-64 years: 48% (male 24,790; female 23,727)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 1,152; female 1,189) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.7 years male: 56.43 years female: 61.05 years (1996 est.)

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995) represented by Prefect Alain WEIL (since NA), who was
  appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
  head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa
  BAMANA (since NA 1976)

Legislative branch: unicameral
  General Council (Conseil General): elections last held NA March 1994
  (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (19 total) MPM 12, RPR 4, independents 3
  French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be
  held 24 September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (1 total) MPM 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
  (next to be held NA 1998); results - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats
  - (1 total) UDF-CDS 1

Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM),
  Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM),
  Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RPR), Mansour
  KAMARDINE; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Maoulida AHMED; Center
  of Social Democrats (CDS)

Economic 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. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.

Budget:
  revenues: $NA
  expenditures: $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1985 est.)

Exports: $2.9 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion

Imports: $87.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
  commodities: building materials, transportation equipment, rice,
  clothing, flour
  partners: France 63%, South Africa 11%, Thailand 9%, Singapore

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

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

Location: 23 00 N, 102 00 W — 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

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

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

Area:
  total area: 1,972,550 sq km
  land area: 1,923,040 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

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

Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert 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%
  meadows and pastures: 39%
  forest and woodland: 24%
  other: 24%

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
  natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, destructive
  earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf and
  Caribbean coasts
  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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 17,732,725; female 17,125,562)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 27,562,285; female 29,165,138)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 1,911,968; female 2,274,784) (July 1996
  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: 0.84 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.67 years male: 70.07 years female: 77.45 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or
predominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian
9%, other 1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 89.6%
  male: 91.8%
  female: 87.4%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO
  Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994) was elected for a six-year
  term by popular vote; election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be
  held NA 2000); results - Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%,
  Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE
  CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%; other 6.049%
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la
  Union)
  Senate (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 21 August 1994
  (next to be held NA July 1997 for one-quarter of the seats); results
  - percent of vote by party NA; seats in full Senate - (128 total;
  Senate expanded from 64 seats at the last election) PRI 93, PRD 25,
  PAN 10
  Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 24
  August 1994 (next to be held NA July 1997); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (500 total) PRI 300, PAN 119, PRD 71, PT 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges are appointed by the president with consent of the
Senate

Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties) Institutional
  Revolutionary Party (PRI), Santiago ONATE Laborde; National Action
  Party (PAN), Carlos CASTILLO; Popular Socialist Party (PPS),
  Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD),
  Porfirio MUNOZ Ledo; Cardenist Front for the National Reconstruction
  Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes; Democratic Forum Party
  (PFD), Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican Green Ecologist Party (PVEM),
  Jorge GONZALEZ Torres; Workers Party (PT), Alberto ANYA Gutierrez

Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;
  Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM); Confederation of Industrial
  Chambers (CONCAMIN); Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce
  (CONCANACO); National Peasant Confederation (CNC); Revolutionary
  Workers Party (PRT); Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and
  Peasants (CROC); Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM);
  Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX);
  National Chamber of Transformation Industries (CANACINTRA);
  Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations (COECE);
  Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services (FESEBES)

International organization participation: AG (observer), APEC,
  BCIE, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11,
  G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECD,
  OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNU, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus SILVA Herzog Flores chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Loredo, McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James R. JONES
  embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
  Distrito Federal
  mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087
  telephone: [52] (5) 211-0042
  FAX: [52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373
  consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
  consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Mexico entered 1996 on the heels of its worst recession since the 1930s. Economic activity contracted about 7% in 1995 in the aftermath of the peso devaluation in late 1994. Although Mexico City was able to correct imbalances in its external accounts, meet international payments obligations, and dramatically improve its trade balance in 1995, the domestic economy suffered harshly as the ZEDILLO administration stuck to a strict austerity program. The tight monetary and fiscal policies helped prevent spiraling inflation and kept government spending under control but drove interest rates to record heights, making it difficult for most Mexicans to service their debts. At the same time, consumers' reduced purchasing power made buying even necessities difficult for some. Many small- and medium-sized firms were unable to survive under the twin burdens of high interest rates and depressed domestic demand for their goods. Business closures and cutbacks fueled unemployment; more than 1 million Mexicans lost their jobs. According to the government and most private sector observers, the recession bottomed out in the third quarter of 1995, but the difficult year fed growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party, led to a crisis of confidence in President ZEDILLO'S ability to lead, and spurred increased tensions within the ruling party. While the ZEDILLO administration is optimistic that 1996 will bring some recovery - the government is forecasting 3% growth and 21% inflation - Mexico will face several key vulnerabilities, including the financial health of the banking sector, shaky investor confidence that could be easily jarred by more political or economic shocks, and increasingly emboldened dissenters within the ruling party.

Labor force: 33.6 million (1994) by occupation: services 31.7%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 28%, commerce 14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%, transportation 4.7%, mining and quarrying 1.5%

Budget:
  revenues: $56 billion (1995 est.)
  expenditures: $54 billion (1995 est.), including capital
  expenditures of $NA

Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 28,780,000 kW production: 122 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,239 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis continues in spite of increasing government eradication; major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America; increasingly involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine

Exports: $80 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.), includes in-bond
  industries
  commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motor
  vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics
  partners: US 85%, Japan 1.6%, EU 4.6% (1994 est.)

Imports: $72 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.), includes in-bond
  industries
  commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products,
  agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for
  assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft
  parts
  partners: US 69%, Japan 6%, EU 12% (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $85 million (1993)
  note: US commitments, (Emergency Stabilization Fund), $13.5 billion;
  IMF, $13 billion (1995-96)

Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 - 7.6647 (December 1995), 6.4194 (1995), 3.3751 (1994), 3.1156 (1993), 3,094.9 (1992), 3,018.4 (1991) note: the new peso replaced the old peso on 1 January 1993; 1 new peso = 1,000 old pesos

Railways:
  total: 20,567 km
  standard gauge: 20,477 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
  total: 245,433 km
  paved: 88,601 km (including 4,286 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 156,832 km (1993 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km;
natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km

Ports: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La
Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz,
Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz

Merchant marine:
  total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 875,314 GRT/1,245,932
  DWT
  ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4, liquefied
  gas tanker 7, oil tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 1,411
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 25
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 88
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 66
  with paved runways under 914 m: 815
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 50
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 358 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990 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

Branches: National Defense (includes Army and Air Force), Navy
(includes Naval Air and Marines)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 23,945,962 males fit for military service: 17,451,706 males reach military age (18) annually: 1,057,538 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.24 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1996)

Location: 6 55 N, 158 15 E — Oceania, island group in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to
Indonesia

Description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars
centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Area:
  total area: 702 sq km
  land area: 702 sq km
  comparative area: four times the size of Washington, DC
  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 occasional severe damage

Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands
  to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and
  Truk
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Totolom 791 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.99 years male: 66.02 years female: 69.99 years (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese,
Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 89%
  male: 91%
  female: 88%

Name of country:
  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

Type of government: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3
November 1986

Capital: Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)
note: a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the
Palikir valley

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 and head of government: President Bailey OLTER (since
  21 May 1991) and Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991) were
  elected by the Congress from among the four Senators-at-Large;
  election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999);
  results - Bailey OLTER reelected to a second term as president;
  Jacob NENA reelected to a second term as vice president
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress: elections last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents 14

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO,
WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador March Fong EU embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the
stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economic 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 - $205 million (1994 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

Budget:
  revenues: $45 million
  expenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items
from shell, wood, and pearls

Electricity: capacity: 18,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 380 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Exports: $29.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US, Guam

Imports: $141.1 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,
  beverages
  partners: US, Japan, Australia

Economic aid:
recipient: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US
will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Airports:
  total: 5
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
  mostly for government purposes)
  international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Location: 28 13 N, 177 22 W — Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Area:
  total area: 5.2 sq km
  land area: 5.2 sq km
  comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC
  note: includes Eastern Island and Sand Island

Terrain: low, nearly level lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 4 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US
military personnel (July 1995 est.)

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US formerly administered by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993 and is currently undergoing transfer of accountability and responsibility to the US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Economic overview: The economy is based on providing support services for remaining activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Area:
  total area: 33,700 sq km
  land area: 33,700 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii

Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m

Land use:
  arable land: 50%
  permanent crops: 13%
  meadows and pastures: 9%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 28%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change;
  signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 26% (male 592,245; female 573,452)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 1,381,017; female 1,496,428)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 155,908; female 264,797) (July 1996
  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: 0.59 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.91 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.14 years male: 60.77 years female: 69.73 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%,
  Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7%
  (1989 figures)
  note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in the
  Dniester region and Gagauz Turks in the south

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991) note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian

Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian
language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 96%
  male: 99%
  female: 94%

Name of country: 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: previously divided into 40 rayons; new districts possible under new constitution in 1994

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 OSCE documents

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Mircea SNEGUR (since 3 September 1990) was
  elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 8
  December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - Mircea
  SNEGUR ran unopposed and won 98.17% of vote; note - President SNEGUR
  was named executive president by the Supreme Soviet on 3 September
  1990 and was confirmed by popular election on 8 December 1991
  head of government: Prime Minister Andrei SANGHELI (since 1 July
  1992; reappointed 5 April 1994 after elections for new legislature)
  was appointed by Parliament; First Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU
  (since NA April 1994)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
  recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament: elections last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held NA
  1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (104 total)
  PDAM 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants and Intellectuals
  Bloc 11, FPCDM 9; note - seats as of June-July 1995 were as follows:
  PDAM 45, PSM/UN 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 11, PRCM 11,
  FPCDM 9
  note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Popular Front
  (FPCDM - formerly Moldovan Popular Front), Iurie ROSCA, chairman;
  Socialist Unity Faction (US) of the Socialist Party of Moldova
  (PSM), Vladimir SOLONARI, leader; Social Democratic Party of Moldova
  (PSDM), Anatol TARAN, chairman; Agrarian Democratic Party of Moldova
  (PDAM), Dumitru MOTPAN, chairman; Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc,
  Mihai GHIMPU, leader; Liberal Party of Modova (PLM), Mircea RUSU,
  chairman; Socialist Party of Moldova (PSM), Valeriu SENIC and Victor
  MOREV, cochairmen; Party of Rivival and Conciliation of Moldova
  (PRCM), Mircea SNEGUR, chairman; Moldovan Party of Democratic Forces
  (PFDM), Valeriu MATEI, chairman; Party for Social Progress (PPSM),
  Eugen SOBOR, chairman; Communist Party (PCM), Vladimir VORONIN,
  first chairman; Yedinstvo Intermovement, Vladimir SOLONARI,
  chairman, note - this party may not be in existence now

Other political or pressure groups: United Council of Labor Collectives (UCLC), Igor SMIRNOV, chairman; The Ecology Movement of Moldova (EMM), G. MALARCHUK, chairman; The Christian Democratic League of Women of Moldova (CDLWM), L. LARI, chairman; National Christian Party of Moldova (NCPM), D. TODIKE, M. BARAGA, V. NIKU, leaders; The Peoples Movement Gagauz Khalky (GKh), S. GULGAR, leader; The Democratic Party of Gagauzia (DPG), G. SAVOSTIN, chairman; The Alliance of Working People of Moldova (AWPM), G. POLOGOV, president; Christian Alliance for Greater Romania; Stefan the Great Movement; Liberal Convention of Moldova; Association of Victims of Repression; Christian Democratic Youth League

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS,
  EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE,
  PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae TAU
  chancery: Suites 329, 333, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 783-3012
  FAX: [1] (202) 783-3342

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John Todd STEWART embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevich #103, Chisinau 277014 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72 FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44

Flag: 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

Economic 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. Energy shortages have contributed to sharp production declines since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan Government has been making steady progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda, and the IMF has called Moldova a model for the region. As part of its reform efforts, Chisinau has introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed their steady privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. Chisinau appears strongly committed to continuing these reforms in 1996. Published estimates probably overstated the decline in output in 1991-94; the $2,310 per capita figure for GDP thus is a minimum estimate.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (1995 estimate extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 36% services: 31% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 2.03 million (January 1994) by occupation: agriculture 34.4%, industry 20.1%, other 45.5% (1985 figures)

Unemployment rate: 1.2% (includes only officially registered
unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (December 1995)

Budget:
  revenues: $NA
  expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
  note: budget deficit for 1995 approximately 5% of GDP

Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles

Electricity: capacity: 3,000,000 kW production: 8.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,830 kWh (1994)

Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; meat, milk

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis; mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $720 million (1995)
  commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear,
  machinery, chemicals
  partners: Russia, Kazakstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany

Imports: $822 million (1995)
  commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, foodstuffs,
  automobiles, and other consumer durables
  partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania, Germany

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993)
  note: commitments, $1,335 million ($500 million disbursements),
  1992-95

Exchange rates: lei per US$1 - 4.5460 (January 1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994), 3.6400 (1993), 0.4145 (1992), 0.0017 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 26
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: telecommunication system not well developed;
  215,000 unsatisfied requests for telephone service (1991 est.)
  domestic: NA
  international: international connections to other former Soviet
  republics by landline and microwave radio relay through Ukraine and
  to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international
  gateway switch; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat

Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic
Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,125,538 males fit for military service: 888,757 males reach military age (18) annually: 37,183 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 203 million lei, 2.5% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 43 44 N, 7 24 E — Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

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

Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the
southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Area:
  total area: 1.9 sq km
  land area: 1.9 sq km
  comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law
  of the Sea

Geographic note: second smallest independent state in world (after
Holy See); almost entirely urban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 2,737; female 2,685)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 9,746; female 10,318)
  65 years and over: 20% (male 2,288; female 3,945) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.87 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.07 years male: 74.38 years female: 81.93 years (1996 est.)

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
  conventional short form: Monaco
  local long form: Principaute de Monaco
  local short form: Monaco

Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since NA November 1949) is a
  hereditary monarch; Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis
  Pierre (born 14 March 1958)
  head of government: Minister of State Jaques DUPONT (since NA 1995)
  was appointed by the prince from a list of three candidates
  presented by the French Government
  cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the prince

Legislative branch: unicameral National Council (Conseil National): elections last held 24 and 31 January 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Campora List 15, Medecin List 2, independent 1

Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union
(UND); Campora List, Anne-Marie CAMPORA; Medecin List, Jean-Louis
MEDECIN

International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO,
ICRM, IFRCS, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in US: Monaco does not have an embassy
  in the US
  consulate(s): New York
  honorary consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New
  Orleans, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
  honorary consulate(s): Dallas, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and
  Washington, DC

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to ======================================================================

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)

Area:
  total area: 1.565 million sq km
  land area: 1.565 million sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

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 lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil 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%
  meadows and pastures: 79%
  forest and woodland: 10%
  other: 10%

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
  natural hazards: dust storms can occur in the spring
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not
  ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38% (male 486,321; female 471,931)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 722,485; female 723,065)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 39,704; female 53,111) (July 1996 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.75 years male: 58.8 years female: 62.8 years (1996 est.)

Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of communist regime

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1988 est.)
  total population: 82.9%
  male: 88.6%
  female: 77.2%

Name of country: 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 Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September
  1990) was nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected
  in general presidential elections for a four-year term; election
  last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results -
  Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) elected directly with 57.8%
  of the vote, other candidate Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP)
  head of government: Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August
  1992) and Deputy Prime Ministers Lhamsuren ENEBISH (since NA October
  1992) and Choijilsurengiyn PUREVDORJ (since NA September 1990) were
  appointed by the State Great Hural
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the State Great Hural

Legislative branch: unicameral State Great Hural: elections held for the first time 28 June 1992 (next to be held NA June 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total) MPRP 71, United Party of Mongolia 4, MSDP 1 note: the People's Small Hural no longer exists

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 of the Great Hural

Political parties and leaders: Mongolian People's Revolutionary
  Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, secretary general;
  Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP), D. GANBOLD, chairman;
  Mongolian Social Democratic Party (MSDP), B. BATBAYAR, chairman;
  United Party of Mongolia, leader NA
  note: opposition parties were legalized in May 1990

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO,
  G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM
  (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
  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; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
  telephone: [976] (1) 329095, 329606
  FAX: [976] (1) 320776

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land 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. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Timber and fishing are also important sectors. The Mongolian leadership has been gradually making the transition from Soviet-style central planning to a market economy through privatization and price reform and has been soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors. The economy, however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid. The country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships, with one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 35% services: 37% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1.115 million (mid-1993 est.) by occupation: primarily herding/agricultural note: over half the adult population is in the labor force, including a large percentage of women; shortage of skilled labor

Budget:
  revenues: $1.5 billion
  expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: copper, construction materials, mining (particularly
coal); food and beverage, processing of animal products

Electricity: capacity: 900,000 kW production: 3.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,267 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Exports: $400 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool,
  hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
  partners: former CMEA countries 62%, China 17%, EC 8% (1992)

Imports: $223 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products,
  industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
  partners: USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5% (1991)

Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 4465.39 (October 1995), 412.72 (1994), 42.56 (1992), 9.52 (1991), 5.63 (1990)

Airports:
  total: 34
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian
  Ocean Region)

Branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security
Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 638,560 males fit for military service: 417,620 males reach military age (18) annually: 27,386 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million, 1% of GDP (1992)

Location: 16 45 N, 62 12 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

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

Area:
  total area: 100 sq km
  land area: 100 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal
  lowland
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Chances Peak 914 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 10%
  forest and woodland: 40%
  other: 30%

Environment:
  current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared
  for cultivation
  natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic
  eruptions (there are seven active volcanoes on the island)
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.65 years male: 73.89 years female: 77.46 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 97%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: 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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952), represented by Governor Frank SAVAGE (since NA
  February 1993) was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since NA October
  1991)
  cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
  minister, three other ministries, the attorney general, and the
  finance secretary

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Legislative Council: elections last held 8 October 1991 (next to be
  held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total,
  7 elected) NPP 4, NDP 1, PLM 1, independent 1

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party (NPP),
Reuben T. MEADE; People's Liberation Movement (PLM), Noel TUITT;
National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand OSBORNE

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

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is small and open, with economic activity centered on tourism and related services. Tourism accounts for roughly one-quarter of Montserrat's national income. The island's main export is electronic components which are mainly shipped to the US. The agriculture sector is small; cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, and onions are grown for the domestic market; additionally, some hot peppers and live plants are exported to the US and Europe. The threat of a volcanic eruption in late 1995 led to the repeated evacuation of Montserrat's capital, Plymouth, and deep ash from the volcano destroyed much of the yearend crops. As a result, production in 1995 dropped precipitously. The likely slow recovery of tourism and the continued danger of an eruption dim the prospects for rapid recovery in 1996.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 18.4% services: 76.8% (1990 est.)

Labor force: 5,100
  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: $15.7 million
  expenditures: $15.6 million including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994)

Electricity: capacity: 5,271 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,106 kWh (1993)

Exports: $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot
  peppers, live plants, cattle
  partners: US, Ireland

Imports: $80.6 million (f.o.b., 1992)
  commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs,
  manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
  partners: NA

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Location: 32 00 N, 5 00 W — Northern Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and
Western Sahara

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

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Area:
  total area: 446,550 sq km
  land area: 446,300 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,002 km
  border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km
  note: excludes the length of the boundary between the places of
  sovereignty and Morocco

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

International disputes: 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

Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large
  areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal
  plains
  lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
  highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Land use:
  arable land: 18%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 28%
  forest and woodland: 12%
  other: 41%

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
  natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and
  subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
  signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental
  Modification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38% (male 5,696,731; female 5,522,077)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 8,577,918; female 8,700,521)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 613,712; female 668,197) (July 1996 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.52 years male: 67.53 years female: 71.61 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
language of business, government, and diplomacy

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 43.7%
  male: 56.6%
  female: 31%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
  conventional short form: Morocco
  local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
  local short form: Al Maghrib

Administrative divisions: 36 provinces and 5 wilayas*; Agadir, Al
  Hoceima, Assa-Zag, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane,
  Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia,
  Essaouira, Es Smara, 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

National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of
King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)

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) is a hereditary
  monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May
  1994) was appointed by the king
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the king

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab): two-thirds elected by
  direct, universal suffrage and one-third by an electoral college of
  government, professional, and labor representatives; direct, popular
  elections last held 15 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results
  - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (333 total, 222 directly
  elected) USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS
  6, PDI 3, SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2; indirect, special interest elections
  last held 17 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (333 total, 111 indirectly
  elected) UC 27, MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura
  and Istiqlal 6, USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the
recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided
over by the king

Political parties and leaders:
  opposition: Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Mohammad
  al-YAZGHI; Istiqlal Party (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress
  and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA; Organization of Democratic and
  Popular Action (OADP), Mohamed Ben SAID
  pro-government: Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID; Popular
  Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND),
  Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI; National Popular Movement (MNP),
  Mahjoubi AHARDANE
  independents: National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN;
  Democracy and Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA),
  Abdullah SENHAJI; Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA
  labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections:
  Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Union
  of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of
  Workers (UTM), leader NA; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, leader NA

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, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS
  (observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
  chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
  FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (7) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (7) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Morocco faces the typical problems of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within 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 economy has substantial assets to draw on: the world's largest phosphate reserves, diverse agricultural and fishing resources, a sizable tourist industry, a growing manufacturing sector, and remittances from Moroccans working abroad. A severe drought in 1992-93 depressed economic activity and held down exports. Real GDP contracted by 4.4% in 1992 and 1.1% in 1993. Despite these setbacks, initiatives to relax capital controls, strengthen the banking sector, and privatize state enterprises went forward in 1993-94. Favorable rainfall in 1994 boosted agricultural production by 40%. In 1995, Morocco suffered from a drought said to be the worst in 30 years. Servicing the large debt, high unemployment, and vulnerability to external economic forces remain long-term problems for Morocco.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 14.3% industry: 32.2% services: 53.5% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 7.4 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $8.1 billion
  expenditures: $8.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing,
leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 2,620,000 kW production: 9.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 361 kWh (1993)

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

Exports: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%,
  consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17%
  partners: EC 70%, Japan 5%, US 4%, Libya 3%, India 2% (1993)

Imports: $7.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw
  materials 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%,
  consumer goods 9%
  partners: EC 59%, US 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 3%, Russia 2% (1993)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $297 million (1993) note: $2.8 billion debt canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991)

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.607 (January 1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 1,907 km
  standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1003 km electrified; 246 km
  double track) (1994)

Highways:
  total: 59,474 km
  paved: 29,440 km (including 73 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 30,034 km (1991 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km
(abandoned); natural gas 241 km

Ports: Agadir, Al Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra,
Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled
Ceuta and Melilla

Merchant marine:
  total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 175,962 GRT/257,449 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 7, container 2, oil tanker
  4, refrigerated cargo 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea
  passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 63
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 11
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 12
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 11
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan
Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 7,541,745 males fit for military service: 4,782,028 males reach military age (18) annually: 330,344 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.38 billion, 4.1% of GDP (1995)

Location: 18 15 S, 35 00 E — Southern Africa, bordering the
Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

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

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel,
between South Africa and Tanzania

Area:
  total area: 801,590 sq km
  land area: 784,090 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,571 km
  border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland
  105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 56%
  forest and woodland: 20%
  other: 20%

Environment:
  current issues: civil strife and recurrent drought in the
  hinterlands have resulted in increased migration to urban and
  coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
  desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters
  natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and
  southern provinces; devastating cyclones
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified
  - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 4,141,915; female 4,115,191)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 4,324,102; female 4,868,518)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 184,606; female 243,595) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: by the end of 1994, an estimated 1.6 million Mozambican refugees, who fled to Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa in earlier years from the civil war, had returned; an estimated 100,000 refugees remain to be repatriated from those countries

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.34 years male: 43.21 years female: 45.5 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan,
Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%,
Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 40.1%
  male: 57.7%
  female: 23.3%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
  conventional short form: Mozambique
  local long form: Republica Popular 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) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since December
  1994) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica): the members are elected by direct, universal, adult suffrage on a secret ballot for a term of five years; election last held 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999); results - percent vote by party NA, seats (250 total) FRELIMO won a slim majority note: the presidential and legislative elections took place as called for in the 1992 peace accords; RENAMO participated in the elections

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
and judges elected by the Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of
  Mozambique (FRELIMO), Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman; Mozambique
  National Resistance (RENAMO), Afonso DHLAKAMA, president; Democratic
  Union (DU), Antonio PALANGE, General Secretary

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

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hipolito Pereira Zozimo PATRICIO chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis Coleman JETT embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: [258] (1) 492797 FAX: [258] (1) 490114

Flag: 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

Economic overview: One of Africa's poorest countries, Mozambique has failed to exploit the economic potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and transportation resources. Indeed, national output, consumption, and investment declined throughout the first half of the 1980s because of internal disorders, lack of government administrative control, and a growing foreign debt. A sharp increase in foreign aid, attracted by an economic reform policy, resulted in successive years of economic growth in the late 1980s, but aid has declined steadily since 1989. Agricultural output is at only 75% of its 1981 level, and grain has to be imported. Industry operates at only 20%-40% of capacity. The economy depends heavily on foreign assistance to keep afloat. Peace accords between civil warring factions, signed in October 1992, improved chances of foreign investment, aided IMF-supported economic reforms, and supported continued economic recovery. Elections held in 1994 diverted government attention from the economy, resulting in slippage and delays in the economic reform program. Nonetheless, growth continued in 1994-95, and the economy should move forward in the late 1990s, given continued foreign help in meeting debt obligations. One key event in 1995 was the conclusion of negotiations with Enron of Houston, Texas, for a $700 million project to exploit the Pande natural gas fields.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 12% services: 55% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $252 million
  expenditures: $607 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints),
petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Electricity: capacity: 2,360,000 kW production: 1.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 58 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry

Exports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus
partners: Spain, South Africa, US, Portugal, Japan

Imports: $1.14 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum
partners: South Africa, UK, France, Japan, Portugal

Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 10,908.0 (December 1995), 9,024.3 (1995), 6,038.6 (1994), 3,874.2 (1993), 2,516.5 (1992), 1,434.5 (1991)

Railways: total: 3,131 km narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
  total: 27,287 km
  paved: 4,693 km
  unpaved: 22,594 km (1991 est.)
  note: highway traffic impeded by land mines not removed at end of
  civil war

Merchant marine:
total: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,694 GRT/9,724
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 131
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 67
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 12
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,767,855 males fit for military service: 2,162,388 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $84 million, 5.3% of GDP (1994)

Location: 22 00 S, 17 00 E — Southern Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

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

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and South Africa

Area:
  total area: 825,418 sq km
  land area: 825,418 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,824 km
  border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa
  855 km, Zambia 233 km

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

International disputes: short section of boundary with Botswana is indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in December 1995, and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the ICJ

Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari
  Desert in east
  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%
  meadows and pastures: 64%
  forest and woodland: 22%
  other: 13%

Environment:
  current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources;
  desertification
  natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 370,090; female 362,185)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 428,488; female 449,726)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 28,599; female 38,155) (July 1996 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.48 years male: 62.85 years female: 66.16 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1960 est.)
  total population: 38%
  male: 45%
  female: 31%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia

Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Erongo, Hardap, Karas,
Khomas, Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke,
Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since
  21 March 1990) was elected for a five-year term by universal
  suffrage; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA
  December 1999); results - Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of
  vote NA
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from the members of
  National Assembly

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature National Council: elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1 National Assembly: elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1

Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's
  Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; SWAPO for Justice, Zacharia
  NJOMBA; DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance)
  (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus
  GAROEB; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Keiphas CONRADIE;
  Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS; Workers Revolutionary
  Party (WRP); Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII;
  Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA;
  National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses K. KATJIUONGUA

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), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marshall F. McCALLIE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% 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. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.

Labor force: 500,000
by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services
8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $941 million
  expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157
  million (FY93/94)

Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining
(diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Electricity: capacity: 406,000 kW production: 1.29 billion kWh consumption per capita: 658 kWh (1991)

Agriculture: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
  commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle,
  processed fish, karakul skins
  partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, UK

Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
  commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and
  equipment
  partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Japan

Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991)

Railways: total: 2,382 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track

Airports:
  total: 108
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 14
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 58 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 377,687 males fit for military service: 224,682 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $64 million, 2.1% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 0 32 S, 166 55 E — Oceania, island in the South Pacific
Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

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

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the
Marshall Islands

Area:
  total area: 21 sq km
  land area: 21 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage
  tanks collect rainwater; phosphate mining threatens limited
  remaining land resources
  natural hazards: periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Marine Dumping; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic 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

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.68 years male: 64.3 years female: 69.18 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese
8%, European 8%

Languages: Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language),
English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
commercial purposes

Name of country: 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 and head of government: President Lagumot HARRIS
  (since 22 November 1995) was elected by Parliament; election last
  held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1998)
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from among members
  of Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament: election last held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA
  November 1998); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total)
  independents 18

International organization participation: AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca,
SPC, SPF, UPU, WHO

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which 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, so 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. However, dividends from the trusts have declined sharply since 1990 and the government has been borrowing from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits.

Budget:
  revenues: $23.8 million
  expenditures: $69.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY92/93)

Electricity: capacity: 14,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,036 kWh (1993)

Exports: $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: phosphates
partners: Australia, NZ

Imports: $21.1 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2834 (1991)

Railways:
total: 3.9 km; note - used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

Telephone system: adequate local and international radiotelephone
  communications provided via Australian facilities
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Location: 18 25 N, 75 02 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth
of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Area:
  total area: 5.2 sq km
  land area: 5.2 sq km
  comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high) lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 10%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 90%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard

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

Area:
  total area: 140,800 sq km
  land area: 136,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas

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 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%
  meadows and pastures: 13%
  forest and woodland: 33%
  other: 37%

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)
  natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides,
  drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration
  of the summer monsoons
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation

Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 4,776,245; female 4,563,000)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 6,172,821; female 5,945,626)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 320,350; female 315,991) (July 1996 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.63 years male: 53.35 years female: 53.93 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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 world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 27.5%
  male: 40.9%
  female: 14%

Name of country: 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) is a
  constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir
  Bikram
  head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 12
  September 1995); note - in 1994, the king appointed Man Mohan
  ADHIKARI to be prime minister using the standard criterion - he was
  the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
  following the last election; however, in September 1995, a
  parliamentary coalition of the Nepali Congress Party, the Rastriya
  Prajantra Party, the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, and independents voted
  against Prime Minister ADHIKARI; Sher Bahadur DEUBA, the leader of
  the Nepali Congress Party, then formed the new government and was
  appointed the new prime minister by the king
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the king on recommendation of the
  prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
  National Council: consists of 60 members (50 appointed by House of
  Representatives and 10 by the king)
  House of Representatives: elections last held 15 November 1994 (next
  to be held NA); results - NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Terai
  Rights Sadbhavana Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats - (205 total) CPN/UML 88,
  NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3,
  independents 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice
  is appointed by the king on recommendation of the Constitutional
  Council, the other judges are appointed by the king on the
  recommendation of the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United
  Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADHIKARI, president;
  Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI (president),
  Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA; National
  Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana
  (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH; Nepal Workers and Peasants
  Party (NWPP), leader NA; Nepal Sadbhavana Party, leader NA; Rastriya
  Prajantra Party, leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN,
  UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Basudev Prasad DHUNGANA
  chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Sandra L. VOGELGESANG embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 411179 FAX: [977] (1) 419963

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for about one-half of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in FY93/94. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with annual population growth of 2.6%. More than 40% of the population is undernourished. 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 public expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. (In 1995 little progress was made in these areas because the communist government had trouble formulating and implementing policies.) The new coalition government is planning to pick up the pace of reforms in 1996, focusing primarily on raising revenues to develop the rural sector by increasing taxation and privatization. Prospects for foreign trade and investment, particularly in areas other than power development and tourism, will continue to remain poor because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community provides funding for 62% of Nepal's developmental budget and for 34% of total budgetary expenditures.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 49.3% industry: 18.4% services: 32.3% (1993)

Labor force: 8.5 million (1991 est.) by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2% note: severe lack of skilled labor

Budget:
  revenues: $645 million
  expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and
oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Electricity: capacity: 280,000 kW production: 920 million kWh consumption per capita: 41 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for heroin from Southeast Asia to the West

Exports: $430 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) but does not include unrecorded border trade with India commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain partners: India, US, Germany, UK

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10% partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $310 million (1993)
  note: western and Japanese bilateral aid $215 million; multilateral
  aid $43 million (1994-95)

Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 56.636 (January 1996), 51.890 (1995), 49.398 (1994), 48.607 (1993), 42.718 (1992), 37.255 (1991)

Railways:
total: 101 km; note - all in Terai close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

Airports:
  total: 43
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 27
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
  radiotelephone communication service
  domestic: NA
  international: radiotelephone communications; satellite earth
  station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service,
Nepalese Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,329,345 males fit for military service: 2,768,887 males reach military age (17) annually: 254,590 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 1.2% of GDP (FY92/93)

Location: 52 30 N, 5 45 E — Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between Belgium and Germany

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

Area:
  total area: 37,330 sq km
  land area: 33,920 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

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
  lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
  highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m

Land use:
  arable land: 26%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 32%
  forest and woodland: 9%
  other: 32%

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
  natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects
  nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
  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, Marine
  Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
  signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
  Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: located at mouths of three major European rivers
(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 1,457,694; female 1,393,402)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 5,412,402; female 5,228,579)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 836,934; female 1,239,023) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.73 years male: 74.91 years female: 80.68 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
  conventional short form: Netherlands
  local long form: Koninkrijk de 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; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
  1980) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER
  (born 27 April 1967), Prince of Orange, son of Queen BEATRIX
  head of government: Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August
  1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Hans DIJKSTAL (since 22 August 1994)
  and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994) were appointed by the
  queen
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal)
  First Chamber (Eerste Kamer): members indirectly elected by the
  country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms; election last
  held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 9 June 1999); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (75 total) number of seats by party NA
  Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer): members directly elected for
  four-year terms; elections last held 3 May 1994 (next to be held in
  1998); results - PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other
  16.5%; seats - (150 total) PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad), justices are
nominated for life by the crown from a list compiled by the Second
Chamber of the Staten Generaal

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA),
  Hans HELGERS; Labor (PvdA), Felix ROTTENBERG; Liberal (VVD), Frits
  BOLKESTEIN; Democrats '66 (D66), Hans VAN MIERLO; a host of minor
  parties

Other political or pressure groups: 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 (IKV)

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE,
  ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, 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, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest),
  NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III,
  UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPREDEP,
  UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Adriaan JACOBOVITS DE SZEGED chancery: (temporary) 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209 FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

Economic overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Indeed, the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. High unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.4% industry: 26.9% services: 69.7% (1994)

Labor force: 6.4 million (1993) by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $109.9 billion
  expenditures: $122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1992 est.)

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics

Electricity: capacity: 17,520,000 kW production: 72.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,100 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs

Exports: $146 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: metal products, chemicals, processed food and tobacco,
  agricultural products
  partners: EU 73% (Germany 28%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%, UK 9%),
  Central and Eastern Europe 2%, US 5% (1994)

Imports: $133 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer
  goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products
  partners: EU 56% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 8.5%), US
  8.6% (1994)

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.6365 (January 1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994), 1.8573 (1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 2,891 km
  standard gauge: 2,891 km 1.435-m gauge; 2857 km are in common
  carrier service (1,991 km electrified) and 34 km serve tourists

Highways:
  total: 104,831 km
  paved: 92,251 km (including 2,118 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 12,580 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000
metric ton capacity or larger

Ports: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen,
Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht

Merchant marine:
  total: 352 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,681,133
  GRT/3,379,762 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 206, chemical tanker 21, combination
  bulk 3, container 34, liquefied gas tanker 13, livestock carrier 1,
  multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 38, railcar carrier
  1, refrigerated cargo 16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea
  passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
  note: many Dutch-owned ships are operating under the registry of
  Netherlands Antilles (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 28
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; extensive
  redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave
  radio relay
  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)

Branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes
Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force,
Royal Constabulary

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 4,191,998 males fit for military service: 3,670,253 males reach military age (20) annually: 94,013 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.2 billion, 2.1% of GDP (1995)

Location: 12 15 N, 68 45 W — 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

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

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 area: 960 sq km
  land area: 960 sq km
  comparative area: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
  note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
  Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)

Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 92%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
  hurricane belt, so are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and
  Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
  international agreements: party to - Whaling (extended from
  Netherlands)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.06 years male: 74.78 years female: 79.46 years (1996 est.)

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

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 98%
  female: 99%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Type of government: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954

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) is a constitutional monarch, represented by
  Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989), who was
  appointed for a six-year term by the queen
  head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February
  1994) was appointed by the Staten
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the Staten

Legislative branch: unicameral Staten: elections last held 25 February 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total) PAR 8, PNP 3, SPA 2, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, DP 1, WIPM 1, DP-St.E 1, DP-St.M 1, Nos Patria 1 note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties

Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to
  each island
  Bonaire: Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic
  Party of Bonaire (PDB), Broertje JANJA
  Curacao: Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER;
  National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles
  Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation
  Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI),
  George HUECK and Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP),
  Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA
  Saba: Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Ray HASSELL;
  Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Steve HASSELL; Saba Unity Party,
  Carmen SIMMONDS
  Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), Julian
  WOODLEY; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius
  Alliance (SEA), Ingrid WHITFIELD
  Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Sarah
  WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance
  JAMES; Serious Alternative People's Party (SAPP) Julian ROLLOCKS

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

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS consulate general(s): J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 61-3066 FAX: [599] (9) 61-6489

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Tourism 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 and the US being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.

Labor force: 89,000 by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

Budget:
  revenues: $209 million
  expenditures: $232 million, including capital expenditures of $8
  million (1992 est.)

Industries: tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining
(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),
light manufacturing (Curacao)

Electricity: capacity: 200,000 kW production: 810 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,054 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for
South American cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: petroleum products 98% partners: US 39%, Brazil 9%, Colombia 6%

Imports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures partners: Venezuela 26%, US 18%, Colombia 6%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5%

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins
(NAf.) per US$1 - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)

Merchant marine:
  total: 119 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,141,003
  GRT/1,490,958 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 38, chemical tanker 7, combination bulk
  1, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load
  carrier 18, oil tanker 9, passenger 4, refrigerated cargo 27,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 8 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 4
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands
Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Location: 21 30 S, 165 30 E — Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

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

Area:
  total area: 19,060 sq km
  land area: 18,575 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

International disputes: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by
France and Vanuatu

Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains 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%
  meadows and pastures: 14%
  forest and woodland: 51%
  other: 35%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 28,941; female 27,929)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 61,263; female 59,673)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 4,750; female 5,228) (July 1996 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.35 years male: 71.06 years female: 77.8 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
  total population: 91%
  male: 92%
  female: 90%

Name of country:
  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; a referendum on
independence will be held in 1998)

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995) represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council
  of Government Dominque BUR (since NA), who was appointed by the
  French Ministry of the Interior
  head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Pierre
  FROGIER (since NA) was elected by the members of the Assembly
  cabinet: Consultative Committee

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Territorial Assembly: elections last held 9 July 1995 (next to be
  held NA July 2001); results - percent by party NA; seats - (54
  total) RPCR 22, NCPT 7, other anti-independence parties 6, FLNKS 12,
  other pro-independence parties 7
  French Senate: elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be
  held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (1 total) RPCR 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to
  be held 21 and 28 March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2

Political parties and leaders: white-dominated Rassemblement pour
  la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative, Jacques
  LAFLEUR, president - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la
  Republique (RPR; also called South Province Party); Melanesian
  proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS),
  Rock WAMYTAN; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS),
  Nidoish NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE;
  Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union Oceanienne
  (UO), conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak
  (FULK), proindependence, Clarence UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC),
  Francois BURCK, president; "1999" (new party calling for an
  autonomous state), Philippe PENTECOST; Nouvelle-Caledonie Pour Toute
  (NCPT)

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO

Flag: 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

Economic 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 70,044 (1988) by occupation: agriculture 32%, industry 20%, services 40%, mines 8% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $540 million
  expenditures: $540 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1991 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 250,000 kW production: 1.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,178 kWh (1993)

Exports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1992)
  commodities: nickel metal 22%, nickel ore
  partners: France 32.2%, Japan 23.5%, Germany 6.7%, US 3.6%, India
  1.2%

Imports: $926 million (c.i.f., 1992)
  commodities: foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
  partners: France 46.3%, ECE 14.9%, Australia 10.2%, Japan 6.3%, New
  Zealand 4.4%

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Merchant marine:
total: 1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,079
GRT/724 DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 28
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 12
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Gendarmerie); Police Force

Location: 41 00 S, 174 00 E — Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

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

Area:
  total area: 268,680 sq km
  land area: 268,670 sq km
  comparative area: about the size of Colorado
  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

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains 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: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 53%
  forest and woodland: 38%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
  hard-hit by species introduced from outside
  natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
  volcanic activity
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
  83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea,
  Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 420,900; female 400,159)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 1,161,522; female 1,154,536)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 177,182; female 233,684) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.01 years male: 73.96 years female: 80.21 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Name of country: 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) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir Michael
  HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October
  1990) and Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November
  1990) were appointed by the governor general
  cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the governor general on
  the recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament): elections last held 6 November 1993 (next must be called by November 1996); results - NP 35.2%, NZLP 34.7%, Alliance 18.3%, New Zealand First 8.3%; seats - (99 total) NP 50, NZLP 45, Alliance 2, New Zealand First Party 2

Political parties and leaders: National Party (NP, government),
  James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP, opposition), Helen
  CLARK; Alliance, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New
  Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE and Gilbert MYLES; Green
  Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Sandra LEE; Socialist
  Unity Party (SUP, pro-Soviet), leader NA; New Zealand First, Winston
  PETERS; United New Zealand (UNZ), Clive MATTHEWSON; Conservative
  Party (formerly Right of Centre Party), Trevor ROGERS; Association
  of Consumers and Taxpayers, New Zealand (ACT), Richard PREBBLE;
  Christian Democrats, Graeme LEE; Christian Heritage Party (CH), Rev.
  Graham CAPILL
  note: the New Zealand Liberal, New Labor, Democratic, and Mana
  Motuhake parties formed a coalition called the Alliance Party in
  September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992;
  the National Party government formed a coalition with the United New
  Zealand Party in February 1996; the coalition will be valid through
  the 1996 elections

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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD,
  PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel John WOOD chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 consulate(s) general: Apia (Western Samoa), Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:
  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
  telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068
  FAX: [64] (4) 472-3537
  consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market toward a more industrialized, open, free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The initial results were mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91. In 1992-93, growth picked up to 3% annually, a sign that the new economic approach was beginning to pay off. Business confidence strengthened in 1994, and export demand picked up in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 6.2% growth. Growth continued strong in 1995, and inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. The government announced its first budget surplus in 16 years in FY94/95 and forecasts a surplus of $5.0 billion in FY97/98. The government intends to use the surplus to reduce the debt, increase social spending, and cut taxes - by $1.35 billion over two years beginning in 1996. Per capita GDP now is up to the levels of the big West European economies.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 7.3% industry: 25.9% services: 66.8% (1990)

Labor force: 1,634,500 (September 1995) by occupation: services 64.6%, industry 25.0%, agriculture 10.4% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $22.18 billion
  expenditures: $20.28 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Electricity: capacity: 7,520,000 kW production: 30.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,401 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, meat, dairy products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988

Exports: $13.41 billion (1995)
  commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals,
  forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures
  partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 12%, UK 6%

Imports: $13.62 billion (1995)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft,
  petroleum, consumer goods
  partners: Australia 21%, US 18%, Japan 16%, UK 6%

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Railways: total: 3,973 km narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (504 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 93,348 km
  paved: 54,142 km (including 141 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 39,206 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; condensate (liquefied petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km

Merchant marine:
  total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 162,220 GRT/213,749 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
  3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 113
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31
  with paved runways under 914 m: 50
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems
  domestic: NA
  international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite
  earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 927,212 males fit for military service: 780,976 males reach military age (20) annually: 27,433 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $556 million, 1% of GDP (FY93/94)

Location: 13 00 N, 85 00 W — Middle America, bordering both the
Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and
Honduras

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

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Area:
  total area: 129,494 sq km
  land area: 120,254 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New York State

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

International disputes: 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

Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central
  interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by
  volcanoes
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 43%
  forest and woodland: 35%
  other: 12%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
  natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and
  occasionally severe hurricanes
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental
  Modification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 951,254; female 938,599)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 1,105,069; female 1,164,144)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 49,027; female 64,259) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.72 years male: 63.41 years female: 68.13 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%

Languages: Spanish (official)
note: English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 65.7%
  male: 64.6%
  female: 66.6%

Name of country:
  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* (regions autonomista, singular - region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Atlantica Norte*, Atlantica Sur*, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Violeta Barrios de
  CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990) was elected for a six-year term
  (amended to a five-year term in July 1995) by universal suffrage;
  Vice President Julia MENA Rivera (since 22 October 1995) replaced
  Virgilio GODOY, who resigned to run for the presidency in 1996 as
  required by law; election last held 25 February 1990 (next to be
  held 20 October 1996); results - Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO)
  54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5%
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional): elections last held 25
  February 1990 (next to be held NA October 1996); results - UNO
  coalition 53.9%, Sandinista bloc 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats -
  (92 total) UNO coalition 53 (Center Group 9, UDC 6, PSD 5, APC 5,
  PLC 5, PLI 4, PND 3, PAN 3, PNC 3, MDN 2, PCdeN 2, independents 6)
  and Sandinista bloc 39 (MRS 16, BUS-Sandinista 9, FSLN 8, Sandinista
  Group of Reflection 4, FSLN-independents 2)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges elected for
a six-year term (amended to a seven-year term in July 1995) by the
National Assembly

Political parties and leaders:
  right: Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Arnold ALEMAN;
  Conservative Popular Alliance Party (APC), Myriam ARGUELLO;
  Independent Liberal Party for National Unity (PLIUN), Carlos GUERRA
  Gallardo; Conservative Action Movement (MAC); Conservative Party of
  Nicaragua (PCN - formed in 1992 by the merger of the Conservative
  Social Party or PSC with the Democratic Conservative Party or PCD
  and the Conservative party of Labor or PCL), Fernando AGUERO;
  National Conservative Party (PNC), Adolfo CALERO, Noel VIDUARRE
  center right: Neoliberal Party (PALI), Ricardo VEGA Garcia;
  Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN), Fabio GADEA, Enrique QUINONEZ;
  Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO; National Project
  (PRONAL), Antonio LACAYO Oyanguren; Nicaraguan Democratic Alliance
  Party (PADENIC), Pedro MAYORGA Knilands; Nationalist Liberal Party
  (PLN), Roberto CASTILLO Quant; Party for Liberal Unity (PUL),
  Haroldo MONTEALEGRE; Fuerza '96, Francesco MAYORGA
  center left: Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN;
  Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Alfredo GUZMAN; Social
  Democratic Party (PSD), Adolfo JARQUIN; National Justice Party
  (PJN), Jorge DIAZ Cruz; National Action Party (PAN), Delvis MONTIEL;
  Renovating Action Movement (MAR), Pablo HERNANDEZ; Sandinista
  Renovation Movement (MRS), Sergio RAMIREZ; Social Christian Party
  (PCS), Erick RAMIREZ; Democratic Action Party (PAD), Eden PASTORA;
  "Up with Nicaragua" (Arriba Nicaragua), Alvaro ROBELO; National
  Democratic Party (PND), Alfredo CESAR Aquirre; Communist Party of
  Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez
  left: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA;
  Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Popular
  Action Movement-Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ; Nicaraguan
  Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo TABLADA; Unidad Nicaraguense de
  Obreros, Campesinos, y Profesionales (UNOCP), Rosalio GONZALEZ
  Urbina; Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS
  Echaverry
  note: the UNO coalition that won the 1990 elections no longer
  exists; the different blocs that formerly were united under the UNO
  umbrella and their opposition to the Sandinistas now act and vote
  independently

Other political or pressure groups: National Workers Front (FNT)
  is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista
  Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC); Health
  Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE);
  National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of
  Journalists of Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of
  Professional Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of
  Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is
  an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation
  of Labor Unification (CUS); Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central
  (CTN-A); Independent General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and
  Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central
  (CTN) is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private
  Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
  G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA
  (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto Genaro MAYORGA Cortes chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John F. MAISTO embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] (2) 666010 through 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 33 FAX: [505] (2) 669074

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Nicaraguan economy, devastated during the 1980s by economic mismanagement and civil war, is beginning to rebound. Since March 1991, when President CHAMORRO launched an ambitious economic stabilization program, Nicaragua has had considerable success in reducing inflation and obtaining substantial economic aid from abroad. Annual inflation fell from more than 750% in 1991 to less than 5% in 1992. After rising again to an estimated 20% in 1993, the annual inflation rate was 11.7% in 1994 and 11.4% in 1995. While economic growth was flat in 1992 and negative in 1993, the 1995 growth rate is about 4%, thanks to surges in most export categories. Recent legislation (November 1995) authorizing the privatization of the TELCOR telecommunications company and resolving the issue of property confiscated by the previous Sandinista government may reassure potential investors. The government's efforts to liberalize trade include a December 1995 decision to stop requiring exporters to bring their foreign exchange earnings into Nicaragua. On the debt front, the Nicaraguan Government launched a successful debt buyback program in 1995, purchasing 73% of its $1.373 billion commercial debt inherited from previous governments. Progress also occurred on reducing bilateral debt in November 1995 as Nicaragua reached an agreement with Germany, reducing Nicaragua's $616 million debt to the former GDR by 80%. Debt reduction agreements with Paris Club creditors and rescheduling with the US also took place. Unemployment remains a pressing problem, however, with roughly half the country's population unemployed or underemployed.

Labor force: 1.086 million by occupation: services 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

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: capacity: 460,000 kW production: 1.64 billion kWh (1994) consumption per capita: 376 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Exports: $525.5 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: meat, coffee, cotton, sugar, seafood, gold, bananas partners: US, Central America, Canada, Germany

Imports: $870 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum
  products
  partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan

Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 7.98 (December 1995), 6.72 (1994), 5.62 (1993), 5.00 (1992), 4.27 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 0 km
  narrow gauge: 0 km 1.067-m gauge; note - part of the previous 376 km
  system was closed and dismantled in 1993 and, in 1994, the remainder
  was closed, the track and rolling stock being sold for scrap

Highways:
  total: 26,000 km
  paved: 4,000 km
  unpaved: 22,000 km (1993 est.)
  note: there is a 368.5 km portion of the Pan-American Highway which
  is not included in the total

Ports: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto
Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur

Airports:
  total: 148
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 107
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 988,883 males fit for military service: 608,753 males reach military age (18) annually: 47,786 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $28.1 million,
NA% of GDP (1996)

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

Area:
  total area: 1.267 million sq km
  land area: 1,266,700 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,697 km
  border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,
  Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km

International disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina Faso and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 7%
  forest and woodland: 2%
  other: 88%

Environment:
  current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation;
  desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant,
  hippopotamus, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat
  destruction
  natural hazards: recurring droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 2,233,157; female 2,138,096)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 2,202,413; female 2,317,188)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 117,337; female 104,810) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 40.66 years male: 41.05 years female: 40.25 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%,
Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about
4,000 French expatriates

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 13.6%
  male: 20.9%
  female: 6.6%

Name of country:
  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 Colonel Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28
  January 1996 when he ousted President Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup);
  Mahamane OUSMANE had been elected for a five-year term by universal
  suffrage; election last held 17 March 1993 (next to be held 7 July
  1996)
  head of government: Prime Minister Boukary ADJI (since NA January
  1996) appointed by President BARE
  cabinet: National Salvation Council was appointed by President BARE

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly: elected by proportional representation for a
  five-year term; election last held 12 January 1995 (next to be held
  NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (83 total) MNSD-NASSARA 29, CDS 24, PNDS 12, ANDP-Z 9, UDFP 3, UDPS
  2, PADN 2, PPN-RDA 1, UPDP 1; note - this National Assembly
  dissolved by President BARE after the coup on 28 January 1996

Political parties and leaders: National Movement of the
  Development Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Mamadou TANDJA, chairman;
  Democratic and Social Convention (CDS), Jacoub SANOUSSI; Nigerien
  Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), Mahamadou ISSOUFOU;
  Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zamanlahia (ANDP-Z),
  Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE; Union of Popular Forces for Democracy
  and Progress-Sawaba (UDFP), Djibo BAKARY, chairman; Union for
  Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Akoli DAOUEL; Niger Social
  Democrat Party (PADN), Malam Adji WAZIRI; Niger Progressive
  Party-African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Dori ABDOULAI, chairman;
  Union of Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives (UPDP), Professor
  Andre SALIFOU, chairman

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM,
  OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John S. DAVISON embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64 FAX: [227] 73 31 67

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Niger is one of the world's poorest countries, with recent GDP growth barely matching the rapid growth of population. The economy is centered on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Uranium revenues dropped by almost 50% between 1983 and 1990 with the end of the uranium boom. Terms of trade with Nigeria, Niger's largest regional trade partner, have improved dramatically since the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994; this devaluation boosted exports of livestock, peas, 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 38.5% industry: 17.9% services: 43.6% (1993)

Labor force: 2.5 million wage earners (1982) by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%

Budget:
  revenues: $188 million
  expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $125
  million (1993 est.)

Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium mining

Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 200 million kWh consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports: $232 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: uranium ore 67%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions partners: France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy

Imports: $234 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: consumer goods, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals partners: France 23%, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, Italy, Japan

Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March

Airports:
  total: 23
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard,
National Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,920,244 males fit for military service: 1,035,218 males reach military age (18) annually: 92,132 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $32 million, 1.3% of GDP (FY92/93)

Location: 10 00 N, 8 00 E — Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of
Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between
Benin and Cameroon

Area:
  total area: 923,770 sq km
  land area: 910,770 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,047 km
  border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
  1,497 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 30 nm

International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in 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 in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the ICJ

Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north 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: 31%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 23%
  forest and woodland: 15%
  other: 28%

Environment:
  current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation;
  desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting
  marginal agricultural activities
  natural hazards: periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 23,455,266; female 23,245,099)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 27,645,106; female 26,553,135)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 1,522,862; female 1,491,021) (July 1996
  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: 1.02 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.34 years male: 53.06 years female: 55.65 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: non-Africans 27,000
  north: Hausa and Fulani
  note: Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibos together make up 65% of
  population
  southwest: Yoruba
  southeast: Ibos

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 57.1%
  male: 67.3%
  female: 47.3%

Name of country:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

Type of government: military government; Nigeria has been ruled by one military regime after another since 31 December 1983; on 1 October 1995, the present military government announced it will turn power over to democratically elected civilian authorities in October 1998

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
  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 - some new
  administrative units may have been created

Constitution: 1979 constitution still in force; plan for 1989
constitution to take effect in 1993 was not implemented

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Provisional
  Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and Defense
  Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November 1993); Vice Chairman of
  the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA (since 17 November 1993)
  cabinet: Federal Executive Council

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly
  Senate: suspended after military takeover of 17 November 1993
  House of Representatives: suspended after military takeover of 17
  November 1993

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Armed
  Forces 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: note: political party system suspended after the military takeover of 17 November 1993; the military regime has made successive promises to allow political parties to register at various times in 1996

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, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPEC,
  PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Walter C. CARRINGTON embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos telephone: [234] (1) 261-0097 FAX: [234] (1) 261-0257

Economic overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides almost all foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of budgetary revenues. Regime officials also appear divided on how to redress fundamental economic imbalances that result in troublesome inflation, the steady depreciation of the naira, and the discouragement of investors. The government's domestic and international arrears continue to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 22% services: 40% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 42.844 million by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%

Budget:
  revenues: $2.7 billion
  expenditures: $6.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
  billion (1994 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: capacity: 4,570,000 kW production: 11.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 109 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; fishing and forest resources extensively exploited

Illicit drugs: passenger and cargo air hub for West Africa; 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 West European, East Asian, and North American markets

Exports: $9.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: oil 98%, cocoa, rubber partners: US 52%, EC 34%

Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and animals partners: EC 50%, US 13%, Japan 7%

Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1 - 21.886 (January 1996), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994), 22.065 (1993), 17.298 (1992), 9.909 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 3,557 km (1995)
  narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
  standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 112,140 km
  paved: 31,500 km
  unpaved: 80,640 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and
smaller rivers and creeks

Merchant marine:
  total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 387,552 GRT/636,578 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 16, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 12,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 66
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 10
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8
  with paved runways under 914 m: 18
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and 20 domestic satellite earth stations carry intercity traffic international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 23,739,192 males fit for military service: 13,587,780 males reach military age (18) annually: 1,065,410 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $172 million, about 1% of GDP (1992)

Location: 19 02 S, 169 52 W — Oceania, island in the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

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

Area:
  total area: 260 sq km
  land area: 260 sq km
  comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Land use:
  arable land: 61%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 19%
  other: 12%

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
  natural hazards: typhoons
  international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Religions: Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Type of government: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs

Independence: 19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory
in free association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974)

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the UK since 6 February 1952)
  is a hereditary monarch; the queen and New Zealand are represented
  by New Zealand High Commissioner Warren SEARELL (since NA August
  1993)
  head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (acting premier
  since NA December 1992, premier since 12 March 1993) was reelected
  by the Legislative Assembly; election last held 23 February 1996
  (next to be held NA March 1999)
  cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (20 total, 6 elected) NPP 9, independents 11

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing territory in
free association with New Zealand)

US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in
free association with New Zealand)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to public employees. 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.

Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.) 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: capacity: 1,500 kW production: 2.7 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,490 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)
  commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit
  products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
  partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia

Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)
  commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery,
  fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
  partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Telephone system:
  domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
  island
  international: NA

Location: 29 02 S, 167 57 E — Oceania, island in the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

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

Area:
  total area: 34.6 sq km
  land area: 34.6 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 25%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 75%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian,
New Zealander

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

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; the queen and Australia are
  represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992)
  who was appointed by the governor general of Australia
  head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister John
  Terrence BROWN (since NA) was elected for not more than three years
  by the Legislative Assembly
  cabinet: Executive Council is made up of executive members of the
  Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held 20 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) independents 9

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY88/89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

Budget:
  revenues: $4.6 million
  expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY92/93)

Electricity: capacity: 7,000 kW production: 8 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,160 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92) commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92) commodities: NA partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Location: 15 12 N, 145 45 E — Oceania, islands in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the
Philippines

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

Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Area:
  total area: 477 sq km
  land area: 477 sq km
  comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Land use:
  arable land: 5% on Saipan
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: 19%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment:
  current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage
  contributes to disease
  natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons
  (especially August to November)
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.43 years male: 65.53 years female: 69.48 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 96%

Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

Type of government: commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the
Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

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 (of the United States) William Jefferson
  CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
  (since 20 January 1993)
  head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January
  1994) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994)
  were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; election
  last held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997);
  results - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) was elected governor with
  56% of the vote

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature Senate: elections last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans retained a majority of the seats House of Representatives: elections last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans retained a majority of the seats US House of Representatives: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats - (1 total) Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican)

Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court;
Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Benigno R.
FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO, chairman

Flag: 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

Economic 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. A rapidly growing major 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. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts, light manufacturing, and garment production.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

Labor force: 7,476 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers (1990) by occupation: NA

Budget:
  revenues: $190.4 million
  expenditures: $190.4 million, including capital expenditures of
  $19.1 million (FY94/95)

Electricity: capacity: 105,000 kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh

Imports: $392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.)
  commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum
  products
  partners: US, Japan

Airports:
  total: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Location: 62 00 N, 10 00 E — Northern Europe, bordering the North
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

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)

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Area:
  total area: 324,220 sq km
  land area: 307,860 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,515 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km

Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands
2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor
indentations 16,093 km)

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm

International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen
Maud Land); maritime boundary dispute with Russia over portion of
Barents Sea

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 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: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 27%
  other: 70%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and
  adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution
  from vehicle emissions
  natural hazards: NA
  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, 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 - Desertification, Law
  of the Sea

Geographic 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 and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 434,848; female 411,668)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 1,446,746; female 1,396,150)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 288,789; female 405,606) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.53 years male: 74.63 years female: 80.61 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country: 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) is a
  hereditary monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born
  20 July 1973)
  head of government: Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3
  November 1990) was appointed by the king with the approval of the
  Storting
  cabinet: State Council was appointed by the king with the approval
  of the Storting

Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament (Storting) which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers Storting: elections last held 13 September 1993 (next to be held NA September 1997); results - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%, Conservatives 15.6%, Christian People's 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%, Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats - (165 total) Labor 67, Center Party 32, Conservatives 18, Christian People's 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10 note: for certain purposes, the Storting divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or Lagting

Political parties and leaders: Labor Party, Thorbjorn JAGLAND;
  Conservative Party, Jan PETERSEN; Center Party, Anne ENGER
  LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Valgerd HAUGLAND; Socialist
  Left, Erik SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Kare Andre NILSEN; Progress
  Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Left Party; Red
  Electoral Alliance, Erling FOLKVORD

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
  Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
  MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA,
  UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE
  chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
  FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
  consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York,
  and San Francisco
  consulate(s): Miami

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: [47] 22 44 85 50 FAX: [47] 22 44 33 63

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Norway has a mixed economy involving 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 also 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 burdens in the world (46%). A small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil sector. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Economic growth, only 1.6% in 1993, moved up to 5.5% in 1994 and remained strong in 1995. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2.9% industry: 34.7% services: 62.4% (1991)

Labor force: 2.13 million by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 8% (including people in job-training programs;
November 1995)

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: capacity: 27,280,000 kW production: 118 billion kWh consumption per capita: 23,735 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: oats, other grains; beef, milk; livestock output exceeds value of crops; among world's top 10 fishing nations; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market

Exports: $34.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 43%, metals and products 11%, foodstuffs (mostly fish) 9%, chemicals and raw materials 25%, natural gas 6.0%, ships 5.4% partners: EU 77.8% (UK 20.8%, Germany 12.4%, France 8.12%), Sweden 9.4%, US 6.7%, Japan 1.9% (1994)

Imports: $27.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and equipment and manufactured consumer goods 54%, chemicals and other industrial inputs 39%, foodstuffs 6% partners: EU 68.9% (Germany 13.9%, UK 10.4%, Denmark 7.4%), Sweden 15%, US 7.4%, Japan 6.0% (1994)

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4160 (January 1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 4,027 km
  standard gauge: 4,027 km 1.435-m gauge (2422 km electrified; 96 km
  double track) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 88,922 km
  paved: 61,356 km (including 75 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 27,566 km (1990 est.)

Ports: Bergen, Drammen, Flora, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund,
Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso,
Trondheim

Merchant marine:
  total: 712 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,278,205
  GRT/32,209,679 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 114, cargo 98, chemical tanker 83, combination
  bulk 10, combination ore/oil 31, container 15, liquefied gas tanker
  87, oil tanker 148, passenger 10, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier
  1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea
  passenger 21, vehicle carrier 30
  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 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 102
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 12
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11
  with paved runways under 914 m: 60
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes Coast
Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,125,302 males fit for military service: 937,309 males reach military age (20) annually: 28,328 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.7 billion, 2.9% of GDP (1995)

Location: 21 00 N, 57 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Arabian
Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Description: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double 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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman,
and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Area:
  total area: 212,460 sq km
  land area: 212,460 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

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

International disputes: no defined boundary with most of UAE, but
Administrative Line in far north

Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;
strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and
  south
  lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
  highest point: Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m

Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble,
limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 93%

Environment:
  current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil
  spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
  natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust
  storms in interior; periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
  ratified - Hazardous Wastes

Geographic note: strategic location with small foothold on
Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit
point for world crude oil

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 511,664; female 493,369)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 609,423; female 513,042)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 26,623; female 32,427) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.53 years male: 68.59 years female: 72.57 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani,
Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Name of country: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman

Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqah, singular -
  mintaqat) and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad
  Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat,
  Musandam*, Zufar*

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister
  QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970) is a hereditary monarch;
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the sultan

Legislative branch: unicameral
Consultative Council (Majlis ash Shura): a 60-member body with
advisory powers only

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, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  NAM, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB
  chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1982
  FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Frances D. COOK embassy: address NA, Muscat mailing address: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Qaboos, Muscat telephone: [968] 698989 FAX: [968] 699779

Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double 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

Economic overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for nearly 90% of export earnings, about 75% of government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply 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.

Budget:
  revenues: $4.7 billion
  expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas
production, construction, cement, copper

Electricity: capacity: 1,540,000 kW production: 6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,407 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels,
cattle; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons

Exports: $4.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: petroleum 87%, reexports, fish, processed copper,
  textiles
  partners: Japan 35%, South Korea 15.8%, US 9%, China 8%, Thailand 5%
  (1994)

Imports: $4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
  goods, food, livestock, lubricants
  partners: UAE 27% (largely reexports), Japan 20%, UK 15%, US 5%,
  Germany 4% (1993)

Highways:
  total: 25,948 km
  paved: 4,930 km (including 413 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 21,018 km (1992 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 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 129
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 34
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 57
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 26 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 532,113 males fit for military service: 301,747 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.82 billion, 13.7% of GDP (1996)

Location: 0 00 N, 160 00 W — body of water between Antarctica,
Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Location: body of water between Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and
the Western Hemisphere

Area:
  total area: 165.384 million sq km
  comparative area: 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
  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

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 land mass 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 Marianas Trench, which is the world's deepest lowest point: Marianas 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

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
  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; occasional 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
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: the major choke points 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

Economic 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 1985 over half (54%) of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean, which is the only ocean where the fish catch has increased every year since 1978. 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.

Ports: 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)

Telephone system:
international: several submarine cables with network nodal points on
Guam and Hawaii

Location: 30 00 N, 70 00 E — Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian
Sea, between India and Iran

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

Area:
  total area: 803,940 sq km
  land area: 778,720 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
  total: 6,774 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
  km, Iran 909 km

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

International disputes: status of Kashmir with India; border dispute with Afghanistan (Durand Line); water-sharing problems over the Indus (Wular Barrage) with upstream riparian India

Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west 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: 23%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 4%
  other: 67% (1993)

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
  natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe
  especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy
  rains (July and August)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
  signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Life Conservation

Geographic note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional
invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42% (male 28,286,823; female 26,640,019)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 35,396,281; female 33,733,798)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 2,621,721; female 2,597,018) (July 1996
  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: 1.01 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.46 years male: 57.7 years female: 59.25 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 37.8%
  male: 50%
  female: 24.4%

Name of country:
  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 stature 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 Sardar Farooq LEGHARI (since 13 November
  1993) was elected for a five-year term by Parliament; election last
  held 13 November 1993 (next to be held no later than 14 October
  1998); results - LEGHARI was elected by Parliament and the four
  provincial assemblies
  head of government: Prime Minister Benazir BHUTTO (since 19 October
  1993) was elected by the National Assembly
  cabinet: Cabinet was elected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora)
  Senate: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA March
  1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (87 total) PPP
  22, PML/N 17; Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8, ANP 6, PML/J
  5, JWP 5, MQM/A 5, JUI/F 2, PKMAP 2, JI 2, NPP 2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M 1,
  JUP/NI 1, JUP/NO 1, JAH 1, JUI/S 1, PML/F 1, PNP 1, independents 2,
  vacant 1
  National Assembly: elections last held 6 October 1993 (next to be
  held by October 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (217 total) PPP 92, PML/N 75, PML/J 6, IJM-Islamic Democratic
  Front 4, ANP 3, PKMAP 4, PIF 3, JWP 2, MDM 2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M 1, NDA
  1, NPP 1, PKQP 1, religious minorities 10 reserved seats,
  independents 9, results pending 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by
the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court

Political parties and leaders:
  government: Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; Pakistan
  Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J), Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; National
  People's Party (NPP), Ghulam Mustapha JATOI; Pakhtun Khwa Milli
  Awami Party (PKMAP), Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI; Balochistan National
  Movement, Hayee Group (BNM/H), Dr. HAYEE Baluch; National Democratic
  Alliance (NDA); Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khan
  opposition: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N),
  Nawaz SHARIF; Awami National Party (ANP), Ajmal Khan KHATTAK;
  Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF); Balochistan National Movement, Mengal
  Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL; Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf
  faction (MQM/A), Altaf HUSSAIN; Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH); Jamhoori
  Watan Party (JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI
  frequently shifting: Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana
  Sami-ul-HAQ, the MDM includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction
  (JUP/NI) and Anjuman Sepah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (ASSP);
  Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-Islamic Democratic Front) includes Jamiat
  Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F); Pakistan Muslim League,
  Functional Group (PML/F), Pir PAGARO; Pakistan National Party (PNP);
  Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC) is an umbrella organization which
  includes Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain AHMED, Jamiat
  Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S), Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan
  (TJP), Allama Sajid NAQVI, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani
  faction (JUP/NO)
  note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Other political or pressure groups: 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
  PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maleeha LODHI chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6200 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas SIMONS, Jr. embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 6220, APO AE 09812-2200 telephone: [92] (51) 826161 through 826179 FAX: [92] (51) 214222 consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore consulate(s): Peshawar

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Pakistan is a poor, highly populated Third World country struggling to make the difficult transition to the modern world of high technology and internationalized markets. Prime Minister Benazir BHUTTO has been under pressure from the IMF and other donors to continue the economic reforms and austerity measures begun by her predecessor, caretaker Prime Minister Moeen QURESHI (July-October 1993). The IMF suspended a $1.5 billion Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) in mid-1995 because Pakistan slowed the pace of economic reform. Islamabad's most recent budget - announced in June 1995 - reversed some reforms agreed to by the IMF earlier that year, including a slowing of tariff reform. In mid-December 1995, however, the IMF approved a $600 million standby arrangement and urged Pakistan to move forward with economic liberalization. Islamabad has agreed to new economic targets with the IMF, which could lay the basis for a return to an ESAF in 1996. Little progress was made in the privatization of large state-owned units in 1995. The sale of the power plant Kot Addu - scheduled for April 1995 - was stalled by opposition from labor unions. The sale of a 26% share of United Bank Limited and the Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation to strategic investors was due to take place in 1995 but has been pushed back to 1996. On the plus side real GDP grew 4.7% in 1995, up from 3.9% in 1994: GDP should grow even faster in 1996 as a result of an above average cotton crop. Secondly, Islamabad reduced the budget deficit to 5.6% of GDP at the end of FY94/95, down from 8% two years earlier. Thirdly, Pakistan attracted $1.6 billion in foreign direct and portfolio investment in FY94/95, more than double inflows of $650 million in the previous fiscal year; financial agreements were reached on five power projects in 1995, including the 1,300-MW $1.8 billion Hab River project. Despite these improvements, the economy remains vulnerable to crisis. Foreign exchange reserves fell dramatically in 1995, reaching a low of about $1 billion in early December 1995 - only five weeks of import cover - before rising to $1.5 billion by yearend. The trade deficit rose to $2 billion for the first six months of FY94/95, triple the deficit of $600 million during the same period in FY93/94. The government responded to this situation with a package of stabilization reforms on 28 October 1995 which included a 7% devaluation of the rupee, supplementary duties of 10% on many imports, and higher petroleum prices. Islamabad hopes these moves will help make its exports more competitive. For the long run, Pakistan must deal with serious problems of deteriorating infrastructure, low literacy levels, and persistent law and order problems in Karachi.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 27% services: 49% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 36 million by occupation: agriculture 46%, mining and manufacturing 18%, services 17%, other 19% note: extensive export of labor

Budget:
  revenues: $11.9 billion
  expenditures: $12.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp

Electricity:
  capacity: 12,530,000 kW (1995)
  production: 43.3 billion kWh (1995)
  consumption per capita: 389 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
milk, beef, mutton, eggs

Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade; remains world's fourth largest opium producer (155 metric tons in 1995); major center for processing Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western market

Exports: $8.7 billion (1995 est.) commodities: cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets partners: US, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, UAE, France

Imports: $10.7 billion (1995 est.) commodities: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals partners: Japan, US, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Korea

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $697 million (1993)
  note: $2.5 billion (includes bilateral and multilateral aid but no
  US commitments) (FY93/94); $3 billion (includes bilateral and
  multilateral aid but no US commitments) (FY94/95)

Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 34.339 (January 1996), 31.643 (1995), 30.567 (1994), 28.107 (1993), 25.083 (1992), 23.801 (1991)

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; 661 km less than 1.000-m gauge
  (1995 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas 4,044 km (1987)

Merchant marine:
  total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 345,606 GRT/560,641 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 19, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 100
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 12
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 19
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 25
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11
  with paved runways under 914 m: 18
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: the domestic system is mediocre, but 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; despite major
  improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services
  are still not readily available to the major portion of the
  population
  domestic: microwave radio relay
  international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
  Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); microwave radio relay to neighboring
  countries

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 30,519,339 males fit for military service: 18,720,175 males reach military age (17) annually: 1,437,208 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.1 billion, 5.3% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 7 30 N, 134 30 E — Oceania, group of islands in the
North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the
moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,
southeast of the Philippines

Area:
  total area: 458 sq km
  land area: 458 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of
  Washington, DC

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
  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%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest 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 and
  illegal fishing practices that involve the use of dynamite
  natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.01 years male: 69.14 years female: 73.02 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 92%
  male: 93%
  female: 90%

Name of country: 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

Type of government: 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 in eastern
Babelthuap

Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative
  divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states:
  Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard,
  Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal,
  Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi

Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA
  (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr.
  (since 1 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by popular
  vote; election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA
  November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG
  49.3%
  cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or
  OEK)
  Senate: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA
  November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14
  total) number of seats by party NA
  House of Delegates: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be
  held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (16 total) number of seats by party NA

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim
  Isaac Ngewakl SOALADAOB
  chancery: 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
  FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard G.
  WATKINS
  embassy: address NA, Koror
  mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
  telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
  FAX: [680] 488-2911

Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon)
shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economic 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, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of $5,000, 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 rapidly rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries. Reducing budgeted operating expenditures - which have increased 56% from 1989 to 1993 - will be the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

Budget:
  revenues: $17 million
  expenditures: $57 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some
commercial fishing and agriculture

Electricity: capacity: 16,000 kW production: 22 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,540 kWh (1990)

Exports: $600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
partners: US, Japan

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: the compact of "free association" with the US, entered into
  after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides
  Palau with $500 million in US aid over 15 years in return for
  furnishing military facilities

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Location: 5 52 N, 162 06 W — Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Area:
  total area: 11.9 sq km
  land area: 11.9 sq km
  comparative area: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
  DC

Terrain: very low lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 100%
  other: 0%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Geographic note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation,
coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Type of government: incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World
War II are unserviceable and overgrown

Airports: airstrip has been overgrown by vegetation and is no
longer serviceable

Location: 9 00 N, 80 00 W — Middle America, bordering both the
Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and
Costa Rica

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

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Area:
  total area: 78,200 sq km
  land area: 75,990 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Land use:
  arable land: 6%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 15%
  forest and woodland: 54%
  other: 23%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens
  fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land
  degradation
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic 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: 33% (male 445,382; female 426,111)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 828,384; female 806,205)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 71,823; female 77,189) (July 1996 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.92 years male: 71.19 years female: 76.75 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 90.8%
  male: 91.4%
  female: 90.2%

Name of country:
  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 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui,
  Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*,
  Veraguas

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 and head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ
  BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994), First Vice
  President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994),
  Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1
  September 1994) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote;
  election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results
  - Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA)
  29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): legislators from
  outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while
  districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple
  legislators by means of a proportion-based formula; elections last
  held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14,
  MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1

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 parties and leaders:
  governing coalition: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo
  GONZALEZ; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor
  Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA
  other parties: Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO;
  Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Delia CARDENAS;
  Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party
  (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC),
  Ruben AROSEMENA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa
  Egoro Movement (MPE), Gloria YOUNG; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas
  HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES;
  Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jacinto CARDENAS; National
  Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO

Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Organized
  Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP);
  Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National
  Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists
  Society (SIP); Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama (CTRP)

International organization participation: AG (associate), 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, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo Alberto ARIAS
  chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
  York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William John HUGHES
  embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
  mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
  telephone: [507] 227-1377
  FAX: [507] 227-1964

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The manufacturing and agriculture sectors have become inefficient under protectionist policies. After fast growth during the early 1990s, the economy has slowed down in the last two years, with GDP growth at 2.8% in 1994 and in 1995. The slowdown has been due mostly to a reduction in construction activities and stagnation in the Colon Free Zone and financial services, the three fastest growing sectors early in the decade. To counter the slowdown, the PEREZ BALLADARES administration has launched an economic reform program designed to reverse unemployment, attract foreign investment, cut back the size of government, and modernize the economy. In 1995, Panama reached an agreement in principle to reschedule its commercial debt - one of the highest in the world in per capita terms - which will allow the country to reenter international financial markets. Panama should complete all requirements to join the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1996.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 16% services: 74% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 979,000 (1994 est.) 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% note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Budget:
  revenues: $1.86 billion
  expenditures: $1.86 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Industries: construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and
other construction materials, sugar milling

Electricity: capacity: 960,000 kW production: 2.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,047 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; fishing (shrimp)

Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major drug money laundering center; minor producer of coca leaf; active eradication program

Exports: $548 million (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee
  2%
  partners: US 39%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

Imports: $2.45 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%,
  consumer goods, chemicals
  partners: US 40%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

Railways:
  total: 355 km
  broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge

Merchant marine:
  total: 3,758 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 69,960,500
  GRT/107,632,713 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 902, cargo 1,050, chemical tanker 168,
  combination bulk 40, combination ore/oil 19, container 307,
  liquefied gas tanker 155, livestock carrier 7, multifunction
  large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 488, passenger 31, passenger-cargo
  5, refrigerated cargo 295, roll-on/roll-off cargo 93, short-sea
  passenger 34, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 150
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 83
  countries among which are Japan 1,212, Greece 360, Hong Kong 263,
  Taiwan 203, South Korea 198, US 160, China 152, Singapore 118, UK
  79, Switzerland 67, and Norway 58 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 99
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14
  with paved runways under 914 m: 60
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 18 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National
Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and
Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 705,427
males fit for military service: 484,571 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $78 million, NA%
of GDP (1995); note - for police and security forces

Location: 6 00 S, 147 00 E — 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

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

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

Area:
  total area: 461,690 sq km
  land area: 451,710 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than California

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

Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling
  foothills
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 71%
  other: 28%

Environment:
  current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of
  growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
  projects
  natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim
  of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
  earthquakes; mud slides
  international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one
of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 906,709; female 860,534)
  15-64 years: 57% (male 1,303,084; female 1,195,245)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 59,513; female 69,452) (July 1996 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.25 years male: 56.4 years female: 58.15 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 72.2%
  male: 81%
  female: 62.7%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
  conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
  abbreviation: PNG

Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern
  Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus,
  Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North
  Solomons, 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) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Wiwa KOROWI
  (since 11 November 1991), who was appointed by the National
  Executive Council
  head of government: Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since 30 August
  1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September
  1994) were appointed by the governor general
  cabinet: National Executive Council was appointed by the governor
  general on recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (sometimes referred to as the House of A: elections last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is fluid

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission

Political parties and leaders: Papua New Guinea United Party
  (Pangu Party), Chris HAIVETA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM),
  Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka DOI; People's
  Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP), Paul
  TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Party (NP), Paul
  PORA; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS

International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, C, CP,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kepas Isimel WATANGIA
  chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
  20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
  FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. TEARE
  embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
  telephone: [675] 321-1455
  FAX: [675] 321-3423

Flag: 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

Economic 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 an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mining of numerous deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% 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. PNG will receive loans totaling $350 million over the next two years from a variety of lenders including the Fund, the Bank, the Australian Government, and the Japanese Export-Import Bank. The loans will be provided only if Port Moresby implements significant reforms to liberalize trade and investment policies, reduce the public sector, and promote sustainable development of the forestry sector. At the start of 1996, Port Moresby is looking primarily to the exploitation of mineral and petroleum resources to drive economic development but new prospecting in Papua New Guinea has slumped as other mineral-rich countries have stepped up their competition for international investment. Output from current projects will probably begin to taper off in 1996, but no new large ventures are being developed to succeed them.

Budget:
  revenues: $1.86 billion
  expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; construction, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 490,000 kW production: 1.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 390 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber,
sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork

Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa,
  lobster
  partners: Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
  food, fuels, chemicals
  partners: Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands

Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7552 (October 1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992), 1.0504 (1991); note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Merchant marine:
  total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,565 GRT/27,114 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1,
  roll-on/roll-off 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 451
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 12
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 371
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 11
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 51 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force, and Special Operations Unit)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,143,015 males fit for military service: 635,923 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 0.9% of GDP (1995)

Location: 16 30 N, 112 00 E — 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

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

Terrain: NA
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons international agreements: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered
Chinese garrisons

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Ports: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan
Island being expanded

Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (on Woody Island) (1995 est.)

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)

Area:
  total area: 406,750 sq km
  land area: 397,300 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries: total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

International disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined

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 lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 39%
  forest and woodland: 35%
  other: 5%

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
  natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
  June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
  but not ratified - Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Wetlands

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41% (male 1,144,644; female 1,096,430)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 1,518,661; female 1,513,577)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 106,121; female 124,713) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.84 years male: 72.33 years female: 75.43 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, whites
plus Amerindians 5%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 92.1%
  male: 93.5%
  female: 90.6%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
  conventional short form: Paraguay
  local long form: Republica del Paraguay
  local short form: Paraguay

Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular
  - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, 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 and head of government: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY
  (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART
  (since 15 August 1993) were elected for five-year terms by popular
  vote; election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998);
  results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%,
  Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8 Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Colorado Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9

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 parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA,
  president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO;
  National Encounter (EN), Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS; Christian
  Democratic Party (PDC), Miguel MONTANER; Febrerista Revolutionary
  Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo
  RICHER

Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers
(CUT); Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge PRIETO CONTI
  chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
  FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
  consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Robert E. SERVICE
  embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
  mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
  telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
  FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The formal economy is largely oriented toward services, but 45% of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The economy has grown an average of 3% to 4% over the past five years. Population has increased at 3% a year over the same period leaving per capita income nearly stagnant. The informal sector is marked by both reexport of imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as by the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. The Paraguayan Government has stated publicly that it will continue its economic reform agenda in close coordination with its Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) partners. In 1995, the government also promised to undertake efforts to formalize the financial sector, after a financial shock forced the bail-out of the second and third largest banks. Paraguay's continued integration into Mercosur also offers potential for growth; it is closely linked with the success of foreign investment promotion. Non-traditional exports, such as finished agricultural products, light manufactures, and small consumer items, are growing rapidly. Government reform efforts, including privatization, have continued, but with little success in 1995.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 25.7% industry: 25.8% services: 48.5% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.25 billion (1995 est.)
  expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

Electricity:
  capacity: 6,530,000 kW
  production: 26.5 billion kWh (1992)
  consumption per capita: NA
  note: much of the electricity produced in Paraguay is exported to
  Brazil and domestic consumption cannot be determined

Agriculture: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco,
cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for
Europe and the US

Exports: $819.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat
  products, coffee, tung oil
  partners: EU 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%

Imports: $2.871 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
  commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw
  materials, fuels
  partners: Brazil 30%, EU 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%

Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 2,003.8 (January 1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 1,325.2 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 971 km
  standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
  other: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)

Merchant marine:
total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,323 GRT/23,907 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 739
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 438
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 25
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 266 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching
  center is Asuncion
  domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,334,638 males fit for military service: 968,297 males reach military age (17) annually: 58,398 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $94 million, 0.6% of GDP (1994)

Location: 10 00 S, 76 00 W — Western South America, bordering the
South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

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

Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific
Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Area:
  total area: 1,285,220 sq km
  land area: 1.28 million sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska

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

International disputes: three sections of the boundary with
Ecuador are in dispute

Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva) 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%
  meadows and pastures: 21%
  forest and woodland: 55%
  other: 21%

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
  natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild
  volcanic activity
  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

Geographic note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake, with Bolivia

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 4,360,379; female 4,214,970)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 7,480,747; female 7,375,825)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 497,775; female 593,712) (July 1996 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.13 years male: 66.97 years female: 71.39 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 88.7%
  male: 94.5%
  female: 83%

Name of country: 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 and head of government: President Alberto Kenyo
  FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990) was elected for a five-year
  term by universal suffrage; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to
  be held NA 2000); results - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de
  CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
  note: Prime Minister Alberto PANDOLFI Arbulu (since 3 April 1996)
  does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
  president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Congress: elections last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April
  2000); results - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, 11 other parties 33.9%;
  seats - (120 total, when installed on 28 July 1995) C90/NM 67, UPP
  17, APRA 8, FIM 6, (CODE)-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovacion 3,
  IU 2, OBRAS 2, MIA 1, FRENATRACA 1, FREPAP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the
Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: Change 90-New Majority (C90/NM),
  Alberto FUJIMORI; Union for Peru (UPP), Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR;
  American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Agustin MANTILLA
  Campos; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega;
  Democratic Coordinator (CODE) - Pais Posible, Jose BARBA Caballero
  and Alejandro TOLEDO; Popular Action Party (AP), Raul DIEZ CANSECO;
  Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Renovacion, Rafael
  REY Rey; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS), Ricardo BELMONT; United Left
  (IU), Agustin HAYA de la TORRE; Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA),
  Rolando SALVATERRIE; Peru 2000-National Front of Workers and
  Peasants (FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES; Popular Agricultural Front
  (FREPAP), Ezequiel ATAUCUSI

Other political or pressure groups: leftist guerrilla groups
  include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned); Tupac
  Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and Victor POLAY
  (imprisoned)

International organization participation: AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
  G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
  ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA MENDOZA
  chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
  FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
  York, Paterson (New Jersey), and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr.
  embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
  APO AA 34031
  telephone: [51] (12) 21-1202
  FAX: [51] (12) 21-3543

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. In the 1980s, the economy suffered from hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from multilateral lenders in September 1991, although it faced $14 billion in arrears on its external debt. 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 6% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995.

Labor force: 8 million (1992) by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services

Budget:
  revenues: $8.5 billion
  expenditures: $9.3 billion including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication

Electricity: capacity: 4,190,000 kW production: 11.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 448 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, red meats, dairy products, wool; fish catch of 6.9 million metric tons (1990)

Illicit drugs: world's largest coca leaf producer with about 115,300 hectares under cultivation in 1995; source of supply for most of the world's coca paste and cocaine base; at least 85% of coca cultivation is for illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing

Exports: $5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts,
  lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton
  partners: US 19%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany

Imports: $7.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum,
  iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
  partners: US 21%, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil

Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.350 (January 1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994), 1.988 (1993), 1.246 (1992), 0.773 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 2,041 km
  standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 315 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
  total: 69,942 km
  paved: 13,538 km
  unpaved: 56,404 km (1987 est.)

Waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and
208 km of Lago Titicaca

Ports: 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: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 77,584 GRT/144,030 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 7 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 230
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 12
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
  with paved runways under 914 m: 96
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 71 (1995 est.)

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)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 6,441,513 males fit for military service: 4,347,460 males reach military age (20) annually: 255,067 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $998 million, 1.6% of GDP (1996)

Location: 13 00 N, 122 00 E — Southeastern Asia, archipelago
between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine
Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Area:
  total area: 300,000 sq km
  land area: 298,170 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona

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

International disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah

Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October)

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands 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: 26%
  permanent crops: 11%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 40%
  other: 19%

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
  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
  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, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Tropical
  Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38% (male 14,486,214; female 14,026,873)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 21,403,784; female 21,968,259)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 1,165,810; female 1,429,908) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.91 years male: 63.14 years female: 68.83 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese
1.5%, other 3%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 94.6%
  male: 95%
  female: 94.3%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS
  (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA
  (since 30 June 1992) were elected for six-year terms by popular
  vote; election last held 11 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1998);
  results - Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of the vote, a narrow
  plurality
  cabinet: Executive Secretary was appointed by the president with the
  consent of the Commission of Appointments

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Kongreso) Senate (Senado): elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (24 total) LDP 14, Lakas/NUCD 5, NPC 2, LP 1, PRP 1, independent 1 House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan): elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (204 total) Lakas/NUCD 129, LDP 29, NPC (opposition) 25, LP 6, PDP 3, KBL/NPC 1, results pending 11

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, LDP), Edgardo ANGARA; People Power-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng EDSA-NUCD or Lakas-NUCD); Raul MANGLAPUS, president and Jose DE VENECIA, secretary general; Liberal Party (LP), Raul DAZA; National People's Coalition (NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO; People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; New Society Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan, KBL), Imelda MARCOS; Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president; Filipino Democratic Party (Partido Demokratikong Philipinas or PDP), Jose COJUANGCO, is part of the ruling coalition with the LDP

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
  CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNMIH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 mailing address: APO AP 96440 telephone: [63] (2) 521-71-16 FAX: [63] (2) 522-43-61

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Philippine economy, primarily a mixture of agriculture and light industry, continued its third year of recovery in 1995, led by growth in exports and investments. Officials have targeted 5%-6% growth for 1996 after achieving 4.8% growth in 1995. The government is continuing its economic reforms to enable the Philippines to move closer to the development of the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure and plans to overhaul the tax system to bolster government revenues.

Labor force: 24.12 million by occupation: agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services 18.5%, government 10%, other 9.5% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $14.1 billion
  expenditures: $13.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products,
food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing

Electricity: capacity: 6,770,000 kW production: 20.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 278 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; growers are producing more and better quality cannabis despite government eradication efforts; transit point for Southwest Asian and Golden Triangle heroin bound for the US

Exports: $17.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: electronics, textiles, coconut products, copper, fish partners: US 39%, Japan 15%, Germany 5%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 5% (1994)

Imports: $26.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum
  products 10%
  partners: Japan 24%, US 18%, Singapore 7%, Taiwan 6%, South Korea 5%
  (1994)

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 26.206 (December 1995), 25.714 (1995), 26.417 (1994), 27.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991)

Ports: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island,
Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San
Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Merchant marine:
  total: 535 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,033,849
  GRT/13,101,188 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 230, cargo 126, chemical tanker 3, combination
  bulk 11, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 9, livestock carrier 12,
  oil tanker 44, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 12, refrigerated cargo
  19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 18, vehicle
  carrier 25
  note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 22 ships, Hong Kong
  4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Denmark 1, and UK 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 235
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 25
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31
  with paved runways under 914 m: 104
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 63 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 18,722,509 males fit for military service: 13,221,513 males reach military age (20) annually: 767,056 (1996 est.)

Location: 25 04 S, 130 06 W — Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand

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

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

Area:
  total area: 47 sq km
  land area: 47 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest 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)
  natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Name of country:
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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by UK High
  Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the
  Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994);
  Commissioner (non-resident) 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); the island magistrate is elected
  every three years

Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council: elections take place each December; election last held NA December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) all independents

Judicial branch: Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years

Flag: 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

Economic 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.

Labor force: 14 able-bodied men (1993) by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Budget:
  revenues: $588,000
  expenditures: $583,000, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993/94 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 110 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)

Imports: $NA
  commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar,
  other foodstuffs
  partners: NA

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone

Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Area:
  total area: 312,683 sq km
  land area: 304,510 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,888 km
  border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
  km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
  444 km, Ukraine 428 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters
with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers

Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Land use:
  arable land: 48%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 13%
  forest and woodland: 29%
  other: 10% (1992)

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
  Law of the Sea

Geographic 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: 22% (male 4,399,649; female 4,188,824)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 12,754,272; female 12,930,275)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 1,654,526; female 2,715,019) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.1 years male: 68.02 years female: 76.41 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 98%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Poland
  conventional short form: Poland
  local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
  local short form: Polska

Administrative divisions: 49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular -
  wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz,
  Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora,
  Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica,
  Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka,
  Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce,
  Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg,
  Tarnow, Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc,
  Zielona Gora

Constitution: interim "small constitution" came into effect in
December 1992 replacing the communist-imposed constitution of 22
July 1952; new democratic constitution being drafted

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December
  1995) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election
  first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19 November 1995
  (next to be held NA November 2000); results - second round
  Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%
  head of government: Prime Minister Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ (since 7
  February 1996), Deputy Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI (since NA),
  Grzegorz KOLODKO (since NA), and Miroslaw PIETRIEWICZ (since NA)
  were appointed by the Sejm
  cabinet: Council of Ministers is responsible to the president and
  the Sejm; the prime minister appointed and the Sejm approved the
  Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie
  Narodowe) post-communist parties (PSL 34, SLD 37), post-Solidarity
  parties (UW 6, NSZZ 12, BBWR 2), non-communist, non-Solidarity
  (independents 7, unaffiliated 1, vacant 1) post-communist parties
  (SLD 171, PSL 132), post-Solidarity parties (UW 74, UP 41, BBWR 16),
  non-communist, non-Solidarity (KPN 22)
  note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German
  parties
  Sejm: elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no
  later than 19 September 1997); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (460 total)
  Senate (Senat): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be
  held no later than 19 September 1997); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (100 total)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the National Council of Judiciary

Political parties and leaders:
  post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) (Social Democracy of
  Poland), Jozef OLEKSY; Polish Peasant Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK
  post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union (UW; Democratic Union and
  Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union), Leszek
  BALCEROWICZ; Christian-National Union (ZCHN), Marian PILKA; Center
  Alliance Party (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Peasant Alliance (PL),
  Gabriel JANOWSKI; Solidarity Caucus (NSZZ), Marian KRZAKLEWSKI;
  Union of Labor (UP), Ryszard BUGAJ; Christian-Democratic Party
  (PCHD), Pawel LACZKOWSKI; Conservative Party, Aleksander HALL;
  Nonparty Reform Bloc (BBWR)
  non-Communist non-Solidarity: Confederation for an Independent
  Poland (KPN), Leszek MOCZULSKI; German Minority (MN), Georg PORYLKA;
  Union of Real Politics (UPR), Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE; Democratic Party
  (SD), Antoni MACKIEWICZ

Other political or pressure groups: powerful Roman Catholic
Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance
(OPZZ), trade union

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU
  (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
  UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
  UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate
  partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REY
  embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw
  mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, Unit 1340, APO AE
  09213-1340
  telephone: [48] (2) 628-30-41
  FAX: [48] (2) 628-82-98
  consulate(s) general: Krakow

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar
to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Economic overview: In 1995, Poland continued to make good progress in the difficult transition to a market economy that began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted "shock therapy" by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import barriers. Although real GDP fell sharply in 1990 and 1991, in 1992 Poland became the first country in the region to resume economic growth with a 2.6% increase. Growth advanced to 3.8% in 1993, 5.2% in 1994, and 6.5% in 1995. Most of the growth since 1991 had come from the booming private sector, which now accounts for about 60% of GDP, due in large part to the creation of new private firms. The slow pace of privatization picked up somewhat in 1995, as 512 smaller state enterprises were transferred to private National Investment Funds under the Mass Privatization Program, but large-scale industry remains largely in state hands. Industrial production increased 10.2% in 1995, following a 13.2% rise in 1994, yet remains about 13% below the 1989 level. Inflation, which had approached 1,200% annually in early 1990, fell to 21.6% in December 1995, as the government held the 1995 budget deficit to less than 3% of GDP. After peaking at 16.9% in July 1994, unemployment gradually fell to 14.9% in December 1995 - although the rate still approaches 30% in some regions. The trade and current account balances officially are in deficit but in fact both have comfortable surpluses because of large, unrecorded sales to cross-border visitors. Prospects for 1996 are good, with the government promising to push privatization and social welfare reform. Economic growth should remain above 5%, with inflation dropping below 20% by yearend 1996 and unemployment continuing its slow decline. As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced by reschedulings and write-offs of both private and official debt during 1991-94.

Labor force: 17.743 million (1994 annual average) by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other 25.7% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $34.5 billion
  expenditures: $37.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining,
chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Electricity: capacity: 31,120,000 kW production: 133.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,000 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: potatoes, milk, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry and eggs; pork, beef

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium for domestic consumption and amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe; producer of precursor chemicals

Exports: $22.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: intermediate goods 27.5%, machinery and transport
  equipment 19.8%, miscellaneous manufactures 20.5%, foodstuffs 11.6%,
  fuels 9.1% (1994)
  partners: Germany 35.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, Russia 5.4%, Italy 4.9%
  (1994)

Imports: $23.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment 28.9%, intermediate
  goods 20.2%, chemicals 14.7%, fuels 10.4%, miscellaneous
  manufactures 9.9%
  partners: Germany 27.5%, Italy 8.4%, Russia 6.8%, UK 5.3% (1994)

Economic aid:
  recipient: Western governments and institutions pledged $22 billion
  in grants and loans during 1990-94, but much of the money has not
  been disbursed

Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.55 (January 1996) 2.4250 (1995); note - a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992), 10,576 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 25,166 km
  broad gauge: 656 km 1.520-m gauge
  standard gauge: 22,655 km 1.435-m gauge (11,496 km electrified;
  8,978 km double track)
  narrow gauge: 1,855 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,
  0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1995)

Highways:
  total: 367,000 km (excluding farm, factory, and forest roads)
  paved: 235,247 km (including 257 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 131,753 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural
gas 4,600 km (1992)

Ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie,
Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw

Merchant marine:
  total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,491
  GRT/3,167,660 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 73, cargo 36, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
  oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea
  passenger 5
  note: Poland owns an additional 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 179,913 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas,
  Liberia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Vanuatu, and Cyprus (1995
  est.)

Airports:
  total: 134
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 30
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 27
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 18 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million phones in service by the year 2000 domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,267,551 males fit for military service: 7,994,460 males reach military age (19) annually: 324,960 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 2.4% of GDP (1995)

Location: 39 30 N, 8 00 W — Southwestern Europe, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

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

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
west of Spain

Area:
  total area: 92,080 sq km
  land area: 91,640 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
  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

International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor
Province) disputed with Indonesia and not recognized by the UN

Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Ponta do Pico in Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore,
uranium ore, marble

Land use:
  arable land: 32%
  permanent crops: 6%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 40%
  other: 16%

Environment:
  current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and
  vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
  natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
  Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification,
  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic
locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18% (male 888,157; female 843,309)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 3,249,973; female 3,414,793)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 601,913; female 866,969) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.92 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.31 years male: 71.52 years female: 79.31 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland,
Azores, Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who
immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 85%
  male: 89%
  female: 82%

Name of country:
  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

Dependent areas: Macau (scheduled to become a Special
Administrative Region of China on 20 December 1999)

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) was
  elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 2001); results -
  Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Conservative)
  46.2%
  head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera
  GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995) was appointed by the president
  following the October 1995 legislative elections
  Council of State: acts as a consultative body to the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
  recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica): elections last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held NA October 1999); results - PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU 8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats - (230 total) PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal de Justica),
judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (PSD),
  Marcelo Rebelo DE SOUSA; Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), Antonio
  GUTERRES; Party of Democratic Renewal (PRD), Pedro CANAVARRO;
  Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Carlos CARVALHAS; Social
  Democratic Center (CDS), Manuel MONTEIRO; National Solidarity Party
  (PSN), Manuel SERGIO; Center Democratic Party (CDS); United
  Democratic Coalition (CDU; communists)

International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
  BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EU, FAO, 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, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
  OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO,
  ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN
  GUIMARAES
  chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
  FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
  consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San
  Francisco
  consulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence
  (Rhode Island)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726 telephone: [351] (1) 7266600, 7266659, 7268670, 7268880 FAX: [351] (1) 7269109 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line

Economic overview: Portugal's short-term economic fundamentals are strong - the economy grew by 2.8% in 1995, with similar growth expected in 1996 and 1997, and unemployment is among the lowest in the EU. The Socialist government has pledged its dedication both to meeting the Maastricht monetary convergence criteria and to increasing social spending, including provision of a guaranteed minimum income. The government's 1996 budget, passed in March 1996, includes a budget deficit target of 4.2%, to be attained largely through cuts in non-social-service government spending and income from an ambitious privatization program. As for the long run, Portugal hopes for a steady modernization of its capital plant, its work force, and its infrastructure in order to catch up with the productivity and income levels of the Big Four economies of Western Europe.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 35.8% services: 58.2% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 4.24 million (1994 est.) by occupation: services 54.5%, manufacturing 24.4%, agriculture, forestry, fisheries 11.2%, construction 8.3%, utilities 1.0%, mining 0.5% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $31 billion
  expenditures: $41 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994)

Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork;
metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism

Electricity: capacity: 8,220,000 kW production: 29.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,642 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, meat, dairy products

Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe

Exports: $18.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, cork and paper
  products, hides
  partners: EU 75.1%, other developed countries 12.4% (US 5.2%) (1995)

Imports: $24.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, petroleum, textiles partners: EU 71%, other developed countries 10.9% (US 2.5%), less developed countries 12.9% (1995)

Economic aid: donor: ODA, $248 million (1993) recipient: ODA, $70 million (1993)

Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 151.61 (January 1996), 149.97 (1995), 165.99 (1994), 160.80 (1993), 135.00 (1992), 144.48 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 3,068 km
  broad gauge: 2,761 km 1.668-m gauge (464 km electrified; 426 km
  double track)
  narrow gauge: 307 km 1.000-m gauge
  note: in 1992, Portugal had 3,588 km of track of which 464 km were
  electrified

Highways:
  total: 70,176 km (statistics for continental Portugal only)
  paved: 60,351 km (including 519 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 9,825 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo capacity

Ports: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes,
Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores),
Setubal, Viana do Castelo

Merchant marine:
  total: 72 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 795,725 GRT/1,418,538
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 35, chemical tanker 5, container 5,
  liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 12, passenger-cargo 1,
  refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1
  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;
  Portugal owns an additional 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
  155,776 DWT operating under the registries of Panama and Malta (1995
  est.)

Airports:
  total: 67
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 18
  with paved runways under 914 m: 30
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National
Republican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,498,965 males fit for military service: 2,014,653 males reach military age (20) annually: 83,427 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.9 billion, 2.4% of GDP (1995)

Location: 18 15 N, 66 30 W — Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican
Republic

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

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Area:
  total area: 9,104 sq km
  land area: 8,959 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode
  Island

Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north;
  mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most
  coastal areas
  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: 8%
  permanent crops: 9%
  meadows and pastures: 41%
  forest and woodland: 20%
  other: 22%

Environment:
  current issues: the recent drought has caused water levels in
  reservoirs to drop and prompted water rationing for more than
  one-half of the population
  natural hazards: periodic droughts
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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: 25% (male 484,038; female 461,175)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 1,201,841; female 1,279,707)
  65 years and over: 10% (male 174,274; female 217,988) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.38 years male: 71.13 years female: 79.89 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 89%
  male: 90%
  female: 88%

Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the
US); note - there are 78 municipalities

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 (of the US) William Jefferson CLINTON
  (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20
  January 1993)
  head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993)
  was elected for a four-year term by direct suffrage; election last
  held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results -
  Pedro ROSSELLO (PNP) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, Fernando MARTIN
  (PIP) 4%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly
  Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5
  November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (29
  total) PNP 20, PPD 8, PIP 1
  House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next
  to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (53 total) PNP 36, PPD 16, PIP 1
  US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992
  (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (1 total) PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO); note -
  Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of
  Representatives

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 parties and leaders: National Republican Party of Puerto
  Rico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO;
  New Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Socialist
  Party (PSP) has been disbanded (1994); Puerto Rican Independence
  Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party
  (PCP), leader(s) unknown

Other political or pressure groups: Armed Forces for National
  Liberation (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), WToO (associate)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector 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. Important industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. 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 3.9 million tourists in 1993.

Labor force: 1.2 million (1993) by occupation: government 22%, manufacturing 17%, trade 20%, construction 6%, communications and transportation 5%, other 30% (1993)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.1 billion
  expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95)

Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products,
instruments, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 4.230,000 kW production: 15.6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,819 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; cattle, chickens

Exports: $21.8 billion (1994) commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instruments partners: US 86.2% (1993)

Imports: $16.7 billion (1994) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners: US 69.2% (1993)

Railways:
  total: 96 km
  narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for
  hauling sugarcane; no passenger service

Airports:
  total: 23
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Television broadcast stations: 9 note: cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)

Location: 25 30 N, 51 15 E — Middle East, peninsula bordering the
Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white
points) on the hoist side

Area:
  total area: 11,000 sq km
  land area: 11,000 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

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

International disputes: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the
  Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain; 1965 boundary with
  Saudi Arabia, renegotiated and revised in 1992, but not official
  depiction

Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and
  gravel
  lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
  highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 95%

Environment:
  current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing
  dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
  natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
  international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
  Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major petroleum deposits

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 82,147; female 83,552)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 263,107; female 109,177)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 6,609; female 3,169) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 2.41 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 2.09 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.8 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.35 years male: 70.75 years female: 75.84 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 79.4%
  male: 79.2%
  female: 79.9%

Name of country: conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar note: pronounced gutter

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, 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 and head of government: Amir and Prime Minister 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) is an absolute monarch; Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin
  Khalifa Al Thani (since NA July 1995); note - Amir HAMAD who also
  holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of
  the armed forces, has not yet selected a new crown prince
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the amir

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): 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; seats - (30 total)

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Fahd Al Thani
  chancery: Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
  20037
  telephone: [1] (202) 338-0111

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS embassy: 149 Armed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703 FAX: [974] 861669

Flag: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points)
on the hoist side

Economic overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 50% services: 49% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.5 billion
  expenditures: $3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement

Electricity: capacity: 1,520,000 kW production: 4.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,415 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish (all on small scale)

Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum products 75%, steel, fertilizers
partners: Japan 61%, Australia 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 4% (1994)

Imports: $2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners: Germany 14%, Japan 12%, UK 11%, US 9%, Italy 5% (1994)

Merchant marine:
  total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 467,447 GRT/771,483 DWT
  ships by type: combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil
  tanker 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 220,635 males fit for military service: 115,403 males reach military age (18) annually: 4,115 (1996 est.)

Location: 21 06 S, 55 36 E — Southern Africa, island in the
Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Area:
  total area: 2,510 sq km
  land area: 2,500 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Climate: tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from
May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along
  coast
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Land use:
  arable land: 16%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 35%
  other: 41% (1993)

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April);
  Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 112,413; female 107,187)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 207,386; female 214,308)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 15,610; female 22,294) (July 1996 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.77 years male: 71.71 years female: 77.98 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
  total population: 79%
  male: 76%
  female: 80%

Name of country: conventional long form: Department of Reunion conventional short form: Reunion local long form: none local short form: Ile de la Reunion

Administrative divisions: overseas department of France; there are no first-order divisions as defined by the US Government but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995) represented by Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ (since NA) who was
  appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
  head of government: President of the General Council Christophe
  PAYET (since NA)

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral
  Regional Council
  General Council: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
  NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) PCR
  12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7
  Regional Council: elections last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
  NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) UPF
  17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
  French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be
  held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total)
  RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
  (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
  DEFAUD; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist
  Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU; France-Reunion Future (FRA),
  Andre THIEN AH KOON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU;
  Social Democrats (CDS), leader NA; Union for France (UPF - includes
  RPR and UDF); Free-Dom Movement, Marguerite SUDRE

Economic 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.

Labor force: 242,169 (1993) by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)

Electricity: capacity: 180,000 kW production: 1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,454 kWh (1993)

Exports: $174 million (f.o.b., 1993)
  commodities: sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%,
  lobster 3%, (1993)
  partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar

Imports: $2.08 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
  commodities: manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery
  and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
  partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 176,609 males fit for military service: 90,784 males reach military age (18) annually: 5,728 (1996 est.)

Location: 46 00 N, 25 00 E — Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine

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

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine

Area:
  total area: 237,500 sq km
  land area: 230,340 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,508 km
  border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
  Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362
  km, Ukraine (south) 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 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: 43%
  permanent crops: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 19%
  forest and woodland: 28%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air
  pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of
  Danube delta wetlands
  natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest;
  geologic structure and climate promote landslides
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
  ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: controls most easily traversable land route
between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 2,180,023; female 2,088,496)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 7,261,160; female 7,393,531)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 1,138,583; female 1,595,369) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.42 years male: 65.51 years female: 73.57 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 98%
  female: 95%

Name of country: 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 Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990,
  previously President of Provisional Council of National Unity since
  23 December 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal
  suffrage; election last held 27 September 1992, with runoff between
  top two candidates on 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
  results - Ion ILIESCU 61.4%, Emil CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%
  head of government: Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since NA
  November 1992) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
  Senate (Senat): elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be
  held NA 1996); results - PSDR 34.3%, CDR 18.2%, DP-FSN 12.6%, others
  34.9%; seats - (143 total) PSDR 49, CDR 26, DP-FSN 18, PUNR 13, UDMR
  12, PRM 6, PAC 6, PDAR 5, PSM 5, PL-93 2, other 1
  House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor): elections last held 27
  September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - PSDR 34.0%, CDR
  16.4%, DP-FSN 12.3%, others 37.3%; seats - (341 total) PSDR 116, CDR
  56, DP-FSN 42, PUNR 29, UDMR 27, PL-93 19, PRM 15, PSM 13, PAC 5,
  other 19

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by
the president on recommendation of the Superior Council of
Magistrates

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (DP-FSN), Petre
  ROMAN; Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSDR), Adrian NASTASE;
  Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), Bela MARKO;
  National Liberal Party (PNL), Mircea IONESCU-QUINTUS; National
  Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party (PNTCD), Ion DIACONESCU;
  Romanian National Unity Party (PUNR), Gheorghe FUNAR; Socialist
  Labor Party (PSM), Ilie VERDET; Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania
  (PDAR), Victor SURDU; The Democratic Convention (CDR), Emil
  CONSTANTINESCU; Romania Mare Party (PRM), Corneliu Vadim TUDOR;
  Civic Alliance Party (PAC), Nicolae MANOLESCU, chairman; Liberal
  Party 1993 (PL-93)
  note: numerous other small parties exist but almost all failed to
  gain representation in the most recent election

Other political or pressure groups: various human rights and
professional associations

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
  CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat,
  Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS
  (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNIKOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred H. MOSES
  embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
  mailing address: American Consulate General (Bucharest), Unit 1315,
  APO AE 09213-1315
  telephone: [40] (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42
  FAX: [40] (1) 210 03 95
  branch office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Romania, one of the poorer East European countries moving away from the command economy, posted its third straight year of growth in 1995. Bucharest also was successful in reducing its inflation rate to 25% - less than half the 1994 rate - because of tight monetary and fiscal policies, while unemployment fell to 9% as the private sector hired more workers. Despite these successes on the economic front, Romania has lagged much of Central and Eastern Europe in the restructuring process. The private sector accounted for only 40% of GDP in 1995 with over 90% of industry remaining in state hands. Privatization is slated to pick up in 1996, but Bucharest faces other economic problems that could stall recovery, including a growing budget deficit, limited reform of the agricultural and energy sectors, and accumulated decay of the infrastructure.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 19.6% industry: 36.3% services: 44.1% (1994)

Labor force: 11.3 million (1992) by occupation: industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)

Budget:
  revenues: $5.35 billion
  expenditures: $6.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production and refining

Electricity: capacity: 22,180,000 kW production: 50.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,076 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes,
grapes; milk, eggs, meat

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
Latin American cocaine transiting the Balkan route

Exports: $6.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: textiles and footwear 23.8%, metals and metal products
  17.3%, fuels and mineral products 11.6%, machinery and transport
  equipment 14.8%, chemicals 7.9%, food and agricultural goods 6.5%,
  other 18.1% (1994)
  partners: developing countries 30.3%, East and Central Europe 8.4%,
  Russia 3.4%, OECD 57.9% (EU 50%, US 3.1%) (1994)

Imports: $7.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: fuels and minerals 26.8%, machinery and transport equipment 25.1%, textiles and footwear 12.3%, food and agricultural goods 9.3%, chemicals 7.9%, other 18.6% (1994) partners: OECD 60% (EU 44.5%, US 6.5%), East and Central Europe 6.1%, developing countries 16.6%, Russia 13.8%, other 3.5% (1994)

Exchange rates: lei (L) per US$1 - 2,599.24 (January 1996), 2,033.28 (1995), 1,655.09 (1994), 760.05 (1993), 307.95 (1992), 76.39 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 11,374 km
  broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
  standard gauge: 10,887 km 1.435-m gauge (3,866 km electrified; 3,060
  km double track)
  narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
  total: 153,014 km
  paved: 78,037 km (including 113 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 74,977 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural gas 6,400 km (1992)

Merchant marine:
  total: 233 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,425,729
  GRT/3,641,741 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 39, cargo 166, container 2, oil tanker 13,
  passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 9
  note: Romania owns an additional 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 1,078,490 DWT operating under the registries of Liberia,
  Malta, Cyprus, and The Bahamas (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 156
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 14
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 17
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 108 (1994 est.)

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.)

Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary
Forces, Civil Defense

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,572,383 males fit for military service: 4,693,376 males reach military age (20) annually: 198,125 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $885 million, 3.0% of GDP (1995)

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997). ======================================================================

Location: 60 00 N, 100 00 E — Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean

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

Area:
  total area: 17,075,200 sq km
  land area: 16,995,800 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:
  total: 19,913 km
  border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
  (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland
  1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakstan 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

International disputes: inherited disputes from former USSR including sections of the boundary with China; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; maritime dispute with Norway over portion of the Barents Sea; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined; potential dispute with Ukraine over Crimea; Estonia claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora regions; the Abrene section of the border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; 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

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
  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: NEGL%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 45%
  other: 42%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of
  coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities;
  industrial 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
  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
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
  Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the
  Sea

Geographic 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: 21% (male 15,792,573; female 15,213,854)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 48,145,679; female 51,125,902)
  65 years and over: 12% (male 5,403,066; female 12,497,413) (July
  1996 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: 0.43 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.88 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.24 years male: 56.51 years female: 70.31 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 100%
  female: 97%

Name of country:
  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: 21 autonomous republics (avtomnykh respublik, singular - avtomnaya respublika); Adygea (Maykop), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatia (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashia (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Gorno-Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Ingushetia (Nazran'), Kabardino-Balkaria (Nal'chik), Kalmykia (Elista), Karachay-Cherkessia (Cherkessk), Karelia (Petrozavodsk), Khakassia (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mari El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordovia (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tuva (Kyzyl), Udmurtia (Izhevsk), Yakutia - also known as Sakha (Yakutsk); 49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orel, Orenburg, Penza, Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'; 6 krays (krayev, singular - kray); Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok), Stavropol'; 10 autonomous okrugs; Aga (Aginskoye), Chukotka (Anadyr'), Evenkia (Tura), Khantia-Mansia (Khanty-Mansiysk), Koryakia (Palana), Nenetsia (Nar'yan-Mar), Permyakia (Kudymkar), Taymyria (Dudinka), Ust'-Onda (Ust'-Ordynskiy), Yamalia (Salekhard); 1 autonomous oblast (avtomnykh oblast'); Birobijan note: the autonomous republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia were formerly the autonomous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between Chechnya and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg are federal cities; an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June
  1991) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage under
  the constitution of 12 December 1993, but subsequent presidents,
  beginning with the 16 June 1996 election, will serve a four-year
  term; election last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held 16 June
  1996); results - percent of vote NA; 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
  head of government: Premier and Chairman of the Russian Federation
  Government Viktor Stepanovich CHERNOMYRDIN (since 14 December 1992),
  First Deputy Premiers and First Deputy Chairmen of the Government
  Oleg SOSKOVETS (since 30 April 1993) and Vladimir KADANNIKOV (since
  25 January 1996) were appointed by the president on approval of the
  Dumas
  Security Council: originally established as a presidential advisory
  body in June 1991, but restructured in March 1992, with
  responsibility for managing individual and state security
  Presidential Administration: drafts presidential edicts and provides
  staff and policy support to the entire executive branch
  cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" was appointed
  by the president
  Group of Assistants: schedules president's appointments, processes
  presidential edicts and other official documents, and houses the
  president's press service and primary speechwriters
  Council of Heads of Republics: includes the leaders of the 21
  ethnic-based Republics
  Council of Heads of Administrations: includes the leaders of the 66
  autonomous territories and regions, and the mayors of Moscow and St.
  Petersburg
  Presidential Council: prepares policy papers for the president

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly Federation Council: 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 cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg) State Duma: elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - 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 - (450 total - half elected in single-member districts and half elected from national party lists) 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 by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president; Supreme Court (highest court for criminal, civil, and administrative cases), judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president; Superior Court of Arbitration (highest court that resolves economic disputes), judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president

Political parties and leaders:
  pro-market democrats: Our Home Is Russia, Viktor CHERNOMYRDIN;
  Yabloko Bloc, Grigoriy YAVLINSKIY; Russia's Democratic Choice Party,
  Yegor GAYDAR; Forward, Russia!, Boris FEDOROV
  centrists/special interest parties: Congress of Russian Communities,
  Yuriy SKOKOV; Women of Russia, Alevtina FEDULOVA and Yekaterina
  LAKHOVA
  anti-market and/or ultranationalist parties: Communist Party of the
  Russian Federation, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV; Liberal Democratic Party of
  Russia, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY; Agrarian Party, Mikhail LAPSHIN;
  Power To the People, Nikolay RYZHKOV and Sergey BABURIN; Russian
  Communist Workers' Party, Viktor ANPILOV and Viktor TYULKIN
  note: some 269 political parties, blocs, and associations tried to
  gather enough signatures to run slates of candidates in the 17
  December 1995 Duma elections; 43 succeeded

International organization participation: BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE,
  CERN (observer), CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NSG, OAS (observer),
  OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (applicant), ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yuliy Mikhaylovich VORONTSOV chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700 through 5704 FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING embassy: Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow mailing address: APO AE 09721 telephone: [7] (095) 252-24-51 through 59 FAX: [7] (095) 956-42-61 consulate(s) general: St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg

Economic overview: Russia, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources, a well-educated population, and a diverse industrial base, continues to experience formidable difficulties in moving from its old centrally planned economy to a modern-market economy. The break-up of the USSR into 15 successor states in late 1991 destroyed major economic links that have been only partially replaced. As a result of these dislocations and the failure of the government to implement a rigorous and consistent reform program, output in Russia has dropped by one-third since 1990 (instead of the one-half previously estimated). On the one hand, President YEL'TSIN's government has made substantial strides in converting to a market economy since launching its economic reform program in January 1992 by freeing nearly all prices, slashing defense spending, eliminating the old centralized distribution system, completing an ambitious voucher privatization program in 1994, establishing private financial institutions, and decentralizing foreign trade. On the other hand, Russia has made little progress in a number of key areas that are needed to provide a solid foundation for the transition to a market economy; and the strong showing of the communists and nationalists in the Duma elections in December 1995 casts a shadow over prospects for further reforms. In 1995, the new cash privatization program went slower than planned. The state claims that the nonstate sector produced approximately 70% of GDP in 1995, up from 62% in 1994, although these figures apparently include many enterprises that have only nominally moved out of state control. Moscow has been slow to develop the legal framework necessary to fully support a market economy and to encourage foreign investment. Stockholder rights remain ill-defined and the Duma has yet to adopt a land code that would allow development of land markets as sources of needed capital. Russia's securities market remains largely unregulated and suffers from the lack of a comprehensive securities law. In addition, Moscow has yet to develop a social safety net that would allow faster restructuring by relieving enterprises of the burden of providing social benefits for their workers. Most rank-and-file Russians perceive they are worse off because of growing crime and health problems, the drop in real wages, the great rise in wage arrears, and the widespread threat of unemployment. The number of Russians living below the official poverty level rose by 10% to 36.6 million people, or 25% of the population. The decline in output slowed during 1995, and some sectors showed signs of a turnaround; analysts forecast the resumption of growth in 1996 - at a low rate. Russian official data, which fail to capture a considerable portion of private sector output and employment, show that GDP declined by 4% in 1995, as compared with a 15% decline in 1994. Despite continued declines in agricultural and industrial production, unemployment climbed only slowly to about 8% of the work force by yearend because government policies aimed at softening the impact of reforms have created incentives for enterprises to keep workers on the rolls even as production slowed to a crawl. Moscow renewed tightened financial policies in early 1995 and succeeded in reducing monthly consumer price inflation from 18% in January to about 3% in December, the lowest monthly rate since the beginning of reform. According to official trade statistics, Russia ran a $19.9 billion trade surplus for 1995, up from $15.9 billion in 1994. It continued to shift its trade away from the other former Soviet republics toward the West, with the CIS countries' share of Russian trade falling to 22% in 1995. Russia made good progress with official and commercial creditors in 1995 in resolving the issue of its $105 billion in Soviet-era debts. When completed, these Paris Club and London Club rescheduling agreements will reduce Russia's repayment liabilities from $20 billion to less than $5 billion annually through the end of the decade. Capital flight reportedly continued to be a problem in 1995, with billions of additional dollars in assets being moved abroad, primarily to bank accounts in Europe.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $796 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

Labor force: 85 million (1993) by occupation: production and economic services 83.9%, government 16.1%

Unemployment rate: 8.2% (December 1995) with considerable additional underemployment

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: capacity: 213,100,000 kW production: 876 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,800 kWh (1994)

Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits (because of its northern location does not grow citrus, cotton, tea, and other warm climate products); meat, milk

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; government has active eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe and Latin America

Exports: $77.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and
  wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and
  military manufactures
  partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba

Imports: $57.9 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, grain, sugar, semifinished metal products partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $2.8 billion (1993)
  note: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1990-95), $14 billion
  (1990-95); other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1990-95), $125 billion

Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 4,640 (29 December 1995), 3,550 (29 December 1994), 1,247 (27 December 1993)

Railways:
  total: 154,000 km; note - 87,000 km in common carrier service
  (38,000 km electrified); 67,000 km serve specific industries and are
  not available for common carrier use
  broad gauge: 154,000 km 1.520-m gauge (1 January 1994)

Highways:
  total: 934,000 km (including 445,000 km which serve specific
  industries or farms and are not available for common carrier use)
  paved: NA km
  unpaved: NA km (1994 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 (1 January 1994)

Pipelines: crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km;
natural gas 140,000 km (30 June 1993)

Ports: Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Kaliningrad, Kazan', Khabarovsk,
  Kholmsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka, Nevel'sk,
  Novorossiysk, Petropavlovsk, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Sochi, Tuapse,
  Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg

Merchant marine:
  total: 745 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,730,178
  GRT/9,385,565 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 25, cargo 406, chemical tanker
  6, combination bulk 21, combination ore/oil 17, container 31,
  multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 134, passenger 4,
  passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 54,
  short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 2
  note: Russia owns an additional 163 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 2,276,829 DWT operating under the registries of Malta,
  Cyprus, Liberia, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduras,
  The Bahamas, and Vanuatu (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 2,517
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 54
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 202
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 108
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 115
  with paved runways under 914 m: 151
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 25
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 45
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 134
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 291
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1,392 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: total pay phones for long distant calls 34,100; enlisting foreign help, by means of joint ventures, to speed up the modernization of its telecommunications system; in 1992, only 661,000 new telephones were installed compared with 855,000 in 1991, and in 1992 the number of unsatisfied applications for telephones reached 11,000,000; expanded access to international electronic mail service available via Sprint network; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is a severe handicap to the economy, especially with respect to international connections domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular telephone networks are operational and growing in Moscow and St. Petersburg; intercity fiber-optic cable installation remains limited international: international traffic is inadequately handled by a system of satellites, landlines, microwave radio relay, and outdated submarine cables; much of this traffic passes through the international gateway switch in Moscow which carries most of the international traffic for the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States; a new Russian Intersputnik satellite will link Moscow and St. Petersburg with Rome from whence calls will be relayed to destinations in Europe and overseas; satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, 4 Intersputnik (2 Atlantic Ocean Region and 2 Indian Ocean Region), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean Region), and NA 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.)(radio receivers with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion 74,300,000)

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces,
Strategic Rocket Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 38,673,991 males fit for military service: 30,224,738 males reach military age (18) annually: 1,105,004 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP note: the Intelligence Community estimates that defense spending in Russia fell by about 20% in real terms in 1995, reducing Russian defense outlays to about one-fifth of peak Soviet levels in the late 1980s

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

Area:
  total area: 26,340 sq km
  land area: 24,950 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
  total: 893 km
  border countries: Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km,
  Zaire 217 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 lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite
(tungsten ore), natural gas, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 29%
  permanent crops: 11%
  meadows and pastures: 18%
  forest and woodland: 10%
  other: 32%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of
  trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion
  natural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains
  are in the northwest along the border with Zaire
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear
  Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Law of the Sea

Population: 6,853,359 (July 1996 est.)
  note: genocide and civil war in 1994 killed more than 1 million
  Rwandans and forced more than 2 million to flee to neighboring
  countries

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 1,582,928; female 1,573,536)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 1,734,716; female 1,772,722)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 78,854; female 110,603) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 146.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: since April 1994, more than two million refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Rwanda and crossed into Zaire, Burundi, and Tanzania; close to 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis who fled civil strife in earlier years have returned to Rwanda, and 90,000 of the Hutu refugees are going home despite the perceived danger of doing so; the ethnic violence continues and in 1996 could produce further refugee flows as well as discourage returns

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
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 40.12 years male: 39.72 years female: 40.53 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%,
indigenous beliefs and other 25%

Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili
(Swahili) used in commercial centers

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 60.5%
  male: 69.8%
  female: 51.6%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
  conventional short form: Rwanda
  local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
  local short form: Rwanda

Administrative divisions: 10 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
  prefecture in French; plural - NA, singular - prefegitura in
  Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi,
  Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri

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);
  installed by force by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front; no date set
  for elections; president is normally elected for a five-year term by
  universal suffrage; Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since NA)
  head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since NA
  September 1995) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): sworn in on 25 November
  1994; seats - (70 total) RPF 19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR
  2, PDI 2, other 2

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of
Cassation and the Council of State in joint session

Political parties and leaders: significant parties include:
  Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Alexis KANYARENGWE, chairman;
  Democratic Republican Movement (MDR); Liberal Party (PL); Democratic
  and Socialist Party (PSD); Christian Democratic Party (PDC); Islamic
  Democratic Party (PDI); Rwandan Socialist Party (PSR); National
  Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND), former ruling party

Other political or pressure groups: Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA),
the RPF military wing, Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander; Rally for
the Democracy and Return (RDR)

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, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Theogene RUDASINGWA
  chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert GRIBBIN III embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771 47 FAX: [250] 721 28

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Rwanda is a poor African nation suffering bitterly from ethnic-based civil war. The agricultural sector dominates the economy; coffee and tea normally make up 80%-90% of total exports. The amount of fertile land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion continue to create problems. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing of agricultural products. Weak international prices since 1986 have caused the economy to contract and per capita GDP to decline. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank began in October 1990. Ethnic-based insurgency since 1990 has devastated wide areas, especially in the north, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A peace accord in mid-1993 temporarily ended most of the fighting, but resumption of large-scale civil warfare in April 1994 in the capital city Kigali and elsewhere has been taking thousands of lives and severely affecting short-term economic prospects. The economy suffers massively from failure to maintain the infrastructure, looting, neglect of important cash crops, and lack of health care facilities. GDP in 1994 may have dropped by as much as half. The further decline of GDP in 1995 was much smaller and was more than offset by aid from the outside. Because of the severe damage to real property and the decline in public discipline, recovery of domestic production toward previous levels is proceeding slowly.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 13% services: 35% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 3.6 million by occupation: agriculture 93%, government and services 5%, industry and commerce 2%

Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Industries: mining of cassiterite (tin ore) and wolframite (tungsten ore), tin, cement, agricultural processing, small-scale beverage production, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Exports: $52 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: coffee 63%, tea, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrum partners: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, US

Imports: $37 million (1994 est.) commodities: textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital goods, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material partners: US, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Japan

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: in October 1990 Rwanda launched a Structural Adjustment
  Program with the IMF; since September 1991, the EC has given $46
  million and the US $25 million in support of this program (1993)

Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 401.27 (2nd quarter 1994), 168.20 (1993), 133.35 (1992), 125.14 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 7
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: telephone system does not provide service to the general public but is intended for business and government use 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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,582,656 males fit for military service: 805,722 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $112.5 million, 7% of GDP (1992)

Location: 15 56 S, 5 42 W — Southern Africa, island in the South
Atlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way from
South America to Africa

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

Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to Africa

Area:
  total area: 410 sq km
  land area: 410 sq km
  comparative area: nearly two times the size of Washington, DC
  note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island,
  Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha

Terrain: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Queen Mary's Peak 2,060 m

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 7%
  forest and woodland: 3%
  other: 83%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.34 years male: 73.28 years female: 77.16 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 20 and over can read and write (1987 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 98%

Name of country: 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, 10
June 1989 (second Saturday in June)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the UK since 6 February 1952)
  is a hereditary monarch
  head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David Leslie
  SMALLMAN (since NA 1995)
  cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, three
  ex-officio officers, and five elected members of the Legislative
  Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held NA July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 15

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some 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.

Labor force: 2,416 (1991 est.) by occupation: professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmer, fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987) note: a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas

Budget:
  revenues: $11.2 million
  expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY92/93)

Electricity: capacity: 9,800 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

Agriculture: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha

Exports: $27,400 (f.o.b., FY92/93) commodities: fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts partners: South Africa, UK

Imports: $9.8 million (c.i.f., FY92/93) commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts partners: UK, South Africa

Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound

Highways:
  total: NA km (mainland 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA
  km)
  paved: 180.7 km (mainland 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha
  2.70 km)
  unpaved: NA km (mainland 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA
  km)

Telephone system:
  domestic: automatic network; HF radiotelephone 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)

Location: 17 20 N, 62 45 W — Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean
Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and
Tobago

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

Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third
of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Area:
  total area: 269 sq km
  land area: 269 sq km
  comparative area: twice the size of Washington, DC

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

Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Land use:
  arable land: 22%
  permanent crops: 17%
  meadows and pastures: 3%
  forest and woodland: 17%
  other: 41%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Whaling

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 7,371; female 7,026)
  15-64 years: 58% (male 12,090; female 12,057)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 1,162; female 1,663) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.86 years male: 63.84 years female: 70.06 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 98%

Name of country:
  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 parishs; 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), a
  hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert
  Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996), previously Governor
  General of the West Indies Associated States (since NA November 1981)
  head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
  1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995) were
  appointed by the governor general
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general in
  consultation with the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  House of Assembly: elections last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held
  by July 2000); results - SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats - (14 total, 11
  elected) SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2

Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr.
  Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr.
  Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Joseph PARRY;
  Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, IMF,
  Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,
  WCL, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Erstein Mallet EDWARDS
  chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
  telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
  FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the embassy in
Bridgetown, Barbados

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have begun to assume larger roles. Most food is imported. The newly elected 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2% industry: 35.7% services: 58.1% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 18,172 (June 1995); by occupation - services 69%, manufacturing 31%

Budget:
  revenues: $100.2 million
  expenditures: $100.1 million, including capital expenditures of
  $41.4 million (1996 est.)

Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra,
clothing, footwear, beverages

Electricity: capacity: 15,800 kW production: 45 million kWh consumption per capita: 990 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing
potential not fully exploited

Exports: $35.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco partners: US 46.6%, UK 26.4%, Caricom nations 9.8% (1994)

Imports: $112.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels partners: US 45%, Caricom nations 18.8%, UK 12.5%, Canada 4.2%, Japan 4.2%, (1994)

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

Railways:
  total: 58 km
  narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane
  plantations (1995)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Location: 13 53 N, 60 68 W — Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Description: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black
arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Area:
  total area: 620 sq km
  land area: 610 sq km
  comparative area: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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

Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August

Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys 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: 20%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 13%
  other: 54%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the
  northern region
  natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 27,068; female 26,491)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 47,470; female 48,612)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 3,136; female 5,085) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.09 years male: 66.52 years female: 73.91 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian 3.2%, white 0.8%

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980 est.)
  total population: 67%
  male: 65%
  female: 69%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia

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), a
  hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Sir
  Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10 October 1988)
  head of government: Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since
  3 May 1982) was appointed by the governor general
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
  the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
  Senate: consists of 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
  House of Assembly: elections last held 27 April 1992 (next to be
  held by April 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (17 total) UWP 11, SLP 6

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, jurisdiction
  extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin
  Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
  Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), Vaughn
  LEWIS; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian HUNTE; Progressive
  Labor Party (PLP), Jon ODLUM; Citizen's Democratic Party (CDP)
  Calixte GEORGE

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), NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in Bridgetown
(Barbados)

Flag: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead;
the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Economic overview: Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop. 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 expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 13.8% industry: 17.4% services: 68.8% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 43,800
by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and
commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $121 million
  expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $104
  million (1992 est.)

Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing

Electricity: capacity: 20,000 kW production: 112 million kWh consumption per capita: 693 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transit country for South American drugs destined
for the US and Europe

Exports: $122.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)
  commodities: bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits,
  coconut oil
  partners: UK 56%, US 22%, Caricom countries19% (1991)

Imports: $276 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels partners: US 34%, Caricom countries 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991)

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

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.0 million, 2.0% of GDP (1991); note - for police forces

Location: 46 50 N, 56 20 E — Northern North America, islands in
the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

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

Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Area:
  total area: 242 sq km
  land area: 242 sq km
  comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
  Miquelon groups

International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between
Canada and France; in 1992 an arbitration panel awarded the islands
an exclusive economic zone area of 12,348 sq km to settle the dispute

Terrain: mostly barren rock lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

Land use:
  arable land: 13%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 4%
  other: 83%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a
  maritime hazard
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.34 years male: 74.76 years female: 78.25 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: 99%
  female: 99%

Name of country:
  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

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995) represented by Prefect Rene MAURICE (since NA) who was
  appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
  head of government: President of the General Council Gerard GRIGNON
  (since NA)

Legislative branch: unicameral
  General Council: elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held
  NA April 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19
  total, 15 from Saint Pierre, 4 from Miquelon) Socialist Party (PS)
  holds majority of seats
  French Senate: elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be
  held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (1 total) RPR 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
  (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (1 total) UDF 1

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS); Rassemblement
pour la Republique (RPR); Union pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF)

Flag: 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

Economic 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.

Budget:
  revenues: $28 million
  expenditures: $28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8
  million (1992 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 10,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,013 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989)

Exports: $13.74 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)

Imports: $42 million (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery,
  building materials
  partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  note: new airport to open June 1996 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: NA
  international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in
  the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system

@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ————————————————

Location: 13 15 N, 61 12 W — Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

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

Area:
  total area: 340 sq km
  land area: 340 sq km
  comparative area: twice the size of Washington, DC

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)

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m

Land use:
  arable land: 38%
  permanent crops: 12%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 41%
  other: 3%

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
  natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of
  Saint Vincent is a constant threat
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
  Sea, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification

Geographic 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: 33% (male 19,742; female 19,106)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 36,576; female 36,381)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 2,702; female 3,837) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.94 years male: 71.43 years female: 74.49 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
  total population: 96%
  male: 96%
  female: 96%

Name of country: 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), a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General David JACK
  (since 29 September 1989)
  head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
  1984); the governor general appoints the leader of the majority
  party to the position of prime minister; Deputy Prime Minister
  Carlyle DOUGAN (since 17 September 1995) was appointed by the
  governor general on the advice of the prime minister
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice
  of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  House of Assembly: elections last held 21 February 1994 (next to be
  held NA July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (21 total, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators) NDP
  12, ULP 3

Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James
  F. MITCHELL; United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS;
  National Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party
  (ULP),Vincent BEACHE - formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent
  Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for National Unity (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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
  chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC
  20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 462-7806, 7846
  FAX: [1] (202) 462-7807

US diplomatic representation: 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: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double
width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged
in a V pattern

Economic overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of the 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 33.1% services: 42.9% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.) by occupation: agriculture, industry, services, other (1980 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $80 million
  expenditures: $118 million, including capital expenditures of $39
  million (1996 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 16,600 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 436 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small
numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; small fish catch used locally

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe

Exports: $57.1 million (f.o.b., 1993)
  commodities: bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch,
  tennis racquets
  partners: UK 54%, Caricom countries 34%, US 10%

Imports: $134.6 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 21%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%

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

Merchant marine:
  total: 611 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,690,104
  GRT/9,367,014 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 305, chemical tanker 20, combination
  bulk 9, combination ore/oil 4, container 33, liquefied gas tanker 4,
  livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 58, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1,
  refrigerated cargo 35, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea
  passenger 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 2
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 24
  countries among which are Croatia 42, Russia 14, Slovenia 9, China
  9, Germany 2, Serbia 2, Hong Kong 2, Latvia 1, Ukraine 1, and Poland
  1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 6
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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

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)

Area:
  total area: 60 sq km
  land area: 60 sq km
  comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: rugged mountains lowest point: Fiume Ausa 55 m highest point: Monte Titano 749 m

Land use:
  arable land: 17%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 83%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution

Geographic note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe
after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 1,978; female 1,967)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 8,401; female 8,249)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 1,648; female 2,278) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.32 years male: 77.34 years female: 85.3 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
  total population: 96%
  male: 97%
  female: 95%

Name of country:
  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:
  co-chiefs of state: Captain Regent Piero Paolo GASPERONI and Captain
  Regent Pietro BUGLI (for the period 1 April-30 September 1996) were
  elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term
  head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
  Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986) was elected for a
  five-year term by the Great and General Council; election last held
  NA 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
  cabinet: Congress of State was elected for a five-year term by the
  Great and General Council
  note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council)
  selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent
  (Co-Chiefs of State) for a six-month period; they preside over
  meetings of the 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: (Consiglio Grande e Generale) elections last held 30 May 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1998); results - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 23.7%, PDP 18.6%, AP 7.7%, MD 5.3%, RC 3.3%; seats - (60 total) PDCS 26, PSS 14, PDP 11, AP 4, MD 3, RC 2

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (PDCS),
  Cesare GASPERONI, secretary general; Democratic Progressive Party
  (PDP - formerly San Marino Communist Party (PSS)), Stefano MACINA,
  secretary general; San Marino Socialist Party (PSS), Maurizio
  RATTINI, secretary general; Democratic Movement (MD), Massimo TONTI;
  Popular Alliance (AP), Tito MASI; Communist Refoundation (RC), Paolo
  GIOVAGNOLI

International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: San Marino does not have an
  embassy in the US
  honorary consulate(s) general: Washington and New York
  honorary consulate(s): Detroit

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited
to San Marino

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1993 more than 3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of Italy, which supplies much of its food.

Budget:
  revenues: $320 million
  expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Agriculture: wheat, grapes, maize, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, meat, cheese, hides

Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy; commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics

Imports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy; commodities: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.2 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991)

Railways: 0 km; note - there is a 1.5 km cable railway connecting
the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore

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

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (1 private
radio broadcast station)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1991 est.) note: receives broadcasts from Italy

Location: 1 00 N, 7 00 E — Western Africa, island in the Atlantic
Ocean, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

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

Location: Western Africa, island in the Atlantic Ocean, straddling
the Equator, west of Gabon

Area:
  total area: 960 sq km
  land area: 960 sq km
  comparative area: more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 20%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 75%
  other: 3%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law
  of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 29,103; female 28,633)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 39,749; female 39,960)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 2,973; female 3,710) (July 1996 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.87 years male: 61.95 years female: 65.83 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
  total population: 73%
  male: 85%
  female: 62%

Name of country:
  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 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome

Legal system: based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991) was
  elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held 3 March 1991 (next to be held 30 June 1996); results - Miguel
  TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's first
  multiparty presidential election
  head of government: Prime Minister Armindo UAZ de ALMEIDA (since 29
  December 1995) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on the
  proposal of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Popular Nacional) parliament
  dissolved by President TROVOADA in July 1994; early elections held 2
  October 1994 (next to be held NA); results - MLSTP 27%, PCD-GR
  25.5%, ADI 25.5%; seats - (55 total) MLSTP 27, PCD-GR 14, ADI 14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
National Peoples Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic
  Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO,
  secretary general; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and
  Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA; Christian Democratic Front (FDC),
  Alphonse Dos SANTOS; Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO), leader
  NA; Independent Democratic Action (ADI), Patrice TROVOADA; other
  small parties

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

Diplomatic representation in 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 [1]
  (212) 697-4211

US diplomatic representation: 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: 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

Economic overview: This small poor island economy has remained dependent on cocoa since independence 20 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has gradually declined because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987 annual output had fallen from 10,000 tons to 3,900 tons. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for export has created a serious balance-of-payments problem. Production of less important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels, has also declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that of exports by a ratio of 3 to 1 or more. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense of other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food needs. It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods. Over the years, Sao Tome 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 and to encourage market-based mechanisms, e.g., to facilitate the distribution of imported food. Annual GDP growth has hovered around 1.5% since 1991.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 14% services: 58% (1994 est.)

Labor force: most of population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of plantation labor and of skilled workers

Budget:
  revenues: $58 million
  expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54
  million (1993 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 5,000 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 105 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papaya, beans; poultry; fish

Exports: $7.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: cocoa 85%-90%, copra, coffee, palm oil partners: Netherlands, Germany, China, Portugal

Imports: $23.8 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products,
  petroleum
  partners: France, Belgium, Japan, Angola, Italy, US

Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1 - 1,610 (May 1995), 129.59 (1 July 1993), 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December 1988), 72.827 (1987)

Highways: total: 298 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 100 km (1987 est.) note: roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 34,986 males fit for military service: 18,343 (1996 est.)

Location: 25 00 N, 45 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Persian
Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea,
north of Yemen

Area:
  total area: 1,960,582 sq km
  land area: 1,960,582 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,415 km
  border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
  676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, defacto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; 1965 boundary with Qatar, renegotiated and revised in 1992, but not official depiction

Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 39%
  forest and woodland: 1%
  other: 59%

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
  natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous
  Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of
  the Sea

Geographic note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 4,228,660; female 4,103,622)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 6,393,384; female 4,240,535)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 227,789; female 215,068) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.27 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69 years male: 67.25 years female: 70.84 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 62.8%
  male: 71.5%
  female: 50.2%

Name of country:
  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 (mintaqah, singular -
  mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah,
  Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail,
  Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

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 and head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD
  bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982) is an absolute monarch;
  Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd
  al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since
  13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers is dominated by royal family members
  appointed by the king

Legislative branch: a consultative council composed of 60 members
and a chairman who are appointed by the king for a term of four years

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
  AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
  chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
  telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
  consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond E. MABUS, Jr. embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy-Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag: 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

Economic overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties with the US are especially strong. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. 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. For the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and banking sectors. For over a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and international outlays have outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs. For 1996, the country looks to its policies of maintaining moderate fiscal reforms, restraining public spending, and encouraging non-oil exports.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 50% services: 41% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 6 million-7 million by occupation: government 40%, industry, construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5%

Budget:
  revenues: $35.1 billion
  expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics

Electricity: capacity: 17,550,000 kW production: 46 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,430 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus;
mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing
consumption of heroin and cocaine

Exports: $41.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
  partners: US 17%, Japan 17%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 7%, France 5%
  (1994)

Imports: $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, motor
  vehicles, textiles
  partners: US 21%, Japan 12%, UK 8%, Germany 8%, Italy 5% (1994)

External debt: $18.9 billion (December 1989 est., includes
short-term trade credits)

Economic aid:
donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon

Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since late 1986)

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: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al
Khafji, Al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Merchant marine:
  total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 944,946 GRT/1,322,167
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 5, container 3,
  liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 22,
  passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13,
  short-sea passenger 9 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 175
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 30
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
  with paved runways under 914 m: 13
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 66
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 24 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public Security Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,405,828 males fit for military service: 3,005,900 males reach military age (18) annually: 165,010 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12.1 billion, 8.5% of GDP (1996)

Location: 14 00 N, 14 00 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Area:
  total area: 196,190 sq km
  land area: 192,000 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,640 km
  border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau
  338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

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

International disputes: short section of the boundary with The
Gambia is indefinite; boundary with Mauritania in dispute

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (December to April)
has strong southeast winds; dry season (May to November) dominated
by hot, dry, harmattan wind

Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in
  southeast
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed location in the Futa Jaldon foothills 581 m

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 30%
  forest and woodland: 31%
  other: 12%

Environment:
  current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching;
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
  overfishing
  natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
  Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48% (male 2,188,338; female 2,197,015)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 2,111,330; female 2,336,987)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 128,939; female 130,140) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.49 years male: 53.75 years female: 59.3 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%,
Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%

Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly
Roman Catholic)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 33.1%
  male: 43%
  female: 23.2%

Name of country:
  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: 20 August 1960 (from France; 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 Supreme Court, which also audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) was
  elected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); results -
  Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
  head of government: Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991)
  was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in
  consultation with the president

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other 7%; seats - (120 total) PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, Let Us Unite Senegal 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS), President
  Abdou DIOUF; Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), Abdoulaye WADE;
  Democratic League-Labor Party Movement (LD-MPT), Dr. Abdoulaye
  BATHILY; Independent Labor Party (PIT), Amath DANSOKHO; Senegalese
  Democratic Union-Renewal (UDS-R), Mamadou Puritain FALL; Let Us
  Unite Senegal (coalition of African Party for Democracy and
  Socialism and National Democratic Rally); other small uninfluential
  parties

Other political or pressure groups: 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, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III,
  UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540, 0541

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark JOHNSON embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 23 42 96, 23 34 24 FAX: [221] 22 29 91

Flag: 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

Economic overview: In 1994 Senegal embarked on its most concerted structural adjustment effort yet to exploit the 50% devaluation of the currencies of the 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January of that year. After years of foot-dragging, the government has passed a liberalized labor code which should lower the cost of labor and improve the manufacturing sector's competitiveness. Inroads also have been made in closing tax loopholes, eliminating monopoly power in several sectors, and privatizing state owned firms. At the same time, the government is holding the line on current fiscal expenditure under the watchful eyes of international organizations on which it depends for substantial support. The IMF, in mid-1995, announced that the government met most economic targets as called for in its Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement and released the second $50 million tranche. The country's narrow resource base, environmental degradation, and untamed population growth will continue to hold back improvement in living standards over the medium term.

Labor force: 2.509 million (77% are engaged in subsistence farming; 175,000 wage earners) by occupation: private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60%

Budget:
  revenues: $876 million
  expenditures: $197.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining,
petroleum refining, construction materials

Electricity: capacity: 230,000 kW production: 720 million kWh consumption per capita: 79 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton,
tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish catch of
409,000 metric tons in 1992

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast
Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator
of cannabis

Exports: $940 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products,
  phosphates, cotton
  partners: France, other EU countries, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali

Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods,
  petroleum
  partners: France, other EU countries, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire,
  Algeria, China, Japan

Railways: total: 904 km narrow gauge: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 17
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay and
  cable trunk system
  international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National
Police (Surete Nationale)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,864,239 males fit for military service: 973,170 males reach military age (18) annually: 90,154 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $82 million, 2.1% of GDP (1996 est.)

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: 44 00 N, 21 00 E — Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Area:
  total area: 102,350 sq km
  land area: 102,136 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Kentucky
  note: Serbia has a total area and a land area of 88,412 sq km making
  it slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro has a total area of 13,938
  sq km and a land area of 13,724 sq km making it slightly larger 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, Croatia (north) 241 km,
  Croatia (south) 25 km, Hungary 151 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic
  of Macedonia 221 km, Romania 476 km
  note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km

International disputes: disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia over Serbian populated areas; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian republic

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 mountain and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast 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: 30%
  permanent crops: 5%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 25%
  other: 20%

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
  natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: controls one of the major land routes from
Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along
the Adriatic coast

Population:
  total population: 10,614,558 (July 1996 est.)
  Montenegro: 635,442 (July 1996 est.)
  Serbia: 9,979,116 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
  Montenegro - 0-14 years: 22% (male 71,075; female 67,402)
  Montenegro - 15-64 years: 67% (male 215,889; female 213,290)
  Montenegro - 65 years and over: 11% (male 27,868; female 39.918)
  (July 1996 est.)
  Serbia - 0-14 years: 21% (male 1,104,274; female 1,026,994)
  Serbia - 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,332,809; female 3,293,788)
  Serbia - 65 years and over: 13% (male 515,001; female 706,250) (July
  1996 est.)

Birth rate:
Montenegro: 11.86 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Serbia: 13.98 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate:
Montenegro: 7.76 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Serbia: 10.25 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate:
Montenegro: -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Serbia: 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  Montenegro - at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  Montenegro - under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  Montenegro - 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  Montenegro - 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
  Montenegro - all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
  Serbia - at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  Serbia - under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  Serbia - 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  Serbia - 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
  Serbia - all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
Montenegro: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Serbia: 22.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  Montenegro - total population: 74.88 years
  Montenegro - male: 70.86 years
  Montenegro - female: 79.11 years (1996 est.)
  Serbia - total population: 71.98 years
  Serbia - male: 68.97 years
  Serbia - female: 75.22 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate:
Montenegro: 1.53 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Serbia: 2 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Serb(s) and Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Serbian and Montenegrin

Ethnic divisions: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%,
Hungarians 4%, other 13%

Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant
1%, other 11%

Name of country:
  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," 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 (pokajine, singular -
pokajina); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces*; Kosovo*,
Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*

Independence: 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formed
as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia - SFRY)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Zoran LILIC (since 25 June 1993) was
  elected for a four-year term by the Federal Assembly; note -
  Slobodan MILOSEVIC is president of Serbia (since 9 December 1990);
  Momir BULATOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 23 December 1990);
  Federal Assembly elected Zoran LILIC on 25 June 1993
  head of government: Prime Minister Radoje KONTIC (since 29 December
  1992) was nominated by the president; Deputy Prime Ministers Jovan
  ZEBIC (since NA March 1993), Uros KLIKOVAC (since 15 September
  1994), and Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September 1995)
  cabinet: Federal Executive Council

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly Chamber of Republics: elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total, 20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin) 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: elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of votes by party NA; seats - (138 total, 108 Serbian, 30 Montenegrin) SPS 47, SRS 34, Depos 20, DPSCG 17, DS 5, SP 5, NS 4, DZVM 3, other 3

Judicial branch: Savezni Sud (Federal Court), judges are elected by the Federal Assembly; Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Serbian Socialist Party (SPS,
  former Communist Party), Slobodan MILOSEVIC; Serbian Radical Party
  (SRS), Vojislav SESELJ; Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), Vuk
  DRASKOVIC, president; Democratic Party (DS), Zoran DJINDJIC;
  Democratic Party of Serbia (Depos), Vojlslav KOSTUNICA; Democratic
  Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPSCG), Momir BULATOVIC,
  president; People's Party of Montenegro (NS), Milan PAROSKI; Liberal
  Alliance of Montenegro, Slavko PEROVIC; Democratic Community of
  Vojvodina Hungarians (DZVM), Andras AGOSTON; League of
  Communists-Movement for Yugoslavia (SK-PJ), Dragan ATANASOVSKI;
  Democratic Alliance of Kosovo (LDK), Dr. Ibrahim RUGOVA, president;
  Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Sulejman UGLJANIN; Civic Alliance
  of Serbia (GSS), Vesna PESIC, chairman; Socialist Party of
  Montenegro (SP), leader NA

Diplomatic representation in 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 Zoran POPOVIC
  chancery: 2410 California St. NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 462-6566

US diplomatic representation: the US and Serbia and Montenegro do
  not maintain full diplomatic relations
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Rudolf V.
  PERINA
  embassy: address NA, Belgrade
  mailing address: Unit 1310, APO AE 09213-1310
  telephone: [381] (11) 645655
  FAX: [381] (11) 645332

Economic 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. Serbia and Montenegro faces major economic problems; output has dropped sharply, particularly in 1993. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it depended on its sister republics for large amounts of energy supplies 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 and Montenegro is the continuation in office of a communist 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 in 1994. Reliable statistics are hard to come by; the GDP estimate of $2,000 per capita is extremely rough. The economy is recovering extremely slowly following the suspension of UN sanctions in December 1995.

Industries: machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; armored vehicles 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: capacity: 10,400,000 kW production: 34 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,400 kWh (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route

Exports: $NA
  commodities: prior to the breakup of the federation, Yugoslavia
  exported machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
  chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
  partners: prior to the imposition of UN sanctions trade partners
  were the other former Yugoslav republics, Italy, Germany, other EC,
  the FSU countries, East European countries, US

Imports: $NA
  commodities: prior to the breakup of the federation, Yugoslavia
  imported machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants,
  manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
  including coking coal for the steel industry
  partners: prior to the imposition of UN sanctions trade partners
  were the other former Yugoslav republics, the FSU countries, EC
  countries (mainly Italy and Germany), East European countries, US

Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1 - official rate: 1.5; black market rate: 2 to 3 (early 1995)

Railways: total: 3,960 km standard gauge: 3,960 km 1.435-m gauge (1,341 km electrified) (1992)

Merchant marine:
  Montenegro: total 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 326,133
  GRT/544,600 DWT (controlled by Montenegrin beneficial owners)
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 8, container 3, short-sea passenger
  ferry 1
  note: ships operate under the flags of Malta, Panama, and Cyprus; no
  ships remain under Yugoslav flag (1995 est.)
  Serbia: total 2 bulk ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,916
  GRT/77,103 DWT (controlled by Serbian beneficial owners)
  note: all under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; no
  ships remain under Yugoslav flag (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 44 (Serbia 39, Montenegro 5)
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5 (Serbia 3, Montenegro 2)
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 1)
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
  with paved runways under 914 m: 14 (Serbia 14, Montenegro 0)
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (Serbia 12, Montenegro 2)
  (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: People's Army (includes Ground Forces with internal and
border troops, Naval Forces, and Air and Air Defense Forces), Civil
Defense

Manpower availability:
  Montenegro - males age 15-49: 173,942
  Montenegro - males fit for military service: 140,728
  Montenegro - males reach military age (19) annually: 5,226
  Serbia - males age 15-49: 2,546,549
  Serbia - males fit for military service: 2,041,239 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 245 billion dinars, 4% to 6% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 4 35 S, 55 40 E — Eastern Africa, group of islands in
the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Description: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red,
white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
northeast of Madagascar

Area:
  total area: 455 sq km
  land area: 455 sq km
  comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 18%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 18%
  other: 60%

Environment:
  current issues: no natural fresh water resources, catchments collect
  rain water
  natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are
  rare; short droughts possible
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 12,005; female 11,835)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 24,003; female 24,946)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,669; female 3,117) (July 1996 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: 0.54 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.24 years male: 64.23 years female: 74.39 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971 est.)
  total population: 58%
  male: 56%
  female: 60%

Name of country: 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 Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin
  Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri,
  Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President France Albert RENE
  (since 5 June 1977) was elected for a five-year term by popular
  vote; election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
  results - President France Albert RENE (SPPF) reelected with 59.5%
  of the vote, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple): elections last held 20-23
  July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%;
  seats - (33 total, 22 elected, 11 awarded) seats elected - SPPF 21,
  DP 1; seats awarded - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1
  note: the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of
  each party in the total vote

Political parties and leaders: ruling party - Seychelles People's
  Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP),
  Sir James MANCHAM; United Opposition (UO), Wavel RAMKALAWAN - a
  coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel
  RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL;
  Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS; New Democratic
  Party , Christopher GILL (former member of DP)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Marc Michael R. MARENGO
  chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY
  10017
  telephone: [1] (212) 687-9766, 9767
  FAX: [1] (212) 922-9177

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Burton STOKES
  embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe
  mailing address: Box 148, Victoria; Unit 62501, APO AE 09815-2501
  telephone: [248] 225256
  FAX: [248] 225189

Flag: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white,
and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Economic overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output has grown to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. 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 high 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.

Labor force: 27,700 (1985) by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $227.4 million
  expenditures: $263 million, including capital expenditures of $54
  million (1993 est.)

Industries: tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir (coconut fiber) rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage

Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 110 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,399 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; expansion of tuna fishing under way

Exports: $50 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
  commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products
  (re-exports)
  partners: France 43%, UK 22%, Reunion 11%, (1992)

Imports: $261 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment partners: Singapore 16%, Bahrain 16%, South Africa, 14%, UK 13% (1992)

Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 4.9257 (January 1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 14
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 6
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Presidential
Protection Unit, Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 21,547 males fit for military service: 10,883 (1996 est.)

Location: 8 30 N, 11 30 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Description: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top),
white, and light blue

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea and Liberia

Area:
  total area: 71,740 sq km
  land area: 71,620 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 31%
  forest and woodland: 29%
  other: 13%

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
  natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the
  Sahara (November to May); sandstorms, dust storms
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification, Environmental Modification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 1,057,824; female 1,092,291)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 1,197,547; female 1,298,834)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 75,066; female 71,559) (July 1996 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.47 years male: 44.56 years female: 50.47 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%

Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate
  minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne
  (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (the language of the
  re-settled ex-slave population of the Freetown area and is lingua
  franca)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in English, Mende,
  Temne, or Arabic (1995 est.)
  total population: 31.4%
  male: 45.4%
  female: 18.2%

Name of country:
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 and head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH
  (inaugurated 29 March 1996); election held 26-27 February 1996 (next
  to be held NA 2000)
  cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
  approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
  to the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  House of Representatives: elections last held NA February 1996 (next
  to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (80
  total, 68 elected, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate
  elections) 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
  February 1996 elections; National Peoples Party (NPP), Andrew TURAY;
  Democratic Center Party (DCP), Abu KOROMA; Peoples Progressive Party
  (PPP), Edward KAMARA, chairman; Coalition for Progress Party (CPP),
  Geredine WILLIAMS-SARHO; National Unity Movement (NUM); United
  National Peoples Party (UNPP); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
  Thaimu BANGURA, chairman; All Peoples Congress (APC), S. A. T.
  KOROMA, chairman; National Republican Party (NRP); Social Democratic
  Party (SDP); Peoples National Convention (PNC), I. B. KARGBO,
  chairman; National Unity Party (NUP), A. O. D. GEORGE, chairman;
  Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), Paul DUNBAR, chairman; National
  Democratic Alliance (NDA); National Alliance for Democracy Party
  (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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant) chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John L. HIRSCH embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485 FAX: [232] (22) 225471

Economic 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 push down production, exports, and the value of the leone. Agriculture employs about two-thirds of the working population, with subsistence agriculture dominating the sector. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. The mining of diamonds, bauxite, and rutile is the major source of hard currency. The government has worked hard to meet its IMF- and World Bank-mandated stabilization targets, holding down fiscal deficits, and retiring much of its domestic debt - but at a steep cost in terms of forgone capital investments and social spending. Moreover, the economic infrastructure has nearly collapsed due to neglect and war-related disruptions in the mining and agricultural export sectors. The continuing civil war in Liberia has led to a large influx of refugees, who place additional burdens on Sierra Leone's fragile economy.

Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)
  by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%, services 16% (1981
  est.)
  note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)

Budget:
  revenues: $75 million
  expenditures: $128 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining

Electricity: capacity: 130,000 kW production: 220 million kWh consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch was 65,000 metric tons in 1994

Exports: $115 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: rutile 51%, bauxite 20%, diamonds 16%, coffee 6%, cocoa
  7%, fish (1989)
  partners: US, UK, Belgium, Germany, other Western Europe

Imports: $150 million (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: foodstuffs 38%, machinery and equipment 44%, fuels and
  lubricants 18% (1989)
  partners: US, EU countries, Japan, China, Nigeria

Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1 - 951.63 (January 1996), 755.22 (1995), 586.74 (1994), 567.46 (1993), 499.44 (1992), 295.34 (1991)

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:
  total: 5
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,019,093 males fit for military service: 494,451 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 2.6% of GDP (FY92/93)

Location: 1 22 N, 103 48 E — Southeastern Asia, islands between
Malaysia and Indonesia

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

Area:
  total area: 632.6 sq km
  land area: 622.6 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
  Washington, DC

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 lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

Land use:
  arable land: 4%
  permanent crops: 7%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 5%
  other: 84%

Environment:
  current issues: industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water
  resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered
  Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 379,076; female 358,739)
  15-64 years: 72% (male 1,220,131; female 1,219,412)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 97,882; female 121,684) (July 1996 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.13 years male: 75.07 years female: 81.39 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu,
Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist

Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national),
Tamil (official), English (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 91.1%
  male: 95.9%
  female: 86.3%

Name of country: 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)
  was elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held
  28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999); results - ONG Teng
  Cheong was elected with 59% of the vote in the country's first
  popular election for president
  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) were appointed by
  the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president, responsible to
  Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held by 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 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

Political parties and leaders:
  government: People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary
  general
  opposition: Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHEE Soon Juan;
  Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; National Solidarity Party
  (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA;
  Singapore People's Party (SPP), SIN Kek Tong

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C,
  CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
  Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sellapan Rama NATHAN chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100 FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy A. CHORBA embassy: 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 mailing address: FPO AP 96534 telephone: [65] 3380251 FAX: [65] 3384550

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. The economy registered 8.9% growth in 1995, with prospects for 7%-8% growth in 1996. In 1995, the manufacturing and financial and business services sectors led economic growth. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, and the government's strategy to address this problem includes 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.

Labor force: 1.649 million (1994) by occupation: financial, business, and other services 33.5%, manufacturing 25.6%, commerce 22.9%, construction 6.6%, other 11.4% (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $17.3 billion
  expenditures: $12.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.5
  billion (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling
  equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and
  beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services,
  biotechnology

Electricity: capacity: 4,510,000 kW production: 17 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,590 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a money-laundering center

Exports: $119.6 billion (1995) commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment partners: Malaysia 20%, US 19%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6% (1994)

Imports: $125.9 billion (1995) commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: Japan 22%, Malaysia 16%, US 15%, Taiwan 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1994)

Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.4214 (January 1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991)

Highways:
  total: 2,989 km
  paved: 2,905 km (including 111.6 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 84 km (1994 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 646 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,915,788
  GRT/20,292,580 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 110, cargo 118, chemical tanker 18, combination
  bulk 3, combination ore/oil 8, container 92, liquefied gas tanker
  13, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 234, refrigerated
  cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 1,
  specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 24
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 22
  countries among which are Japan 39, Hong Kong 27, Denmark 24,
  Germany 20, Sweden 14, Thailand 14, Belgium 12, Norway 9, Indonesia
  7, and US 7 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 8
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,025,300 males fit for military service: 752,382 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.9 billion, 4.3% of GDP (1995 est.)

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

Area:
  total area: 48,845 sq km
  land area: 48,800 sq km
  comparative area: about twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,355 km
  border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515
  km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km

International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property

Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south 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: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  meadows and pastures: NA%
  forest and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants presents
  human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed,
  but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 605,379; female 579,232)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 1,777,100; female 1,812,555)
  65 years and over: 11% (male 234,377; female 365,719) (July 1996
  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: 0.64 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.01 years male: 69.01 years female: 77.21 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could reach 500,000 or more), 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%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Slovak Republic
  conventional short form: Slovakia
  local long form: Slovenska Republika
  local short form: Slovensko

Administrative divisions: 4 departments (kraje, singular - kraj)
Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky

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 Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993) was
  elected for a five-year term by the National Parliament; election
  last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
  head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since 12
  December 1994) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on recommendation of
  the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Parliament (Narodni Rada): elections last held 30
  September-1 October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998); results
  - HZDS 35%, SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian
  Democrats, Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU
  8.6%, ZRS 7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats - (150 total) governing coalition 83
  (HZDS 61, ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition
  17, KDH 17, DU 15)

Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
  (HZDS), Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Common Choice/Party of the
  Democratic Left (SDL), Peter WEISS, chairman; Hungarian Christian
  Democrats, Vojtech BUGAR; Hungarian Civic Party; Coexistence, Miklos
  DURAY, chairman; Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Jan
  CARNOGURSKY; Democratic Union (DU), Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman;
  Association of Slovak Workers (ZRS), Jan LUPTAK, chairman; Slovak
  National Party (SNS), Jan SLOTA, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Social Democratic
Party of Slovakia; Slovak Christian Union

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
  BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU
  (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
  IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM
  III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner),
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS
  chancery: (temporary) Suite 380, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
  Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 965-5161
  FAX: [1] (202) 965-5166

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph JOHNSON
  embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [42] (7) 533-0861, 533-3338
  FAX: [42] (7) 533-5439

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Since its separation from the Czech Republic on 1 January 1993, Slovakia has continued the difficult transformation from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy. Macroeconomic performance improved steadily in 1994 and 1995 - with 4.8% and 6% growth, respectively. But privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export performance boosted growth in both years, with consumption and investment rebounding. Unemployment fell to 12.8% in November 1995, the lowest level since mid-1993, and inflation dropped from 26% in 1993 to 7.5% in 1995. The federal government deficit fell from 7% of GDP in 1993 to less than 2% in 1994-95, as growth boosted revenues. Positive international financial performance led Standard & Poor's to raise its rating of the National Bank of Slovakia's foreign currency debt to just one step below investment grade. The trade and current accounts are both in surplus, and foreign currency reserves held by the central bank have climbed to $3.5 billion. Foreign debt of $4.6 billion - about the same as Romania's - is the lowest in Central and Eastern Europe and the second lowest per capita. Bratislava made the Slovak crown convertible for current account transactions on 1 October 1995. Slovakia continued to have difficulty attracting foreign investment, however, because of perceived political uncertainty and vacillations in privatization policy. The government as well as the OECD projects 5% growth in 1996 and 1997.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.7% industry: 47.6% services: 45.7% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 2.484 million by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

Budget:
  revenues: $6.1 billion
  expenditures: $6.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

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: capacity: 6,300,000 kW production: 20.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,609 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; hogs,
cattle, poultry; forest products

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
bound for Western Europe

Exports: $8.8 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment; chemicals; fuels, minerals, and metals; agricultural products partners: Czech Republic 35.4%, Germany 18.9%, Austria 5.0%, Italy 4.7%, Hungary 4.6%, Poland 4.4%, Russia 3.6%, Ukraine 2.1%, France 2.0%, Netherlands 1.7% (January-October 1995)

Imports: $8.7 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1995)
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment; fuels and
  lubricants; manufactured goods; raw materials; chemicals;
  agricultural products
  partners: Czech Republic 28.1%, Russia 16.8%, Germany 14.3%, Austria
  5.2%, Italy 4.5%, Poland 2.9%, US 2.3%, France 2.3%, Hungary 2.2%,
  Netherlands 1.7%, Ukraine 1.5% (January-October 1995)

Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 29.587 (August 1995), 29.447 (November 1994), 32.045 (1994), 30.770 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991); note - values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rate

Railways:
  total: 3,660 km
  broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge
  standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1378 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1995)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,010 GRT/22,039
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 37
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 11 (1994 est.)

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is 1 station of NA type

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,442,321 males fit for military service: 1,104,901 males reach military age (18) annually: 48,695 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $430 million, 3.0% of GDP (1995)

Location: 46 00 N, 15 00 E — Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Croatia and Italy

Description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and around it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Croatia and Italy

Area:
  total area: 20,256 sq km
  land area: 20,256 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,207 km
  border countries: Austria 324 km, Croatia 546 km, Italy 235 km,
  Hungary 102 km

International disputes: maritime border dispute with Croatia over
direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; the border issue is
currently under negotiation

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, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous
  rivers to the east
  lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
  highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 20%
  forest and woodland: 45%
  other: 23%

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
  natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Climate Change,
  Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17% (male 172,778; female 163,695)
  15-64 years: 70% (male 682,501; female 678,781)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 91,819; female 161,869) (July 1996 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: 0.57 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.09 years male: 71.4 years female: 79 years (1996 est.)

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
  conventional short form: Slovenia
  local long form: Republika Slovenije
  local short form: Slovenija

Administrative divisions: 60 provinces (pokajine, singular -
  pokajina) Ajdovscina, Brezice, Celje, Cerknica, Crnomelj, Dravograd,
  Gornja Radgona, Grosuplje, Hrastnik Lasko, Idrija, Ilirska Bistrica,
  Izola, Jesenice, Kamnik, Kocevje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Lenart,
  Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana-Bezigrad, Ljubljana-Center,
  Ljubljana-Moste-Polje, Ljubljana-Siska, Ljubljana-Vic-Rudnik,
  Ljutomer, Logatec, Maribor, Metlika, Mozirje, Murska Sobota, Nova
  Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ormoz, Pesnica, Piran, Postojna, Ptuj, Radlje Ob
  Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne Na Koroskem, Ribnica, Ruse, Sentjur Pri
  Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skofja Loka, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenska
  Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje Pri Jelsah, Tolmin, Trbovlje,
  Trebnje, Trzic, Velenje, Vrhnika, Zagorje Ob Savi, Zalec

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990) was
  reelected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Milan
  KUCAN reelected
  head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May
  1992) was nominated by the president and elected by the National
  Assembly
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the prime minister
  and elected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral; advisory National Council
  National Assembly: elections last held 6 December 1992 (next to be
  held Fall 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (90
  total) LDS 22, SKD 15, ZLSD 14, SNS 12, SLS 10, DSS 6, ZS 5, SDSS 4,
  Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note - seating as of
  January 1996 is as follows: LDS 30, SKD 15, ZLSD 14, SLS 12, DSS 4,
  SDSS 4, SNS 4, SND 3, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1,
  independents 2
  National Council: the Council is an advisory body with no direct
  legislative powers; in the election of 6 December 1992, 40 members
  were elected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic
  interests (next election to be held NA Fall 1996)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National
  Assembly on 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 (LDS), Janez DRNOVSEK, chairman; Slovene Christian Democrats (SKD), Lozje PETERLE, chairman; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDSS), Janez JANSA, chairman; Slovene People's Party (SLS), Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman; United List (former Communists and allies - ZLSD), Janez KOCIJANCIC, chairman; Slovene National Party (SNS), Zmago JELINCIC, chairman; Democratic Party (DSS), Tone PERSAK, chairman; Greens of Slovenia (ZS), Dusan PLUT, chairman, note - Greens merged with the LDS; Slovene National Right (SND), Saso LAP, chairman note: parties have changed as of the December 1992 elections

International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE,
  FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
  ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest PETRIC chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363 FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563 consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Victor JACKOVICH
  embassy: address NA, Ljubljana
  mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 61000 Ljubljana;
  American Embassy, Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC
  20521-7140
  telephone: [386] (61) 301-427, 472, 485
  FAX: [386] (61) 301-401

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and around it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands

Economic overview: Slovenia appears to be making a solid economic recovery, fulfilling the promise it showed at the time of Yugoslavia's breakup. Its per capita GDP is now the highest in Central and Eastern Europe and not far below the levels in the poorer West European countries. Slovenia has benefited from strong ties to Western Europe and suffered comparatively small physical damage during Yugoslavia's breakup. The beginning was difficult, however. Real GDP fell 15% in 1991-92, while inflation soared to 200% in 1992 and unemployment reached 9%. The turning point came in 1993, when real GDP grew 1%, unemployment leveled off, and inflation slowed dramatically. In 1994, real GDP rose 5.5%, tapering off to an estimated 4.8% in 1995, while inflation and unemployment both were down to about 8% by late 1995. The government gets good marks from foreign observers for fiscal policy - the budget deficit has not exceeded 1% of GDP in any year since 1991, and the current account balance has remained in surplus throughout the transition period, with the exception of 1995. The Slovene privatization program, which began in 1994, involves about 1,400 firms, but only 412 have been privatized. The rest are expected to reach private hands by end-1996, but that does not include firms in so-called strategic industries, such as telecommunications and energy. Foreign investment jumped to an estimated $150 million in 1995 from $83.7 million in 1994. With inflation and unemployment expected to continue edging down, the outlook for 1996 is generally good. A slowdown in Western Europe - which buys 70% of Slovenia's exports - could hurt exports, however, lowering GDP growth to about 4% and perhaps pushing the current account into a small deficit.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 5.3% industry: 39.9% services: 54.8% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 786,036 by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing and mining 46%

Budget:
  revenues: $6.6 billion
  expenditures: $6.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1993)

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: capacity: 2,700,000 kW production: 8.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,470 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes;
cattle, sheep, poultry

Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe

Exports: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery and transport equipment 27%, intermediate
  manufactured goods 26%, chemicals 9%, food 4.8%, raw materials 3%,
  consumer goods 26% (1993)
  partners: Germany 30.9%, former Yugoslavia 14.0%, Italy 14.1%,
  France 8.9%, Austria 6.4%, CEFTA (Central European Free Trade
  Agreement) countries 5% (January-August 1995 est.)

Imports: $9.1 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 30%, intermediate manufactured goods 17.6%, chemicals 11.5%, raw materials 5.3%, fuels and lubricants 10.8%, food 8.4% (1993) partners: Germany 23.3%, Italy 16.8%, former Yugoslavia 7.0%, France 8.5%, Austria 9.7% (January-August 1995 est.)

Exchange rates: tolars (SlT) per US$1 - 121.27 (November 1995), 118.9 (1995), 128.81 (1994), 113.24 (1993), 81.29 (1992), 27.57 (1991)

Railways: total: 1,201 km standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 499 km) (1994)

Highways:
  total: 14,794 km
  paved: 13,314 km (including 187 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 1,480 km (1994 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 229,727 GRT/290,456 DWT
  (controlled by Slovenian owners)
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 1, container 4
  note: ships operate under the flags of Saint Vincent and the
  Grenadines, Singapore, Liberia, and Antigua and Barbuda; no ships
  remain under the Slovenian flag (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 14
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast
stations

Television broadcast stations: 7 note: there are more than 20 local cable television broadcast stations

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 525,925 males fit for military service: 419,456 males reach military age (19) annually: 15,350 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 13.5 billion tolars, 3.6% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 8 00 S, 159 00 E — Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
east of Papua New Guinea

Area:
  total area: 28,450 sq km
  land area: 27,540 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 93%
  other: 4%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the surrounding
  coral reefs are dead or dying
  natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
  geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic
  activity
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 96,241; female 92,722)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 107,482; female 104,293)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 6,129; female 6,035) (July 1996 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 68.67 years female: 73.74 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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

Name of country: 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) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA
  (since 10 June 1994) who was appointed for up to five years by the
  queen on the advice of Parliament
  head of government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7
  November 1994) was elected by and from Parliament; Deputy Prime
  Minister Danny PHILIP (since NA October 1995) was appointed by the
  governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the
  members of Parliament
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice
  of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament: elections last held 26 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) GNUR 21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6

Political parties and leaders: National Unity and Reconciliation
  Group (GNUR), Solomon MAMALONI; People's Alliance Party (PAP);
  National Action Party (NAPSI), leader NA; Solomon Islands Labor
  Party (SILP), leader NA; United Party (UP), leader NA; Nationalist
  Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses
  TUHANUKU; Christian Fellowship, leader NA

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

Diplomatic representation in US: Solomon Islands do not have an
embassy in the US; the ambassador to the US traditionally resides in
Honiara (Solomon Islands)

US diplomatic representation: 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: 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

Economic overview: The bulk of the population depend on subsistence 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. The government of the Solomon Islands is nearing financial insolvency. In mid-1995 the central bank suspended interest and principal payments on government bonds and treasury bills held by financial institutions and the general public. The government has taken no steps to restrain expenditure or address the deficit, which is expected to be considerably higher than the $20 million forecasted in the 1996 budget.

Labor force: 26,842
  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: $81.3 million
  expenditures: $101.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 21,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 80 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish

Exports: $94 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: fish 46%, timber 31%, palm oil 5%, cocoa, copra partners: Japan 39%, UK 23%, Thailand 9%, Australia 5%, US 2% (1991)

Imports: $101 million (c.i.f., 1993)
  commodities: plant and machinery, manufactured goods, food and live
  animals, fuel
  partners: Australia 34%, Japan 16%, Singapore 14%, NZ 9%

Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 3.3713 (2d quarter 1995), 3.2914 (1994), 3.1877 (1993), 2.9281 (1992), 2.7148 (1991)

Highways:
  total: 1,300 km
  paved: 30 km
  unpaved: 1,270 km
  note: in addition, there are 800 km of private logging and
  plantation roads of varied surface (1982 est.)

Airports:
  total: 30
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 18
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Branches: no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police
(RSIP)

Location: 10 00 N, 49 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf
of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

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)

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the
Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Area:
  total area: 637,660 sq km
  land area: 627,340 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: total: 2,366 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

International disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden

Climate: principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,450 m

Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of
iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 46%
  forest and woodland: 14%
  other: 38%

Environment:
  current issues: famine; use of contaminated water contributes to
  human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
  desertification
  natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over
  eastern plains in summer
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
  Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along
southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and
Suez Canal

Population: 9,639,151 (July 1996 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 year by year between census years by factoring growth rates into them, and by taking account of refugee movements, and of losses due to famine; lower estimates of Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 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 2,143,775; female 2,139,104)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 2,609,911; female 2,387,620)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 182,991; female 175,750) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.49 years male: 55.18 years female: 55.8 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 24%
  male: 36%
  female: 14%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali 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
People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): not functioning

Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre

Other political or pressure groups: 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, IGADD, 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 US: Somalia does not have an embassy
in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)

US diplomatic representation: 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. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX [254] (2) 340838

Flag: 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)

Economic 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 seminomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. The greatly increased political turmoil of 1991-93 resulted in a substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread famine. In 1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside, followed in 1995 by slight improvements. However, ongoing civil strife in Mogadishu and outlying areas is interfering with any substantial recovery.

Labor force: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.) 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:
  capacity: 75,000 kW prior to the civil war, but now largely shut
  down due to war damage; some localities operate their own generating
  plants, providing limited municipal power; note - UN and relief
  organizations use their own portable power systems
  production: NA kWh
  consumption per capita: NA kWh

Agriculture: bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; cattle,
sheep, goats; fishing potential largely unexploited

Exports: $100 million (1995 est.)
commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hides
partners: Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states, Italy, US (bananas)

Imports: $249 million (1990 est.)
commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)

Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - approximately 7,000 (January 1996), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989),

Ports: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo),
Merca, Mogadishu

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,529 GRT/6,892 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 52
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 6
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 20 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there are at least five radio broadcast stations of NA type)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (Somalia's only TV station was demolished during the civil strife, sometime in 1991)

Branches: NA; note - no functioning central government military
forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic
or political prizes

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,333,994
males fit for military service: 1,301,954 (1996 est.)

Location: 29 00 S, 24 00 E — Southern Africa, at the southern tip
of the continent of Africa

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 isoceles 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

Area:
  total area: 1,219,912 sq km
  land area: 1,219,912 sq km
  comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
  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 fishing zone: 200 nm
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: 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

Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow
  coastal plain
  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%
  meadows and pastures: 65%
  forest and woodland: 3%
  other: 21%

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

Geographic note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and
almost completely surrounds Swaziland

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 7,578,639; female 7,428,123)
  15-64 years: 60% (male 12,356,753; female 12,516,467)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 744,806; female 1,118,671) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.47 years male: 57.21 years female: 61.8 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of
blacks), Hindu (60% of Indians), Muslim 2%

Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 81.8%
  male: 81.9%
  female: 81.7%

Name of country:
  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: 27 April 1994 (interim constitution, replacing the constitution of 3 September 1984); note - on 8 May 1996, the Constitutional Assembly voted 421 to two to pass a new constitution which, after certification by the Constitutional Court, will gradually go into effect over a three-year period and come into full force with the next national elections in April 1999

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Nelson MANDELA
  (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive Presidents Thabo MBEKI (since
  10 May 1994) and Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 10 May 1994) were
  elected by the National Assembly
  note: any political party that wins 20% or more of the National
  Assembly votes in a general election is entitled to name a deputy
  executive president; moreover, any party that wins 20 or more seats
  in the National Assembly is entitled to become a member of the
  governing coalition; currently, the ANC, the IFP, and the NP
  constitute a Government of National Unity (GNU)
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral
  National Assembly: elections last held 26-29 April 1994 (next to be
  held NA April 1999); results - 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 - (400 total)
  ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2
  Senate: the Senate is composed of members who are nominated by the
  nine provincial parliaments (which are elected in parallel with the
  National Assembly) and has special powers to protect regional
  interests, including the right to limited self-determination for
  ethnic minorities; seats - (90 total) ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP
  3
  note: when the National Assembly meets in joint session with the
  Senate to consider the provisions of the constitution, the combined
  group is referred to as the Constitutional Assembly

Political parties and leaders: African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president; National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK, president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Freedom Front (FF), Constand VILJOEN, president; Democratic Party (DP), Tony LEON, president; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), Clarence MAKWETU, president; African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Kenneth MESHOE, president note: in addition to these seven parties which received seats in the National Assembly, 11 other parties won votes in the national elections in April 1994

International organization participation: BIS, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
  G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM, OAU, SACU,
  SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin SONN chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James A. JOSEPH embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083 mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Flag: 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 isoceles 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

Economic overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment and lack of job skills. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts to improve black living conditions, to set the country on a steady export-led growth path, and to cut back the enormous numbers of unemployed. The economy in recent years has absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow between 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants, much less reduce the accumulated total.

Labor force: 14.2 million economically active (1996) 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: capacity: 39,750,000 kW production: 163 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,482 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; cattle, poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef

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

Exports: $27.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
  commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%, food 5%,
  chemicals 3% (1994)
  partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EU countries, Hong
  Kong

Imports: $27 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles, scientific instruments (1994) partners: Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: current aid pledges include US $600 million over three years
  ending in 1996; UK $150 million over three years; Australia $21
  million over three years; Japan $1.3 billion over two years ending
  in 1996; EU $833 million over five years

Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991)

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: 182,329 km
  paved: 55,428 km (including 2,040 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 126,901 km (1991 est.)

Ports: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth,
Richards Bay, Saldanha

Merchant marine:
total: 4 container ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 211,276
GRT/198,602 DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 667
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 10
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 44
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 75
  with paved runways under 914 m: 221
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 33
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 280 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: South African National Defense Force (SANDF; includes
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police
Service (SAPS)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,686,976 males fit for military service: 6,502,265 males reach military age (18) annually: 424,854 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, 2.2% of GDP (FY95/96)

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ——————————————————————

Location: 54 30 S, 37 00 W — Southern South America, islands in
the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Area:
  total area: 4,066 sq km
  land area: 4,066 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
  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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
  sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  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
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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 population; 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

Name of country:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Commissioner
  David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley,
  Falkland Islands)

Economic 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.)

Electricity:
  capacity: 900 kW
  production: 2 million kWh
  consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Location: 40 00 N, 4 00 W — Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France

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

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France

Area:
  total area: 504,750 sq km
  land area: 499,400 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
  note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of
  sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco -
  Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de
  Velez de la Gomera

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,903.2 km
  border countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,
  Portugal 1,214 km
  note: excludes the length of the boundary between the places of
  sovereignty and Morocco

International disputes: Gibraltar question 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

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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Teide 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: 31%
  permanent crops: 10%
  meadows and pastures: 21%
  forest and woodland: 31%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage
  and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; air
  pollution; deforestation; desertification
  natural hazards: periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
  Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
  83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16% (male 3,237,942; female 3,055,881)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 13,380,956; female 13,352,582)
  65 years and over: 16% (male 2,566,728; female 3,587,025) (July 1996
  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: 0.72 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.26 years male: 74.95 years female: 81.81 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.)
  total population: 96%
  male: 98%
  female: 94%

Name of country: 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, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon,
  Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares,
  La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco
  note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of
  Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and
  Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown

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) is a
  hereditary monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria AZNAR (since 5 May
  1996) was proposed by the king and voted into office by the National
  Assembly on 4 May 1996; AZNAR's Popular Party defeated Felipe
  GONZALEZ Marques's Socialist Workers Party in the 3 March 1996
  legislative election; Deputy Prime Minister (vacant)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was designated by the prime minister
  Council of State: is the supreme consultative organ of the government

Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales) Senate (Senado): elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (256 total) PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9 Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados): elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - PP 38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%, CiU 4.6%; seats - (350 total) PSOE 141, PP 156, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16

Political parties and leaders:
  principal national parties from right to left: Popular Party (PP),
  Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE),
  Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Spanish Communist Party
  (PCE), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez; United Left (IU - a coalition of
  parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other small
  parties), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez
  chief regional parties: Convergence and Union (CiU), Jordi PUJOL,
  secretary general (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of
  Catalonia (CDC), Pere ESTEVE, and the Democratic Union of Catalonia
  (UDC), Josep Antoni DURAN LLEIDA); Basque Nationalist Party (PNV),
  Xabier ARZALLUS Antia and Jose Antonio ARDANZA; Basque United People
  (HB or Herri Batasuna, ETA's political wing), Juan Cruz IDIGORAS;
  Canarian Coalition (CC), a coalition of five parties

Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, the
  Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October
  Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the
  government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); Workers
  Confederation (CC.OO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT),
  and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); business
  and landowning interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; university
  students

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
  ESA, EU, FAO, G- 8, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM
  (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL,
  WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA Eiseley
  chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
  telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
  FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
  New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Richard N. GARDNER
  embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
  mailing address: APO AE 09642
  telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000, 577-2301
  FAX: [34] (1) 577-5735
  consulate(s) general: Barcelona

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Spain, with a mixed capitalist economy and a per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four leading economies of Western Europe, has shared with these countries the recession of the early 1990s, the gradual upturn of 1994-95, and the ongoing controversies over the timing and terms of European economic union. Reduction of the budget deficit - at 5.9% of GDP in 1995 - to meet the Maastricht monetary convergence criterion of 3% by 1997 remains the primary goal of Spanish economic policy, but political pressures had kept the Socialist government from implementing the full range of reforms necessary to meet this goal. Spain's official unemployment rate of 23% is the highest in the EU, and the troubled Socialists had been reluctant to cut social spending. Parliament rejected the administration's proposed 1996 budget because of political wrangling - not because of great differences with the substance of the spending plan - forcing the government to continue spending at 1995 levels and use piecemeal decrees to raise consumption taxes to a level consistent with inflation. The conservative opposition Popular Party, now in power after ending 13 years of Socialist rule in the spring of 1996, has promised to cut government spending, loosen regulations on financial markets, and lower taxes to spur job creation. The conservatives have stated support for Spain's role in the EU but also have cautioned against harming Spain's economy by moving too quickly to meet the criteria for monetary union.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 33.6% services: 62.8% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 11.837 million by occupation: services 59%, industry 21%, agriculture 11%, construction 9% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $96.8 billion
  expenditures: $122.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7
  billion (1994 est.)

Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism

Electricity: capacity: 43,800,000 kW production: 148 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,545 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets,
citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish catch of 1.4
million metric tons is among top 20 nations

Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American
cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market;
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin

Exports: $85 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery partners: EU 68.7%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1994)

Imports: $110 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals partners: EU 60.9%, US 7.3%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 6.2% (1994)

Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 14,343 km
  broad gauge: 12,139 km 1.668-m gauge (6,510 km electrified; 2,295 km
  double track)
  standard gauge: 488 km 1.435-m gauge (488 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 1,716 km (privately owned: 1,669 km 1.000-m gauge, 489
  km electrified; 28 km 0.914-m gauge, 28 km electrified; government
  owned: 19 km 1.000-m gauge, all electrified)

Highways:
  total: 331,961 km
  paved: 328,641 km (including 2,700 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 3,320 km (1991 est.)

Ports: Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de
  la Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands),
  Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Puerto de Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  (Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo

Merchant marine:
  total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 874,688 GRT/1,391,421
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 36, chemical tanker 11, combination
  ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 25,
  passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32,
  short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 96
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 15
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
  with paved runways under 914 m: 28
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National
Police, Coastal Civil Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,360,209 males fit for military service: 8,370,197 males reach military age (20) annually: 341,670 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.3 billion, 1.4% of GDP (1995)

Location: 8 38 N, 111 55 E — Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Area:
  total area: NA sq km but less than 5 sq km
  land area: less than 5 sq km
  comparative area: NA
  note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
  scattered over the South China Sea

International disputes: 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 economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island

Terrain: flat lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of
  numerous reefs and shoals
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Economic 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:
  total: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Defense note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by
China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Location: 7 00 N, 81 00 E — Southern Asia, island in the Indian
Ocean, south of India

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

Area:
  total area: 65,610 sq km
  land area: 64,740 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

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

Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Land use:
  arable land: 16%
  permanent crops: 17%
  meadows and pastures: 7%
  forest and woodland: 37%
  other: 23%

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
  natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands,
  Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation

Population: 18,553,074 (July 1996 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 1992, nearly 115,000 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 2,673,943; female 2,559,569)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 6,023,759; female 6,171,964)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 553,940; female 569,899) (July 1996 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.35 years male: 69.77 years female: 75.06 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher,
Malay, and Vedda 1%

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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 90.2%
  male: 93.4%
  female: 87.2%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Chandrika
  Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994) was elected for a
  six-year term by popular vote; 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;
  election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November
  2000); results - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (People's
  Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party) 37%, other
  1%
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president in consultation with
  the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament: elections last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by
  August 2000); results - 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 - (225
  total) 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

Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC),
  C. G. Kumar PONNAMBALAM; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S.
  THONDAMAN; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing
  (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic People's Liberation Front
  (DPLF), leader NA; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M.
  PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas
  DEVANANDA; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL),
  Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students
  (EROS), Shankar RAJI; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or
  Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Liberal Party (LP),
  Chanaka AMARATUNGA; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja
  Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; People's Alliance (PA), Chandrika
  Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil
  Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; People's United Front (MEP,
  or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Sri Lanka Freedom
  Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
  (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri
  Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Sri Lanka Progressive
  Front (SLPF), leader NA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO),
  leader NA; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM;
  United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Upcountry
  People's Front (UPF), leader NA; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim
  parties, represented in either parliament or provincial councils
  note: the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987
  and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of
  1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PA)

Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of Tamil
  Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
  ITU, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jayantha Cudah Bandara DHANAPALA
  chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
  consulate(s): New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador A. Peter BURLEIGH
  embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
  mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
  telephone: [94] (1) 448007
  FAX: [94] (1) 437345

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth accelerated in 1991-94 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. In 1995, however, the government's emphasis on populist measures and its preoccupation with the stepped-up Tamil insurgency have clouded Sri Lanka's economic prospects and discouraged foreign investors. A further problem for 1996 is the need to curb government overspending.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 24% services: 52% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 6.1 million by occupation: agriculture 45%, services 37%, industry 18% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.7 billion
  expenditures: $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $851
  million (1995)

Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco

Electricity: capacity: 1,410,000 kW production: 3.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 168 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat

Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: garments and textiles, teas, diamonds, other gems,
  petroleum products, rubber products, other agricultural products,
  marine products, graphite
  partners: US 34.7%, UK, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, France (1994)

Imports: $4.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: textiles and textile materials, machinery and
  equipment, transport equipment, food, petroleum, building materials
  partners: Japan, India, UK, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan,
  Singapore, China (1994)

Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 54.158 (January 1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.830 (1992), 41.372 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 1,484 km
  broad gauge: 1,459 km 1.676-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 25 km .762-m gauge (1995)

Merchant marine:
  total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,508 GRT/329,410 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 1, oil tanker 2,
  refrigerated cargo 8 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 13
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, good
  international service
  domestic: NA
  international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite
  earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,085,306 males fit for military service: 3,960,070 males reach military age (18) annually: 180,825 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $640 million, 4.4% of GDP (1996)

Location: 15 00 N, 30 00 E — Northern Africa, bordering the Red
Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Area:
  total area: 2,505,810 sq km
  land area: 2.376 million sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Land boundaries:
  total: 7,687 km
  border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,
  Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km,
  Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous zone: 18 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over this disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high

Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season
(April to October)

Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and
  west
  lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
  highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper,
chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 24%
  forest and woodland: 20%
  other: 51%

Environment:
  current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife
  populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion;
  desertification
  natural hazards: dust storms
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

Geographic note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile
and its tributaries

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 7,389,616; female 7,080,044)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 8,219,080; female 8,172,544)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 387,961; female 298,298) (July 1996 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: 1.3 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.12 years male: 54.2 years female: 56.09 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 46.1%
  male: 57.7%
  female: 34.6%

Name of country:
  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

Type of government: transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly

Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or
  wilayah*); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Wusta*, Al Istiwa'iyah*
  (Equatoria), Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al
  Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan
  note: on 14 February 1994, the 9 states comprising Sudan were
  divided into 26 new states; the following spellings have been
  reported but not approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Bahr
  Aljebal, Blue Nile, Bohayrat, East Equatoria, Gedarif, Gezira,
  Jungle, Kassala, Khartoum, North, North Bahr Alghazal, North Darfur,
  North Kordofan, Red Sea, River Nile, Sinnar, South Darfur, South
  Kordofan, Unity, Upper Nile, Warab, West Bahr Alghazal, West Darfur,
  West Kordofan, West Equatoria, White Nile)

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 to be drafted following national elections held in March 1996

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; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; 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 and head of government: President Lt. General Umar
  Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993) was elected to a
  five-year term by popular vote; election last held 6-17 March 1996
  (next to be held NA 2001); results - President al-BASHIR won 75.7%
  of the vote and defeated about forty other candidates; First Vice
  President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October
  1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR
  AROP (since NA February 1994)
  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
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president; note - on 30
  October 1993, President al-BASHIR announced a new, predominantly
  civilian cabinet, consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whom
  retained their previous cabinet positions; on 9 February 1995, he
  abolished three ministries and redivided their portfolios to create
  several new ministries; these changes increased National Islamic
  Front presence at the ministerial level and consolidated its control
  over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; President al-BASHIR's
  government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic
  Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the
  Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominates
  much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; President
  al-BASHIR is expected to name a new cabinet following the elections
  held in March 1996

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly: elections last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be
  held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (400 total, 275
  directly elected, and 125 elected by a supra assembly of interest
  groups known as the National Congress); note - March 1996 elections
  were held on a nonparty basis and parties are to be banned in the
  new National Assembly

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
  AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, 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, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Mahdi IBRAHIM
  chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570
  FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406

US diplomatic representation: operations in Khartoum were suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to Sudan Timothy M. CARNEY and several members of the mission have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya and operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at the corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX: [254] (2) 340838

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Economic 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 reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages 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 1995. Agricultural production in 1995, while fairly good, was not up to the bumper crop level of 1994.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 17% services: 50% (1992 est.)

Labor force: 8.9 million (1993 est.)
  by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%,
  government 6%
  note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled
  employment (1983 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $382 million
  expenditures: $1.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $91
  million (1995 est.)

Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,
soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining

Electricity: capacity: 500,000 kW production: 1.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1993)

Exports: $535 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: cotton 24%, livestock/meat 13%, gum arabic 11% partners: EU 39%, Saudi Arabia 19%, Japan 9%, US 3% (1993)

Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles partners: EU 31%, Libya 19%, Egypt 5%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5% (1993)

Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (LSd) per US$1 - official rate: 750.0 (November 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8 (1993), 69.4 (1992), 5.4288 (1991); market rate: 571.02 (August 1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993), 97.43 (1992), 6.96 (1991) note: the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is quoted uniformly by all commercial banks

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

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: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,024 GRT/57,985 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 56
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 25 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 7,152,884 males fit for military service: 4,399,445 males reach military age (18) annually: 329,460 (1996 est.)

Location: 4 00 N, 56 00 W — Northern South America, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

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

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Area:
  total area: 163,270 sq km
  land area: 161,470 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

International disputes: 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
  Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,
bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum,
gold

Land use:
  arable land: NEGL%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 97%
  other: 3%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation as foreign producers obtain timber
  concessions
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
  Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
  signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
  Sea

Geographic note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 74,959; female 71,500)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 136,287; female 132,407)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 9,930; female 11,335) (July 1996 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.04 years male: 67.51 years female: 72.7 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (also known locally as "East" Indians; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed European and African ancestry) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Bush Black" (also known as "Bush Creole" whose ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 93%
  male: 95.1%
  female: 91%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN
  (since 16 September 1991) and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since
  16 September 1991), who is also the vice president, were elected for
  five-year terms by the National Assembly; election last held 6
  September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected by
  the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules
  WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president from
  among the members of the National Assembly
  note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant
  power

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2

Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF, and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Ernie BRUNINGS; Democratic Party (DP), Ernie BRUNINGS; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL

Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army
  (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation
  and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation
  Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas
  SABAJO

International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,
  FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM,
  OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459 FAX: [597] 420800

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65% of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995. The VENETIAAN government unified the exchange rate and the currency gained some of its lost value. In addition, inflation fell to double digits and tax revenues increased sufficiently to nearly erase the budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure to initiate economic reforms - also helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued implementation of needed economic restructuring; the outcome of the national elections in May 1996 will be an important factor in determining future government policy.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21.6% industry: 23.7% services: 54.7% (1994 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $300 million
  expenditures: $700 million, including capital expenditures of $70
  million (1994 est.)

Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production,
lumbering, food processing, fishing

Electricity: capacity: 420,000 kW production: 1.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,123 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of increasing importance

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Exports: $293.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK 3% (1992)

Imports: $194.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
  consumer goods
  partners: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil
  5% (1992)

Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - central bank midpoint rate: 402.32 (December 1995), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994), 109 (January 1994) note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined

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

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 38
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 31
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: international facilities good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force
elements), Civil Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 119,010 males fit for military service: 70,400 (1996 est.)

Location: 78 00 N, 20 00 E — Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,
Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Area:
  total area: 62,049 sq km
  land area: 62,049 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
  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

International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the
Barents Sea between Norway and Russia

Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year

Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
  cloudberry)

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  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
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Type of government: 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) is a
  hereditary monarch
  Head of Government: Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and
  Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993) are
  responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
  note: Norwegian inhabitants participate in Norwegian national
  elections

Economic overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have 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.

Budget:
  revenues: $11.6 million
  expenditures: $11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity:
  capacity: 21,000 kW
  production: 45 million kWh
  consumption per capita: 13,860 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4160 (January 1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Location: 26 30 S, 31 30 E — Southern Africa, between Mozambique
and South Africa

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

Area:
  total area: 17,360 sq km
  land area: 17,200 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

International disputes: 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

Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains 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: NEGL
  meadows and pastures: 62%
  forest and woodland: 7%
  other: 20%

Environment:
  current issues: limited access to potable water; wildlife
  populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
  overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
  Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 227,634; female 229,129)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 247,156; female 271,096)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 9,864; female 13,851) (July 1996 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.26 years male: 53.25 years female: 61.4 years (1996 est.)

Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 76.7%
  male: 78%
  female: 75.6%

Name of country: 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 has not been formally presented to the people

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) is a
  hereditary monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI
  (since 12 November 1993); appointed by the king
  cabinet: Cabinet; designated by the king

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory Senate: consists of 30 members (10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the king) House of Assembly: elections last held 26 September and 11 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; of the total of 65 seats, 10 are appointed by the king and 55 are elected by secret, popular vote; 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 king;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king

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: Peoples' United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Mario
  MASUKU; Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Benedict TSABEDZE;
  Swaziland Communist Party (SWACOPA), Mphandlana SHONGWE; Swaziland
  Liberation Front (FROLISA); Convention for Full Democracy in
  Swaziland (COFUDESWA), Sabelo DLAMINI; Swaziland National Front
  (SWANAFRO); Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party (NGWASOREP)

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, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KHANYA chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685 FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John T. SPROTT embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445 FAX: [268] 45959

Flag: 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

Economic overview: This small landlocked economy is based largely on subsistence agriculture, which 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 cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products 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 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically produced income by as much as 20%. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drougth persist as problems for the future.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 40% services: 35% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 160,355 (1986 est.) by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%

Budget:
  revenues: $342 million
  expenditures: $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130
  million (1994 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 120,000 kW production: 410 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,003 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus,
pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Exports: $798 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
  asbestos
  partners: South Africa 50%, EU countries, Canada

Imports: $827 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment,
  petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals
  partners: South Africa 90%, Switzerland, UK 2.6%

Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand

Railways:
total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge (single track)

Airports:
  total: 17
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 220,097 males fit for military service: 127,285 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)

Location: 62 00 N, 15 00 E — Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and
Norway

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)

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Area:
  total area: 449,964 sq km
  land area: 410,928 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than California

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

Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 2%
  forest and woodland: 64%
  other: 27%

Environment:
  current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the
  North Sea and the Baltic Sea
  natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in
  the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
  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, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking
Baltic and North Seas

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19% (male 860,940; female 815,967)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 2,884,687; female 2,794,593)
  65 years and over: 17% (male 654,439; female 890,328) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.06 years male: 75.62 years female: 80.63 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
  conventional short form: Sweden
  local long form: Konungariket Sverige
  local short form: Sverige

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
  Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus
  Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan,
  Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan,
  Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan,
  Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan,
  Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands
  Lan

Independence: 6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June
1809, a 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) is a
  constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice
  Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977)
  head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March
  1996) was elected by the Riksdag
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament (Riksdag): elections last held 18 September 1994 (next to
  be held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%,
  Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals
  7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New
  Democracy Party 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162,
  Moderate Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26,
  Left Party 22, Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New
  Democracy Party did not receive a seat because parties require a
  minimum of 4.0% of votes for a seat in parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen), judges are
appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Goran
  PERSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's
  Party, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; Christian
  Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne
  FRANZEN; Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist
  Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party
  spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
  ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
  Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC,
  NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP,
  UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN
  chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
  FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT
  embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00
  FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64

Flag: 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)

Economic overview: Aided by peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, 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. In 1993, agriculture accounted 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, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU (European Currency Unit), and depreciation of the krona has boosted export competitiveness and helped lift Sweden out of its 1991-93 recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, the government adopted an adjustment program in November 1994 that aims to eliminate the government budget deficit and to stabilize the debt to GDP ratio. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995.

Labor force: 4.552 million (84% unionized, 1992) by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, 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: capacity: 34,560,000 kW production: 141 billion kWh consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the
former Soviet Republics and Baltic states for the European market

Exports: $61.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and
  wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum
  products
  partners: EU 59.1% (Germany 13.2%, UK 10.2%, Denmark 6.9%, France
  5.1%), Norway 8.1%, Finland 4.8%, US 8.0% (1994)

Imports: $51.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EU 62.6% (Germany 18.4%, UK 9.5%, Denmark 6.6%, France 5.5%), Finland 6.3%, Norway 6.1%, US 8.5% (1994)

Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.7240 (January 1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 January - 31 December (Sweden changed its fiscal
year from 1 July - 30 June in 1995)

Railways:
  total: 12,624 km (includes 953 km of privately-owned railways)
  standard gauge: 11,767 km 1.435-m gauge (7,320 km electrified and
  1,152 km double track)
  other: 857 km NA-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 135,859 km
  paved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 38,041 km (1991 est.)

Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar,
Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall

Merchant marine:
  total: 169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,993,422
  GRT/2,183,215 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 35, chemical tanker 24, combination
  ore/oil 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 32, railcar carrier 2,
  refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea passenger
  7, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 14 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 251
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 85
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 26
  with paved runways under 914 m: 127
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,133,816 males fit for military service: 1,867,031 males reach military age (19) annually: 51,357 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 2.5% of GDP (FY94/95)

Description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in
the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Area:
  total area: 41,290 sq km
  land area: 39,770 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,852 km
  border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,
  Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

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 lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 40%
  forest and woodland: 26%
  other: 23%

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
  natural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods
  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, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
  ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
  Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic 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 638,728; female 610,546)
  15-64 years: 68% (male 2,495,325; female 2,405,226)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 424,394; female 632,841) (July 1996
  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: 0.67 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.62 years male: 74.58 years female: 80.82 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions:
  total population: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%,
  other 6%
  Swiss nationals: German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%,
  other 1%

Languages: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other
  4%
  note: figures for Swiss nationals only: German 74%, French 20%,
  Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  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 and head of government: President Jean-Pascal
  DELAMURAZ (1996 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice
  President Arnold KOLLER (term runs concurrently with that of
  president); the president is appointed each year from the Federal
  Council by the Federal Assembly
  cabinet: Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French - Censeil
  Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale) was elected for a four-year
  term by the Federal Assembly from among its own members

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German -
  Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea
  Federale)
  Council of States: (German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats,
  Italian - Consiglio degli Stati); elections last held throughout
  1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (46 total) PRD 17, PDC 17, UDC 4, PSS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1,
  Ticino League 1
  National Council: (German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National,
  Italian - Consiglio Nazionale); elections last held 20 October 1995
  (next to be held NA October 1999); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (200 total) PRD 45, PSS 54, PDC 34, UDC 30, GPS 8,
  LPS 7, FPS 6, LdU 6, SD 3, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2

Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for
six-year terms by the Federal Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Radical Free Democratic Party
  (PRD), Franz STEINEGGER, president; Social Democratic Party (PSS),
  Peter BODENMANN, president; Christian Democratic People's Party
  (PDC), Anton COTTIER, president; Swiss People's Party (UDC), Hans
  UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Verena DIENER, president;
  Freedom Party (FPS), Roland BORER; Liberal Party (LPS), Christoph
  EYMANN, president; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Monica
  WEBER, president; Ticino League, Giuliano BIGNASCA, president; and
  other minor parties including Swiss Democratic Party (SD), Workers'
  Party (PdA), and the Evangelical People's Party (EVP); note - see
  elections

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
  FAO, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
  OSCE, PCA, UN (observer), UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNITAR, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Carlo JAGMETTI
  chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
  FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
  York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
  embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [41] (31) 357 70 11
  FAX: [41] (31) 357 73 44
  consulate(s) general: Zurich

Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the
center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Economic overview: Switzerland, a fundamentally prosperous and stable modern economy with a per capita GDP roughly 10% above that of the big West European economies, is experiencing short-term difficulties. After recovering slowly in 1994-95 from recession, the Swiss economy remains weak, mainly because of the strong Swiss franc and weak growth in Swiss export market, especially in other European countries. Over the near term, growth may average barely 1%, with more than one-half of this increase resulting from growth in inventories. Weak domestic consumer demand is the principal culprit; stagnation in real disposable income is combining with a reluctance to reduce saving rates in the face of an uncertain employment outlook. Switzerland's leading sectors, including financial services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and special-purpose machines, will therefore be more reliant on export markets at the same time they are being squeezed by the strong franc. Consequently, growth in machinery and equipment investment, for example, is expected to taper off. On the other side, import growth has been fueled by the strong franc; there are growing indications that Swiss manufacturers are substituting imported inputs for domestic ones.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 33.5% services: 63.5% (1991)

Labor force: 3.48 million (900,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian) by occupation: services 50%, industry and crafts 34%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6% (1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $31 billion
  expenditures: $36.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995)

Electricity: capacity: 15,430,000 kW production: 58 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,699 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transit country for South
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin

Exports: $69.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal
  products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing
  partners: Western Europe 63.1% (EU countries 56%, other 7.1%), US
  8.8%, Japan 3.4%

Imports: $68.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation
  equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials
  partners: Western Europe 79.2% (EU countries 72.3%, other 6.9%), US
  6.4%

Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.1810 (January 1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 5,719 km (1,432 km double track)
  standard gauge: 3,283 km 1.435-m gauge (99% electrified; 310 km
  nongovernment owned)
  narrow gauge: 1,255 km 1.000-m gauge (99% electrified; 1,181 km
  nongovernment owned)
  other: 1,181 km NA-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
  total: 71,118 km
  paved: 71,118 km (including 1,514 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes

Merchant marine:
  total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 410,581 GRT/727,744 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 67
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with paved runways under 914 m: 40
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 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)

Branches: Army, Air Force and Antiaircraft Command, Frontier
Guards, Fortification Guards

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,893,587 males fit for military service: 1,623,414 males reach military age (20) annually: 41,425 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.74 billion, 1.4% of GDP (1995)

Location: 35 00 N, 38 00 E — Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Lebanon and Turkey

Area:
  total area: 185,180 sq km
  land area: 184,050 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota
  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

International disputes: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; dispute over Turkey's water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

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 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: 3%
  meadows and pastures: 46%
  forest and woodland: 3%
  other: 20%

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
  natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
  international agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Environmental Modification

Geographic note: there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1995 est.)

Population: 15,608,648 (July 1996 est.)
  note: in addition, there are 31,300 people living in the
  Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 16,500 Arabs (15,000 Druze and
  1,500 Alawites) and 14,800 Israeli settlers (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 47% (male 3,738,671; female 3,557,474)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 4,013,355; female 3,843,466)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 227,249; female 228,433) (July 1996 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 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.13 years male: 65.94 years female: 68.38 years (1996 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, French widely understood

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 70.8%
  male: 85.7%
  female: 55.8%

Name of country:
  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; see
  note) was reelected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage;
  election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December
  1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth
  seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote; 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 NA), Rifaat al-ASAD (since NA), and Muhammad Zuhayr
  MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984) were appointed by the president
  head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
  1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March
  1984), Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI
  (since 4 July 1992) were appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August 1994 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167, independents 83

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 includes: the ruling Arab Socialist
  Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, president of the republic,
  secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National
  Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-Ghani
  KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist
  Party (SCP), Wisal FARHAH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, Sami
  SOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, Ghassan UTHMAN

Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little
effective political influence; Communist party ineffective;
conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood

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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
  ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM
  chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
  FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 333-2814, 333-0788, 332-0783 FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938

Flag: 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

Economic overview: During 1990-92 Syria's state-dominated economy benefited from the Gulf war, increased oil production, good weather, and economic reform. Economic growth averaged roughly 10%. The war led to a Syrian aid windfall of nearly $5 billion from Arab, European, and Japanese donors. Most positive economic trends ended in 1993 due to the dissipation of the Gulf war boom, a domestic financial crisis, and economic policy missteps. Economic growth has dropped below 5%, income inequality is increasing, the government budget deficit is growing, and international accounts are weakening. For the long run, Syria's economy is saddled with a large number of poorly performing public sector firms and low industrial productivity. Oil production is likely to ebb by the end of the decade. Unemployment will likely rise as the more than 60% of the population under age 20 moves into the labor force. The economic benefits of any peace treaty with Israel will depend in large part on the pace of economic reform.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 25% services: 45% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 4.7 million (1995 est.) by occupation: services 42%, industry 36%, agriculture 22% (1990 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.5 billion
  expenditures: $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco,
phosphate rock mining, petroleum

Electricity: capacity: 4,160,000 kW production: 13.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas; beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk

Illicit drugs: a transit point for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional and Western markets

Exports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: petroleum 66%, cotton, fruits and vegetables 14%,
  textiles 9%, animal products 4%, industrial products 3%
  partners: EU 61%, Arab countries 24%, former CEMA countries, China,
  Yugoslavia 5%, US and Canada 3% (1993 est.)

Imports: $5.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: machinery 25%, metal products 16%, transport equipment
  15%, foodstuffs 12%, textiles 10%
  partners: EU 37%, former CEMA countries, China, Yugoslavia 17%, US
  and Canada 7%, Arab countries 6% (1993 est.)

Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 11.225 (official fixed rate), 26.6 ("blended rate" used by the UN and diplomatic missions), 42.0 ("neighboring country rate" - applies to most state enterprise imports), 48.0 - 52.0 (offshore rate) (1994)

Railways:
  total: 1,998 km
  broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge

Highways:
  total: 31,569 km
  paved: 24,308 km (including 712 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 7,261 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 294,355 GRT/454,990 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 85, livestock carrier 1, vehicle
  carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 99
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 62
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)

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

Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air
Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,590,557 males fit for military service: 2,011,610 males reach military age (19) annually: 164,598 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $875 million, 8% of GDP (1994 est.); note - based on official budget data that understate actual spending

Location: 23 30 N, 121 00 E — 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

Description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

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 area: 35,980 sq km
  land area: 32,260 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware
  combined
  note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

International disputes: 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; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
  Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan

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 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%
  meadows and pastures: 5%
  forest and woodland: 55%
  other: 15%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
  sewage; air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies;
  trade in endangered species
  natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
  international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life
  Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23% (male 2,605,495; female 2,436,864)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 7,505,344; female 7,252,188)
  65 years and over: 8% (male 907,310; female 758,680) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.02 years male: 73.43 years female: 78.82 years (1996 est.)

Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%,
Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
  total population: 86%
  male: 93%
  female: 79%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan

Type of government: multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in March 1989

Administrative divisions: some of the ruling party in Taipei claim
  to be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the
  central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng,
  singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and
  plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province
  including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, 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 Revolution)

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President LI 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, reelected by popular
  vote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March
  1996); election last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000);
  results - LI Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, and
  CHEN Li-an 10%; Vice President-elect LIEN Chan (to be inaugurated 20
  May 1996)
  head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN
  Chan (since 23 February 1993) and Vice Premier (Vice President of
  the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993) were
  appointed by the president; note - LIEN Chan will continue to serve
  as premier until 20 May 1996 when he will be inaugurated as vice
  president; a new premier is expected to be appointed sometime in May
  1996
  cabinet: Executive Yuan was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral
  National Assembly
  Legislative Yuan: elections last held 2 December 1995 (next to be
  held NA December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (164 total) KMT 85, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 4; note - since
  the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats -
  KMT 83, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 6
  National Assembly: elections last held 23 March 1996 (next to be
  held NA 2000); results - KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP 14%, other 1%; seats
  - (334 total) KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices nominated and appointed
for nine-year terms by the president

Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist
  Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),
  leader NA; Chinese New Party (CNP), leader NA; Labor Party (LP),
  leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: Taiwan independence movement,
  various 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 the opposition Democratic
  Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate
  on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence,
  both within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling
  party's traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with
  mainland China; the aims 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 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 10 other US cities

US diplomatic representation: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, FAX [886] (2) 702-7675, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX [886] (7) 223-8237, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550

Flag: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Economic overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 9% 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. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being 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.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 37.3% services: 59.1% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 8.874 million by occupation: services 49%, industry 39%, agriculture 11% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $30.3 billion
  expenditures: $30.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1991 est.)

Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining

Electricity: capacity: 21,460,000 kW production: 108 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,789 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish catch increasing, reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988

Illicit drugs: an important heroin transit point; also a drug money laundering center

Exports: $93 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: electrical machinery 19.7%, electronic products 19.6%, textiles 10.9%, footwear 3.3%, foodstuffs 1.0%, plywood and wood products 0.9% (1993 est.) partners: US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EU countries 15.2%, Japan 10.5% (1994 est.)

Imports: $85.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and equipment 15.7%, electronic products 15.6%, chemicals 9.8%, iron and steel 8.5%, crude oil 3.9%, foodstuffs 2.1% (1993 est.) partners: Japan 30.1%, US 21.7%, EU countries 17.6% (1993 est.)

Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 27.4 (1995), 26.2 (1994), 26.6 (1993), 25.4 (1992), 25.748 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 4,600 km; note - 1,075 km in common carrier service and about
  3,525 km is dedicated to industrial use
  narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m

Highways:
  total: 19,860 km
  paved: 17,119 km (including 382 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 2,741 km (1990 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 198 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,812,534
  GRT/8,885,092 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 50, cargo 29, combination bulk 3, combination
  ore/oil 1, container 83, oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 11,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 38
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 12
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: best developed system in Asia outside of Japan
  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

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 6,278,159 males fit for military service: 4,849,057 males reach military age (19) annually: 204,313 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11.5 billion, 3.6% of GDP (FY96/97)

Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government since it gained independence in September 1991. The current president, Emomali RAHMONOV, was elected in November 1994, yet has been in power since 1992. The country is suffering through its third year of a civil conflict, with no clear end in sight. Underlying the conflict are deeply rooted regional and clan-based animosities that pit a government consisting of people primarily from the Kulob (Kulyab), Khujand (Leninabad), and Hisor (Hissar) regions against a secular and Islamic-led opposition from the Gharm, Gorno-Badakhshan, and Qurghonteppa (Kurgan-Tyube) regions. Government and opposition representatives have held periodic rounds of UN-mediated peace talks and agreed in September 1994 to a cease-fire which has been periodically extended. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the Tajik-Afghan border.

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

Area:
  total area: 143,100 sq km
  land area: 142,700 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,651 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
  km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

International disputes: boundary with China in dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area; Afghanistan's and other foreign support to Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's civil war based in northern Afghanistan

Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Terrain: Pamir and Altai Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest 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%
  meadows and pastures: 23%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 71%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43% (male 1,282,846; female 1,258,302)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 1,546,264; female 1,566,365)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 110,705; female 151,891) (July 1996 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.45 years male: 60.84 years female: 68.24 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
  conventional short form: Tajikistan
  local long form: Jumhurii Tojikistan
  local short form: none
  former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati avtonomii); Viloyati Avtonomii Badakhshoni Kuni* (Khorugh - formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa - formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobod (Khujand - formerly Leninabad) note: the administrative center names are in parentheses

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994;
  was Head of State and Assembly Chairman since NA November 1992) was
  elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
  held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - Emomali
  RAHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLAJANOV 40%
  head of government: Prime Minister Yahyo AZIMOV (since 8 February
  1996) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president who
  proposes them to the Supreme Assembly for approval

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Majlisi Oli): elections last held 26 February and
  12 March 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; estimated seats - (181 total) 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: People's Party of Tajikistan,
  Abdumajid DOSTIYEV; Party of People's Unity, Abdumalik ABDULLOJONOR;
  Tajik Communist Party, Shodi SHABDOLOV; Democratic Party, Jumaboy
  NIYAZOV, chairman; Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP), Mohammed Sharif
  HIMMATZODA, chairman; Rebirth (Rastokhez), Takhir ABDUZHABOROV; Lali
  Badakhshan Society, Atobek AMIRBEK; Tajikistan Party of Economic and
  Political Renewal (TPEPR); Citizenship, Patriotism, Unity Party,
  Bobokhon MAHMADOV; Adolatho "Justices" Party, Abdurahmon KARIMOV,
  chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Tajikistan Opposition Movement
based in northern Afghanistan, Seyed Abdullah NURI, chairman

International organization participation: CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO,
  ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US: Tajikistan does not have an
  embassy in the US, but has a mission at the UN: address - 136 East
  67th Street, New York, NY 10021, telephone - [1] (212) 472-7645, FAX
  - [1] (212) 628-0252

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador R. Grant SMITH
  embassy: interim chancery, Oktyabrskaya Hotel, 105A Prospect Rudaki,
  Dushanbe 734001
  mailing address: Octyabrskaya Hotel, 105A Prospect Rudaki, Dushanbe,
  Tajikistan 734001
  telephone: [7] (3772) 21-03-56
  FAX: Telex (787) 20116

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Tajikistan had the next-to-lowest per capita GDP in the former USSR, the highest rate of population growth, and an extremely low standard of living. Agriculture dominates the economy, with cotton being the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry is limited to a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The Tajik economy has been gravely weakened by four years of civil conflict and by the loss of subsidies and markets for its products, which has left Tajikistan dependent on Russia and Uzbekistan and on international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the continued dominance by former communist officials have impeded the introduction of meaningful economic reforms. The regime has made only halfhearted efforts to stabilize the economy and promote reform.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.4 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

Labor force: 1.95 million (1992) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, government and services 24%, industry 14%, trade and communications 11%, construction 8% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 3.3% includes only officially registered
unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and
unregistered unemployed people (December 1995)

Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers,
cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators
and freezers

Electricity: capacity: 3,800,000 kW production: 14.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,400 kWh (1995)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy;
mostly for CIS consumption; used as transshipment point for illicit
drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America

Exports: $707 million (1995)
commodities: cotton, aluminum, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
partners: Russia, Kazakstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan

Imports: $690 million (1995) commodities: fuel, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, foodstuffs partners: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $22 million (1993)
  note: commitments, $885 million (disbursements $115 million)
  (1992-95)

Railways:
total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines (1990)

Airports:
  total: 59
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 36 (1994 est.)

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

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is one state-owned radio broadcast station

Television broadcast stations: 1 note: 1 Intelsat earth station provides TV receive-only service from Turkey

Branches: Army (being formed), Presidential National Guard,
Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,358,106 males fit for military service: 1,115,149 males reach military age (18) annually: 58,691 (1996 est.)

Location: 6 00 S, 35 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian
Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

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

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Kenya and Mozambique

Area:
  total area: 945,090 sq km
  land area: 886,040 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of California
  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

International disputes: boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled

Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,
  south
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources: hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron
ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 40%
  forest and woodland: 47%
  other: 7%

Environment:
  current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification;
  destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent
  droughts affected marginal agriculture
  natural hazards: the tsetse fly and lack of water limit agriculture;
  flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
  Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 6,536,911; female 6,576,752)
  15-64 years: 52% (male 7,360,370; female 7,739,500)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 396,128; female 448,809) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -10.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: the total number of Rwandan and Burundian refugees in Tanzania is about 750,000

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: 0.88 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42.34 years male: 40.95 years female: 43.78 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions:
  mainland: native African (95% Bantu, consisting of well over 100
  tribes) 99%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%
  Zanzibar: Arab, mixed Arab and native African, native African

Religions:
mainland: Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Zanzibar: Muslim more than 99%

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 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: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili),
  English, or Arabic (1995 est.)
  total population: 67.8%
  male: 79.4%
  female: 56.8%

Name of country:
  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 by the end of the 1990s

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

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 MKARA (since 22 November 1995)
  was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held
  29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held 29 October 2000);
  results - Benjamin MKARA 62%, MREMA 28%, LIPUMBA 6%, CHEYO 4%; Vice
  President Omar Ali JUMA (since 22 November 1995); President of
  Zanzibar Salmin AMOUR (since 27 October 1995); election last held 22
  October 1995 (next to be held 22 October 2000); results - Salmin
  AMOUR 50.2%, HAMAD 49.8%
  head of government: Prime Minister Fredrick SUMAYE (since 27
  November 1995) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from the members of
  the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly (Bunge): elections last held 29 October-19
  November 1995 (next to be held 29 October 2000); results - percent
  of total vote by party NA; seats - (274 total, 232 elected) CCM 186,
  opposition parties 46; of the 42 seats which are not elected some
  are filled by presidential appointment and others are designated by
  law for specific officials

Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM or
  Revolutionary Party), Ali Hassan MWINYI; Civic United Front (CUF),
  Seif Sharif HAMAD; National Convention for Construction and Reform
  (NCCR), Lyatonga (Augustine) MREMA; Union for Multiparty Democracy
  (UMD), Abdullah FUNDIKIRA; Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo
  (CHADEMA), Edwin I. M. MTEI, chairman; Democratic Party
  (unregistered), Reverend MTIKLA; United Democratic Party (UDP), John
  CHEYO

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB,
  ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC,
  UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI
  chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
  FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador J. Brady ANDERSON embassy: 36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam telephone: [255] (51) 66010 through 66015 FAX: [255] (51) 66701

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 58% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 5% of the land area. Industry accounts for 8% 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 1991-94 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 58% industry: 8% services: 34% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 13.495 million by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1986 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $495 million
  expenditures: $631 million, including capital expenditures of $118
  million (1990 est.)

Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer

Electricity:
  capacity: 440,000 kW
  production: 880 million kWh
  consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide
  made from chrysanthemums), cashews, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar),
  corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle,
  sheep, goats

Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest Asian
heroin destined for European and US markets

Exports: $462 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: coffee, cotton, tobacco, tea, cashew nuts, sisal partners: Germany, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, cotton piece goods, crude oil, foodstuffs partners: Germany, UK, US, Japan, Italy, Denmark

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 558.18 (December 1995), 574.76 (1995), 509.63 (1994), 405.27 (1993), 297.71 (1992), 219.16 (1991)

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 New Kapiri M'poshi in Zambia is not a part of Tanzania
  Railways Corporation; 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in
  Zambia; because of the difference in gauge, this system does not
  connect to Tanzania Railways

Highways:
  total: 55,600 km
  paved: 20,572 km (including 50 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 35,028 km (1992 est.)

Ports: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Lindi, Mkoani, Mtwara,
Musoma, Mwanza, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Merchant marine:
  total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,371 GRT/41,269 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 2, passenger-cargo 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 111
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 28
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 57 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; includes Army,
Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 6,499,244 males fit for military service: 3,765,193 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $69 million, NA% of GDP (FY94/95)

Location: 15 00 N, 100 00 E — Southeastern Asia, bordering the
Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue
(double width), white, and red

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the
Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Area:
  total area: 514,000 sq km
  land area: 511,770 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,863 km
  border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
  Malaysia 506 km

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

International disputes: boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved
maritime boundary with Vietnam; parts of border with Cambodia in
dispute; maritime boundary with Cambodia not clearly defined

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May
to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains
  elsewhere
  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: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 30%
  other: 31%

Environment:
  current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water
  pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil
  erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
  natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
  depletion of the water table; droughts
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 25% (male 7,627,916; female 7,351,264)
  15-64 years: 69% (male 19,994,884; female 20,576,141)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,468,814; female 1,832,338) (July 1996
  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: 0.8 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.6 years male: 64.89 years female: 72.49 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism
0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)

Languages: Thai, English the secondary language of the elite,
ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 93.8%
  male: 96%
  female: 91.6%

Name of country: 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; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup

Executive branch:
  chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946) is a
  constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON
  (born 28 July 1952)
  head of government: Prime Minister BANHAN Sinlapa-acha (since 13
  July 1995); prime minister must be appointed from among the members
  of the House of Representatives
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  Privy Council: NA

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Rathasapha) Senate (Wuthisapha): consists of a 270-member appointed body House of Representatives (Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon): elections last held 2 July 1995 (next to be held 2 July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (391 total) TNP 93, DP 86, NAP 56, NDP 53, PDP 23, SAP 23, NTP 18, TCP 18, LDP 10, SP 8, MP 3

Political parties and leaders: Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai
  Party), BANHAN Sinlapa-acha; Democratic Party (DP or Prachathipat
  Party), CHUAN Likphai; New Aspiration Party (NAP or Khwamwang Mai),
  Gen. CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut; National Development Party (NDP or Chat
  Phattana), CHATCHAI Chunhawan; Phalang Dharma Party (PDP or Phalang
  Tham), THAKSIN Chinnawat; Social Action Party (SAP or Kitsangkhom
  Party), MONTRI Phongphanit; Thai Leadership Party (NTP or Nam Thai),
  Amnuai Wirawan; Thai Citizen's Party (TCP or Prachakon Thai), SAMAK
  Sunthonwet; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), ATHIT
  Urairat; Solidarity Party (SP or Ekkaphap Party), UTHAI
  Phimchaichon; Mass Party (MP or Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. CHALOEM
  Yubamrung

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
  CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, Mekong
  Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William H. ITOH embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 252-5040 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai consulate(s): Udorn

Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
width), white, and red

Economic overview: One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, Thailand depends on exports of manufactures - including high-technology goods - and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth, averaging 9% since 1989. Most of Thailand's recent imports have been for capital equipment and raw materials, although imports of consumer goods are beginning to rise. Thailand's 35% domestic savings rate is a key source of capital for the economy, and the country is also benefiting from rising investment from abroad. Prime Minister BANHAN's government - Thailand's sixth government in five years - undoubtedly will continue Bangkok's probusiness policies despite some concerns that it is relaxing Bangkok's traditional fiscal austerity. BANHAN is beginning to address Thailand's serious infrastructure bottlenecks, especially in the transport and telecommunications sectors. Over the longer term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 10.2% industry: 30.6% services: 59.2% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 32,152,600
by occupation: agriculture 57%, industry 17%, commerce 11%, services
(including government) 15% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $28.4 billion
  expenditures: $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $6.1
  billion (FY94/95)

Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Electricity: capacity: 12,810,000 kW production: 56.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 909 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

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; rapidly growing role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamine and heroin

Exports: $45.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: manufactures 73%, agricultural products and fisheries
  21%, raw materials 5%, fuels 1%
  partners: US 21.0%, Japan 17.1%, Singapore 13.6%, Hong Kong 5.3%,
  Germany 3.5%, UK 3.0%, Netherlands 2.8%, Malaysia 2.4%

Imports: $53.9 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: manufactures 80%, fuels 6.9%, raw materials 6.6%,
  foodstuffs 4.3%
  partners: Japan 30.4%, US 11.9%, Singapore 6.3%, Germany 5.8%,
  Taiwan 5.1%, Malaysia 4.9%, South Korea 3.7%, China 2.6%

Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1 - 25.300 (January 1996), 25.000 (1995 est.), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991)

Railways: total: 4,623 km narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)

Highways:
  total: 54,388 km
  paved: 48,786 km (including 171 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 5,602 km (1992 est.)

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

Merchant marine:
  total: 259 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,559,037
  GRT/2,498,812 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 32, cargo 143, chemical tanker 3, container 11,
  liquefied gas tanker 12, oil tanker 45, passenger 1, refrigerated
  cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1,
  specialized tanker 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 98
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 12
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 22
  with paved runways under 914 m: 36
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: service to general public inadequate; 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

Branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 16,835,334 males fit for military service: 10,182,904 males reach military age (18) annually: 592,268 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, 2.5% of GDP (FY94/95)

Location: 24 15 N, 76 00 W — Caribbean, chain of islands in the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida

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

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

Area:
  total area: 13,940 sq km
  land area: 10,070 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut

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

Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia 63 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 32%
  other: 67%

Environment:
  current issues: coral reef decay
  natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause
  extensive flood and wind damage
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28% (male 36,331; female 35,771)
  15-64 years: 67% (male 84,107; female 89,193)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 5,449; female 8,516) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.53 years male: 67.98 years female: 77.16 years (1996 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: age 15 and over can read and write but definition of
  literacy not available (1995 est.)
  total population: 98.2%
  male: 98.5%
  female: 98%

Name of country:
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) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir Orville
  TURNQUEST (since 2 January 1995) who was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since
  19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since NA)
  were appointed by the governor general
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the prime
  minister's recommendation

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: a 16-member body appointed by the governor general House of Assembly: elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17

Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP),
Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert
Alexander INGRAHAM

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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS embassy: Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau mailing address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; P.O. Box 9009, Miami, FL 33159; Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 (pouch) telephone: [1] (809) 322-1181, 328-2206 FAX: [1] (809) 328-7838

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

Economic overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. A slowdown in the expansion of the tourism sector - especially stopover travel from Europe - led to a reduction in the country's GDP growth rate in 1995, down to an estimated 2% from 3.5% in 1994. The construction sector benefited from hotel rehabilitation and the government's ongoing housing development program. Earnings from exports of vegetable and citrus production have been decreasing since 1993 but are expected to increase in 1996 due to storm damage to crops in Florida. The overall growth prospects through 1996 will depend heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued income growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visits.

Labor force: 136,900 (1993) by occupation: government 30%, tourism 40%, business services 10%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $665 million
  expenditures: $725 million, including capital expenditures of $94
  million (FY95/96 est.)

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

Electricity: capacity: 424,000 kW production: 929 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound
for US and Europe; also a money-laundering center

Exports: $224.257 million (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined
  petroleum products
  partners: US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%

Imports: $1.08 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles,
  electronics
  partners: US 55%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%

Merchant marine:
  total: 956 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,592,285
  GRT/35,765,965 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 176, cargo 182, chemical tanker 43, combination
  bulk 9, combination ore/oil 19, container 53, liquefied gas tanker
  20, oil tanker 180, passenger 53, refrigerated cargo 147,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 13, vehicle carrier 14
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48
  countries among which are Norway 155, Greece 124, US 84, Denmark 63,
  Netherlands 44, Sweden 36, Finland 34, France 29, Japan 29, and
  Belgium 24 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 55
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 16
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11
  with paved runways under 914 m: 17
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

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

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

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $20 million, 3.8% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 13 28 N, 16 34 W — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with
white edges, and green

Area:
  total area: 11,300 sq km
  land area: 10,000 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

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)

Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Land use:
  arable land: 16%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 9%
  forest and woodland: 20%
  other: 55%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases
  prevalent
  natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification

Geographic note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on
the continent of Africa

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46% (male 276,782; female 275,683)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 307,405; female 312,736)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 17,278; female 15,100) (July 1996 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: 1.14 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.96 years male: 50.74 years female: 55.24 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%,
Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1%

Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 38.6%
  male: 52.8%
  female: 24.9%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia

Type of government: republic under multiparty democratic rule note:: nominally a republic, The Gambia has had a military government since 22 July 1994; the military authority has promised to return control to a democratically-elected government in July 1996

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower
River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; 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 a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Armed Forces
  Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since the
  military coup of 22 July 1994); Vice Chairman of the Armed Forces
  Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Edward SINGHATEH (since March
  1995); last popular election held on 29 April 1992; results - Sir
  Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan
  Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0% (prior to the 22 July 1994 coup, next
  election had been scheduled for April 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet normally is appointed by the president from members
  of the House of Representatives (present cabinet appointed by
  Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council)

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives: last popular election held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held NA April 1997); results - PPP won 58.1% of votes; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6 note: following the military coup on 22 July 1994, all elective offices were dissolved; in April 1996, the military government announced that voter registrations would begin in May and democratic elections would be held in October 1996

Political parties and leaders: the following political parties were active on 22 July 1994, after which time political activity was banned by the military government: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile), secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA (in exile); Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH

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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires
  ad interim Tombong SAIDY
  chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425
  FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald A. SCOTT
  embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
  mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
  telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971
  FAX: [220] 392475

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white
edges, and green

Economic overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. A sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade policy, had fostered a respectable 4% annual rate of growth in 1990-93. Reexport trade normally constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a halving of reexport trade, reducing government revenues in turn. The 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese goods more competitive and apparently prompted a relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in reexports. But, in response to the military's takeover in July 1994, cuts in foreign trade and a decline in tourism have undermined economic growth.

Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%

Budget:
  revenues: $91.4 million
  expenditures: $90 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing

Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 70 million kWh consumption per capita: 64 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishing resources not fully exploited

Exports: $35 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm
  kernels
  partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)

Imports: $209 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.555 (August 1996), 9.576 (1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 267,188 males fit for military service: 134,611 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 3.8% of GDP (FY93/94)

Location: 8 00 N, 1 10 E — Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Benin and Ghana

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Benin and Ghana

Area:
  total area: 56,790 sq km
  land area: 54,390 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Baumann 986 m

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 28%
  other: 42%

Environment:
  current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn
  agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting
  agriculture
  natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in
  north during winter; periodic droughts
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
  Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
  Change, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 49% (male 1,116,030; female 1,105,957)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 1,085,774; female 1,163,374)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 46,089; female 53,306) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.87 years male: 55.7 years female: 60.1 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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), Dagomba and
  Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye; the two major African languages in
  the north)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 51.7%
  male: 67%
  female: 37%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Togo conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togo

Administrative divisions: 23 circumscriptions (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription); Amlame (Amou), Aneho (Lacs), Atakpame (Ogou), Badou (Wawa), Bafilo (Assoli), Bassar (Bassari), Dapango (Tone), Kande (Keran), Klouto (Kloto), Pagouda (Binah), Lama-Kara (Kozah), Lome (Golfe), Mango (Oti), Niamtougou (Doufelgou), Notse (Haho), Pagouda, Sotouboua, Tabligbo (Yoto), Tchamba, Nyala, Tchaoudjo, Tsevie (Zio), Vogan (Vo) note: the 23 units may now be called prefectures (singular - prefecture) and reported name changes for individual units are included in parentheses

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) reelected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election
  last held 25 August 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); all major
  opposition parties boycotted the election; Gen. EYADEMA won 96.5% of
  the vote
  head of government: Prime Minister Edem KODJO (since April 1994)
  appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
  prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) CAR 36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1 note: the Supreme Court ordered new elections for three seats of the Action Committee for Renewal (CAR) and the Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), lowering their total to 34 and six seats, respectively; the remaining three seats have not been filled

Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People (RPT),
  President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles
  (CFN), Joseph KOFFIGOH; Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), Edem
  KODJO; Action Committee for Renewal (CAR), Yao AGBOYIBOR; Union for
  Democracy and Solidarity (UDS), Antoine FOLLY; Pan-African
  Sociodemocrats Group (GSP), an alliance of three radical parties:
  CDPA, PDR, and PSP; Democratic Convention of African Peoples (CDPA),
  Leopold GNININVI; Party for Democracy and Renewal (PDR), Zarifou
  AYEVA; Pan-African Social Party (PSP), Francis AGBAGLI; Union of
  Forces for Change (UFC), Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile); Union of
  Justice and Democracy (UJD), Lal TAXPANDJAN
  note: Rally of the Togolese People (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,
  MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WADB, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Kossivi OSSEYI
  chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: [228] 21 77 17, 21 29 91 through 21 29 94 FAX: [228] 21 79 52

Flag: 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

Economic overview: This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for more than 60% 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. 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, has jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity. Although strikes had ended in 1994, political unrest and lack of funds prevented the government from taking advantage of the 50% currency devaluation of 12 January 1994. Resumption of World Bank and IMF flows will depend on implementation of several controversial moves toward privatization and on downsizing the military, on which the regime depends to stay in power.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 49.2% industry: 17.7% services: 33.1% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1.538 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 64%, industry 9%, services 21%. unemployed 6% (1981 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $165 million
  expenditures: $274 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement;
handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Electricity: capacity: 34,000 kW production: 41.004 million kWh consumption per capita: 9 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; meat; annual fish catch of 10,000-14,000 tons

Exports: $162.2 (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: phosphates, cotton, cocoa, coffee partners: EC 40%, Africa 16%, US 1% (1990)

Imports: $212 million (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemical
  products
  partners: EC 57%, Africa 17%, US 5%, Japan 4% (1990)

Airports:
  total: 8
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: fair system based on network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 975,746 males fit for military service: 512,196 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $48 million, 2.9% of GDP (1993)

Location: 9 00 S, 172 00 W — Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand

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

Area:
  total area: 10 sq km
  land area: 10 sq km
  comparative area: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
  DC

Terrain: coral atolls enclosing large lagoons lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment:
  current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are
  contributing to emigration to New Zealand
  natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

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

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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; the queen and New Zealand
  are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993)
  who was appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in
  New Zealand
  head of government: Official Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA),
  Tokelau Apia Liaison Office

Legislative branch: unicameral
General Fono: seats - (45 total, 15 chosen by each of the three
atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega)

Economic overview: Tokelau's small size, 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.

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: capacity: 200 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1990)

Exports: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts
partners: NZ

Imports: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
partners: NZ

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), l.7265 (1991)

Telephone system:
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa

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: 20 00 S, 175 00 W — Oceania, archipelago in the South
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the
upper hoist-side corner

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area:
  total area: 748 sq km
  land area: 718 sq km
  comparative area: four times the size of Washington, DC

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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: on Kao Island 1,033 m

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 55%
  meadows and pastures: 6%
  forest and woodland: 12%
  other: 2%

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
  natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and
  volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
  international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.04 years male: 67.03 years female: 71.4 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write a simple message in
  Tongan or English (1976 est.)
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100%

Name of country: 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) is
  a constitutional monarch
  head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991)
  and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
  were appointed for life by the king
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the king
  Privy Council: consists of the king and the Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea): elections last held 3-4 February
  1993 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote
  NA; seats - (30 total, 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex
  officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and
  nine for elected people's representatives) 6 proreform, 3
  traditionalist

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC,
  SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: Tonga does not have an embassy in
the US; Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner

Economic overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 40% 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 manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-95 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 40% (1995 est.) industry: NA% services: NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $44 million
  expenditures: $86 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 6,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 231 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper

Exports: $20.3 million (f.o.b., FY93/94) commodities: squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil partners: Japan 59%, US 14%, Australia 6%, NZ 6% (FY93/94)

Imports: $57.8 million (c.i.f., FY93/94) commodities: food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 44%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 7% (FY93/94)

Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2753 (December 1995), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994), 1.3841 (1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991)

Merchant marine:
  total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,990 GRT/14,884 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off
  cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 6
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Branches: Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan
Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Police

Location: 11 00 N, 61 00 W — Caribbean, islands between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the
upper hoist side

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Area:
  total area: 5,130 sq km
  land area: 5,130 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware

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

Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Land use:
  arable land: 14%
  permanent crops: 17%
  meadows and pastures: 2%
  forest and woodland: 44%
  other: 23%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals,
  industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches;
  deforestation; soil erosion
  natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical
  storms
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
  Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30% (male 193,134; female 186,649)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 413,426; female 404,175)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 33,791; female 41,210) (July 1996 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.3 years male: 67.91 years female: 72.77 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Ethnic divisions: black 43%, East Indian (a local term - primarily
immigrants from northern India) 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese
1%, other 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%,
other Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 97.9%
  male: 98.8%
  female: 97%

Name of country:
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 Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March
  1987) was elected by an electoral college of members of the Senate
  and House of Representatives
  head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November
  1995) was appointed from among the members of Parliament
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of a 31-member body appointed by the president House of Representatives: elections last held 6 November 1995 (next to be held by December 2001); results - PNM 52%, UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats - (36 total) PNM 17, UNC 17, NAR 2; the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR

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

Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement (PNM),
  Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY;
  National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), A. N. R. ROBINSON;
  Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH;
  National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; Republican
  Party, Nello MITCHELL; National Development Party (NDP), Carson
  CHARLES; Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), Hulsie BHAGGAN

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
  CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
  LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UNU, UPU,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Corinne Averille McKNIGHT
  chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
  FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
  consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Brian J. DONNELLY
  embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
  mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
  telephone: [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176
  FAX: [1] (809) 628-5462

Economic overview: Trinidad and Tobago's oil- and petrochemical-dependent economy enjoys a high per capita income, although living standards have declined since the boom years of 1973-82. The country managed to record a second successive year of economic growth in 1995, the first period of substantial expansion since the early 1980s. A broad economic reform program, including the floating of the exchange rate, trade and capital market liberalization, and an extensive privatization program by the previous administration has left the incoming PANDAY government in a relatively sound economic position. Trinidad and Tobago's economic prospects continue to depend heavily on world petroleum prices, however, and further progress toward diversification will be an important challenge in the medium term.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 44.5% services: 50.7% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 404,500
by occupation: construction and utilities 13%, manufacturing,
mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 11%, services 62% (1993 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.65 billion
  expenditures: $1.61 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing,
cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Electricity: capacity: 1,150,000 kW production: 3.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,740 kWh (1993)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe and producer of cannabis

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers partners: US 48%, Caricom countries15%, Latin America 9%, EU 5% (1994)

Imports: $996 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals partners: US 47.7%, Venezuela 10%, UK 8.3%, other EU 8% (1994)

Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1 - 5.9412 (January 1996), 5.9192 (1995), 5.9249 (1994), 5.3511 (1993), 4.2500 (fixed rate 1989-1992); note - effective 13 April 1993, the exchange rate of the TT$ is market-determined as opposed to the prior fixed relationship to the US dollar

Railways:
note: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando;
railway service was discontinued in 1968

Ports: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain,
Scarborough, Tembladora

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,928 GRT/5,571 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 5
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: excellent international service; good local
  service
  domestic: NA
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground
Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police
Service

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 351,835
males fit for military service: 252,532 (1996 est.)

Location: 15 52 S, 54 25 E — Southern Africa, island in the
Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Area:
  total area: 1 sq km
  land area: 1 sq km
  comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
  Washington, DC

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

Terrain: sandy lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100% (scattered bushes)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Geographic note: climatologically important location for
forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin

Type of government: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Location: 34 00 N, 9 00 E — Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

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

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Algeria and Libya

Area:
  total area: 163,610 sq km
  land area: 155,360 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

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 lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m

Land use:
  arable land: 20%
  permanent crops: 10%
  meadows and pastures: 19%
  forest and woodland: 4%
  other: 47%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law
  of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34% (male 1,583,636; female 1,489,784)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 2,738,013; female 2,719,998)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 254,403; female 233,853) (July 1996 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: 1.09 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.6 years male: 71.27 years female: 74.03 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
French (commerce)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 66.7%
  male: 78.6%
  female: 54.6%

Name of country:
  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; Beja, Ben Arous,
  Bizerte, Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili,
  L'Ariana, Le Kef, Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou
  Zid, Siliana, Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan

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) was reelected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
  election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results
  - President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition
  head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September
  1989) was appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab): elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others 1.3%; seats - (163 total) 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
  Party (RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party); Movement of
  Democratic Socialists (MDS), Mohammed MOUAADA; five other political
  parties are legal, including the Communist Party

Other political or pressure groups: the Islamic fundamentalist
party, An Nahda (Rebirth), 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, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS
  (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Azzouz ENNAIFER chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] (1) 782-566 FAX: [216] (1) 789-719

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade, including increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt. Real growth has averaged 4.2% in 1991-95, and inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and IMF support have been key elements in this solid record. Drought, especially in the south, held back GDP growth in 1995. Further privatization and further improvements in government administrative efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 30% services: 55% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.917 million (1993 est.)
  by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995
  est.)
  note: shortage of skilled labor

Budget:
  revenues: $4.3 billion
  expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $NA
  (1993 est.)

Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron
ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages

Electricity: capacity: 1,410,000 kW production: 5.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 595 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain, sugar beets,
grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products

Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and
  chemicals
  partners: EU countries 75%, Middle East 10%, Algeria 2%, India 2%,
  US 1%

Imports: $6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%,
  food 12%, consumer goods
  partners: EU countries 70%, US 5%, Middle East 2%, Japan 2%,
  Switzerland 1%, Algeria 1%

Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 0.9635 (January 1996), 0.9458 (1995), 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037 (1993), 0.8844 (1992), 0.9246 (1991)

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 (1993 est.)

Highways:
  total: 29,183 km
  paved: 17,510 km (including 52 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 11,673 km (1989 est.)

Merchant marine:
  total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 125,840 GRT/164,277 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 2,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 29
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 6
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: the system is above the African average; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis 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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,354,513 males fit for military service: 1,349,728 males reach military age (20) annually: 91,866 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $535 million, 2.8% of GDP (1995)

Location: 39 00 N, 35 00 E — 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

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

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

Area:
  total area: 780,580 sq km
  land area: 770,760 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,627 km
  border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
  Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km

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 the Black Sea and
  in the Mediterranean Sea

International disputes: complex maritime, air and territorial disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Hatay question with Syria; dispute with downstream riparians (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau (Anatolia) 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: 30%
  permanent crops: 4%
  meadows and pastures: 12%
  forest and woodland: 26%
  other: 28%

Environment:
  current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and
  detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation
  natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northern
  Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous
  Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
  Desertification, Environmental Modification

Geographic note: strategic location controlling the Turkish
Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and
Aegean Seas

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32% (male 10,192,195; female 9,836,045)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 19,859,717; female 19,187,769)
  65 years and over: 6% (male 1,571,451; female 1,837,301) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.92 years male: 69.53 years female: 74.43 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 82.3%
  male: 91.7%
  female: 72.4%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
  conventional short form: Turkey
  local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
  local short form: Turkiye

Administrative divisions: 79 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, Iggdir,
  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, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt, Sinop,
  Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova,
  Yozgat, Zonguldak
  note: Karabuk, Kilis, and Yalova are three new Turkish provinces
  mentioned in the 24 December 1995 election results

National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic,
29 October (1923)

Legal system: derived from various continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993) was
  elected for a seven-year term by the National Assembly
  head of government: Prime Minister Mesut YILMAZ (since 12 March
  1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Nahit MENTESE (since 12 March 1996)
  were appointed by the president
  National Security Council: advisory body to the president and the
  cabinet
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
  nomination of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Grand National Assembly of Turkey: (Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi)
  elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held by December
  2000); results - RP 21.38%, DYP 19.18%, ANAP 19.65%, DSP 14.64%, CHP
  10.71%, independent 0.48%; seats - 550 total) 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; current seats by party are as follows: RP 158, DYP 135,
  ANAP 126, DSP 75, CHP 49, BBP 7

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: True Path Party (DYP), Tansu
  CILLER; Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut YILMAZ; Welfare Party (RP),
  Necmettin ERBAKAN; Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bulent ECEVIT;
  Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Alparslan TURKES; New Party (YP),
  Yusuf Bozkurt OZAL; Republican People's Party (CHP), Deniz BAYKAL;
  Workers' Party (IP), Dogu PERINCEK; Nation Party (MP), Aykut
  EDIBALI; Democrat Party (DP), Murat UZMAN; Grand Unity Party (BBP),
  Muhsin YAZICIOGLU; Rebirth Party (YDP), Hasan Celal GUZEL; People's
  Democracy Party (HADEP), Murat BOZLAK; Main Path Party (ANAYOL),
  Gurcan BASER; Democratic Target Party (DHP), Abdulkadir Yasar TURK;
  Liberal Party (LP), Besim TIBUK; New Democracy Movement (YDH), Cem
  BOYNER; Labor Party (EP), Abdullah Levent TUZER; Democracy and Peace
  Party (DBP), Refik KARAKOC; Freedom and Solidarity Praty (ODP), Ufuk
  URAS

Other political or pressure groups: Turkish Confederation of Labor
  (Turk-Is), Bayram MERAL; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers
  Unions (DISK), Ridvan BUDAK; Moral Rights Workers Union (Hak-Is),
  Salim USLU; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
  (TUSIAD), Halis KOMILI; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and
  Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Ali Osman ULUSOY; Turkish Confederation
  of Employers' Unions (TISK), Refik BAYDUR; Independent
  Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD), Erol YARAR

International organization participation: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
  CE, CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC,
  NATO, NEA, OECD, OIC, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nuzhet KANDEMIR chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 659-8200 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc GROSSMAN embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 telephone: [90] (312) 468-6110 FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Turkish economy consists of a mixture, on the one hand, of modern industry and commerce, and, on the other hand, of time-honored village agriculture and crafts. Since World War II, it has become increasingly integrated into the West European economic arena, for example, as a member of OECD. The economy has improved significantly since the 1994 crisis, when the economy experienced a sharp drop and inflation hit triple digits. The crisis - sparked by the downgrading in January 1994 of Turkey's international credit rating by two US rating agencies - stemmed from years of loose monetary and fiscal policies that had exacerbated inflation and allowed the public debt, money supply, and current account deficit to explode. In April 1994, then Prime Minister CILLER introduced a stabilization package that paved the way for a $950 million IMF standby loan. However, because the government missed key macroeconomic targets in 1995 and the December national election produced months of political wrangling, the IMF put the agreement - and release of remaining funds - on hold. The new center-right minority government that finally has emerged will find it difficult to balance the need for new austerity measures and tough structural reforms with the pressure for continued buoyant growth. Ankara is also likely to face internal opposition to policies it must implement as part of the Turkey-EU customs union agreement - which came into force on 1 January 1996 - because many industries are unfit for EU competition and much-needed revenues will decline with the elimination of import tariffs and surcharges. Meanwhile, Ankara's heavy debt repayment schedule in 1996 makes it necessary for Turkish leaders to bolster the confidence of both domestic and foreign investors.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 15.5% industry: 33.2% services: 51.3% (1994)

Labor force: 20.9 million by occupation: agriculture 46%, services 31%, industry 23% note: about 1.5 million Turks work abroad (1994)

Budget:
  revenues: $30.2 billion
  expenditures: $35 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.8
  billion (1995)

Industries: textiles, food processing, mining (coal, chromite,
copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Electricity: capacity: 18,710,000 kW production: 71 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,079 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulses, citrus; livestock

Illicit drugs: major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish to Western Europe and 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

Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: textiles and apparel 37%, steel products 12%, fruits
  and vegetables 11% (1994)
  partners: Germany 22%, Russia 8%, US 8%, Italy 6% (1994)

Imports: $32.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery 25%, fuels 17%, raw materials 11%, foodstuffs
  5% (1994)
  partners: Germany 16%, US 10%, Italy 9%, Russia 8% (1994)

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $195 million (1993)
  note: aid for Gulf war efforts from coalition allies (1991), $4.1
  billion; aid pledged for Turkish Defense Fund, $2.5 billion

Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 60,502.1 (January 1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991)

Railways: total: 10,386 km standard gauge: 10,386 km 1.435-m gauge (1,088 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 386,704 km
  paved: 45,683 km (including 862 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 341,021 km (1992 est.)

Ports: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Izmit, Mersin,
Samsun, Trabzon

Merchant marine:
  total: 465 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,509,741
  GRT/9,494,434 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 139, cargo 212, chemical tanker 18, combination
  bulk 7, combination ore/oil 12, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 4,
  livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 43, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated
  cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea passenger 7,
  specialized tanker 2
  note: Turkey owns an additional 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 247,369 DWT operating under the registries of Malta,
  Panama, Libya, and Greece (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 104
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 17
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 19
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 12
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 18
  with paved runways under 914 m: 28
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: fair domestic and international systems
  domestic: trunk microwave radio relay network; limited open-wire
  network
  international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
  Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Atlantic Ocean
  regions); 1 submarine cable

Branches: Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval
Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 16,937,828
  males fit for military service: 10,312,010
  males reach military age (20) annually: 637,456 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.0 billion, 4%
  of GDP (1995); note - figures do not include about $7 billion for
  the government's counterinsurgency effort against the separatist
  Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)

Location: 40 00 N, 60 00 E — Central Asia, bordering the Caspian
Sea, between Iran and Kazakstan

Description: green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet guls (an asymmetrical design used in producing rugs) associated with five different tribes; a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls

Area:
  total area: 488,100 sq km
  land area: 488,100 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,736 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakstan 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 lowest point: Sarygamysh Koli -110 m highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 69%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 29%

Environment:
  current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with
  agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, 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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
  but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39% (male 826,637; female 804,385)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 1,154,415; female 1,188,173)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 65,447; female 110,226) (July 1996 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: 0.59 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.48 years male: 56.68 years female: 66.52 years (1996 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 97%

Name of country: 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: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from welayat name

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990,
  when the first direct presidential election occured) was elected to
  a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 21 June
  1992 (next to be held NA 2002); results - Saparmurad NIYAZOV 99.5%
  (ran unopposed); note - a 15 January 1994 referendum extended
  NIYAZOV's term an additional five years until 2002 (99.99% approval)
  head of government: Prime Minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers
  Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Babamurad BAZAROV (since NA), Hekim
  ISHANOV (since NA), Valeriy OTCHERTSOV (since NA), Yagmur OVEZOV
  (since NA), Matkarim RAJAPOV (since NA), Pirkuly ODEYEV (since NA),
  Rejep SAPAROV (since NA), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA), Batyr
  SARJAYEV (since NA), Amannazar ILAMANOV (since NA), Ilaman SHYKHYYEV
  (since NA) were appointed by the president
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
  note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently
  on 26 October 1995 at the annual elders meeting, to be "president
  for life," but that would require an amendment to the constitution

Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council (Halk Maslahaty - having more than 100 members and meeting infrequently) and a 50-member unicameral Assembly (Majlis) Assembly (Majlis): elections last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50 total) Democratic Party 45, other 5; note - all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat NIYAZOV; Party for Democratic Development, Durdymurat HOJA-MUHAMEDOV, chairman; Agzybirlik, Nurberdy NURMAMEDOV, cochairman, Hubayberdi HALLIYEV, cochairman note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE,
  ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE,
  PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR
  chancery: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 412, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 737-4800
  FAX: [1] (202) 737-1152

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. COTTER
  embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [7] (3632) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, Tie Line [8]
  962-0000
  FAX: [7] (3632) 51-13-05

Flag: green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet guls (an asymmetrical design used in producing rugs) associated with five different tribes; a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls

Economic 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 has 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 remained depressed through 1995 while inflation soared. 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. For 1996, Turkmenistan will face continuing constraints on its earnings because of its customers' inability to pay for their gas and a below average cotton crop in 1995. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey, but these will take many years to realize.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 32.5% industry: 33.4% services: 34.1% (1991 est.)

Labor force: 1.642 million (January 1994) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 20%, other 36% (1992)

Electricity: capacity: 2,480,000 kW production: 9.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,400 kWh (1995)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe

Exports: $1.9 billion to states outside the FSU (1995)
  commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, electricity,
  textiles, carpets
  partners: Ukraine, Russia, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia,
  Azerbaijan, Armenia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Argentina

Imports: $777 million from states outside the FSU (1995) commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Turkey

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993) note: commitments, $1,830 million ($375 million drawn), 1992-95

Currency: Turkmenistan introduced its national currency, the
manat, on 1 November 1993

Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 2,400 (January 1996)
note: government established a unified rate in mid-January 1996

Railways:
  total: 2,120 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 2,120 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Airports:
  total: 64
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 13
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)

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

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there
is at least one state-owned radio broadcast station of NA type

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Republic Security Forces
(internal and border troops), National Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,024,398 males fit for military service: 834,803 males reach military age (18) annually: 41,697 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 4.5 billion manats, 3.0% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 21 45 N, 71 35 W — Caribbean, two island groups in the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas

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

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas

Area:
  total area: 430 sq km
  land area: 430 sq km
  comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Land use:
  arable land: 2%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 98%

Environment:
  current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private
  cisterns collect rainwater
  natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.4 years male: 73.46 years female: 77.07 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 99%
  female: 98%

Name of country: 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 (of the United Kingdom since 6
  February 1953) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor
  Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993) who was appointed by the queen
  head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
  1995) was appointed by the governor
  cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and
  five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party (PNP),
Washington MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H.
TAYLOR; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN

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

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming - mainly corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.

Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.) by occupation: majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture

Budget:
  revenues: $31.9 million (1995)
  expenditures: $30.4 million (1995), including capital expenditures
  of $NA

Electricity: capacity: 9,050 kW production: 11.1 million kWh consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US

Exports: $6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells partners: US, UK

Imports: $42.8 million (1993) commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials partners: US, UK

Airports:
  total: 7
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services
  domestic: NA
  international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
  Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Television broadcast stations: television programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received in the islands

Location: 8 00 S, 178 00 E — Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

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

Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Area:
  total area: 26 sq km
  land area: 26 sq km
  comparative area: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

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)

Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%
  note: Tuvalu's nine coral atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts
  and support subsistence agriculture

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
  natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
  Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
  Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 1,865; female 1,798)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 2,831; female 3,162)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 227; female 263) (July 1996 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.34 years male: 62.15 years female: 64.59 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
  hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Manuella TULAGA
  (since NA June 1994) who was appointed by the queen on
  recommendation of the prime minister
  head of government: Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December
  1993) and Deputy Prime Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December
  1993) were elected by and from the members of Parliament
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on
  recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Fale I Fono): members elected for four-year terms; elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (12 total) independents 12

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO,
UPU, WHO

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in ======================================================================

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

Area:
  total area: 236,040 sq km
  land area: 199,710 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,698 km
  border countries: Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km,
  Tanzania 396 km, Zaire 765 km

Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

Land use:
  arable land: 23%
  permanent crops: 9%
  meadows and pastures: 25%
  forest and woodland: 30%
  other: 13%

Environment:
  current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use;
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is widespread
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
  ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 50% (male 5,006,615; female 4,972,831)
  15-64 years: 48% (male 4,842,908; female 4,874,471)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 231,156; female 230,195) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: Uganda is host to refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including Zaire, Sudan, and Rwanda; probably in excess of 100,000 southern Sudanese fled to Uganda during the past year; many of the 8,000 Rwandans who took refuge in Uganda have returned home

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 40.29 years male: 39.98 years female: 40.6 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso
8%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro
3%, Batobo 3%, European, Asian, Arab 1%, other 23%

Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%,
indigenous beliefs 18%

Languages: English (official), Luganda, Swahili, Bantu languages,
Nilotic languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 61.8%
  male: 73.7%
  female: 50.2%

Name of country: 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 on 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 and reinstituted a
  normal judicial system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
  seizing power 29 January 1986); election last held 9 May 1996 (next
  to be held NA); results - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 74%, Paul K.
  SSEMOGERERE 24%, Muhammad MAYANJA 2%; note - this was the first
  popular direct presidential election since independence in 1962
  head of government: Prime Minister Kintu MUSOKE (since 18 November
  1994);
  cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly: elections last held in 1980; note - the National
  Assembly was dissolved in July 1985 following a military coup and
  was succeeded on 1 February 1986 by the interim National Resistance
  Council, initially consisting of 23 appointed members, but by
  early-1989 enlarged to 278 members, of whom 210 were indirectly
  elected; the National Resistance Council, which had served as
  Uganda's acting legislature for more than 10 years, was dissolved on
  15 June 1996 to prepare for the popular election of a new
  legislature on 27 June 1996 in keeping with the provisions of the
  new constitution

Political parties and leaders: only officially recognized party - National Resistance Movement (NRM), Yoweri MUSEVENI note: Ugandan People's Congress (UPC), Milton OBOTE; Democratic Party (DP), Paul SSEMOGEERE; and Conservative Party (CP), Joshua S. MAYANJA-NKANGI continue to exist but the new constitution confirms the suspension of political party activity until 2001

Other political or pressure groups: Lord's Resistance Army (LRA);
West Nile Bank Front (WNBF)

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB,
  ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
  UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Kapimpina KATENTA-APULI
  chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
  telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
  FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador E. Michael SOUTHWICK embassy: Parliament Avenue, Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (41) 259792, 259793, 259795 FAX: [256] (41) 259794

Flag: 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

Economic 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 1990-94, the economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, and gradually improving domestic security. The economy again prospered in 1995 with rapid growth, low inflation, growing foreign investment, a trimmed bureaucracy, and the continued return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs.

Labor force: 8.361 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 86%, industry 4%, services 10% (1980 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $574 million
  expenditures: $1.07 billion, including capital expenditures of $328
  million (1994/95 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 162,000 kW production: 603 million kWh consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

Exports: $424 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: coffee 97%, cotton, tea partners: US 25%, UK 18%, France 11%, Spain 10%

Imports: $870 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: petroleum products, machinery, cotton piece goods, metals, transportation equipment, food partners: Kenya 25%, UK 14%, Italy 13%

Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1 - 1,032.6 (November 1995), 979.4 (1994), 1,195.0 (1993), 1,133.8 (1992), 734.0 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 1,241 km single track
  narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge
  note:: a program to rehabilitate the railroad is underway (1995)

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/2,743 DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 21
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: fair system
  domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communications
  stations
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 4,359,286 males fit for military service: 2,365,157 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $56 million, 1.7% of budget (FY93/94)

Location: 49 00 N, 32 00 E — Eastern Europe, bordering the Black
Sea, between Poland and Russia

Description: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden
yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky

Area:
  total area: 603,700 sq km
  land area: 603,700 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 4,558 km
  border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km,
  Poland 428 km, Romania (southwest) 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: undefined
  territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine - including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940; dispute with Romania over continental shelf of the Black Sea under which signifcant gas and oil deposits may exist; potential dispute with Russia over Crimea; 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

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
  plateaux, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians),
  and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
  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: 56%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 12%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 30%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
  Treaty, Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed,
  but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
  Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic position at the crossroads between
Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20% (male 5,139,034; female 4,936,901)
  15-64 years: 66% (male 16,135,671; female 17,433,600)
  65 years and over: 14% (male 2,318,629; female 4,900,174) (July 1996
  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: 0.47 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.86 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.8 years male: 61.54 years female: 72.32 years (1996 est.)

Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian
Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox,
Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 98%
  male: 100%
  female: 97%

Name of country: 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 municipalites
  (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), Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'),
  Rivnens'ka (Rivne), Sevastopol'**, Sums'ka (Sevastopol'),
  Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya), Volyns'ka
  (Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka (Zaporizhzhya),
  Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr)
  note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name
  differs from oblast' name

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994) was
  elected for a five-year term by direct popular vote; election last
  held 26 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
  Leonid KUCHMA 52.15%, Leonid KRAVCHUK 45.06%
  head of government: Prime Minister Yevhen MARCHUK (since NA June
  1995), First Deputy Prime Minister Pavlo LAZARENKO (since NA), and
  eight deputy prime ministers were appointed by the president and
  approved by the Supreme Council
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president and
  approved by the Supreme Council
  National Security Council: originally created in 1992, but
  significantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA;
  members include the president, prime minister, ministers of finance,
  environment, justice, internal affairs, foreign economic relations,
  economic and foreign affairs; the NSC staff is tasked with
  developing national security policy on domestic and international
  matters and advising the president
  Presidential Administration: helps draft presidential edicts and
  provides policy support to the president
  Council of Regions: advisory body created by President KUCHMA in
  September 1994; includes the chairmen of Oblast and Kiev and
  Sevastopol City Supreme Councils

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Supreme Council: elections last held 27 March 1994 with repeat
  elections continuing through December 1998 to fill empty seats (next
  to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450
  total) Communists 91, Rukh 22, Agrarians 18, Socialists 15,
  Republicans 11, Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists 5, Labor 5, Party
  of Democratic Revival 4, Democrats 2, Social Democrats 2, Civil
  Congress 2, Conservative Republicans 1, Party of Economic Revival of
  Crimea 1, Christian Democrats 1, independents 225; note - most
  recent repeat election held in April 1996 filling 422 of 450 seats
  as follows: independents 238, Communist 95, Rukh 22, Agrarians 18,
  Socialist 15, Republicans 11, Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists 5,
  Labor 5, Party of Democratic Revival 4, Democratic Party of Ukraine
  2, Social Democrats 2, Civil Congress 2, Conservative Republicans 1,
  Party of Economic Rivival of Crimea 1, Christian Democrats 1, vacant
  28

Judicial branch: Supreme Court is the highest judicial body;
Constitutional Court has exclusive jurisdiction over interpretation
of the constitution and laws

Political parties and leaders: Green Party of Ukraine, Vitaliy
  KONONOV, leader; Liberal Party of Ukraine, Volodymyr SHCHERBAN;
  Liberal Democratic Party of Ukraine, Volodymyr KLYMCHUK, chairman;
  Democratic Party of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych YAVORIVSKIY,
  chairman; People's Party of Ukraine; Peasants' Party of Ukraine;
  Party of Democratic Rebirth (Revival) of Ukraine, Volodymyr FILENKO,
  chairman; Social Democratic Party of Ukraine, Vasyl ONOPENKO,
  chairman; Socialist Party of Ukraine, Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman;
  Ukrainian Christian Democratic Party, Vitaliy ZHURAVSKYY, chairman;
  Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party, Stepan KHMARA, chairman;
  Ukrainian Labor Party, Valentyn LANDYK, chairman; Ukrainian Party of
  Justice, Yuriy ZUBKO, chairman; Ukrainian Peasants' Democratic
  Party, Serhiy PLACHINDA, chairman; Ukrainian Republican Party,
  Bondan YAROSHPSKYY, chairman; Ukrainian National Conservative Party;
  Ukrainian People's Movement for Restructuring (Rukh), Vyacheslav
  CHORNOVIL, chairman; Ukrainian Communist Party, Petr SYMONENKO;
  Agrarian Party; Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists, Slava STESTKO;
  Civil Congress, O. BAZYLUK; Party of Economic Revival of Crimea;
  Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Nataliya VITRENKO and
  Volodymyr MARCHENKO, leaders; People's Democratic Party, Anatoliy
  MATVIYENKO, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: New Ukraine (Nova Ukrayina);
Congress of National Democratic Forces

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS,
  EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
  ITU, NACC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOT,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy Mikolayevych SHCHERBAK
  chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606
  FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
  consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador William Green MILLER
  embassy: 10 Yuria Kotsyubinskovo, 252053 Kiev 53
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [380] (44) 244-7345
  FAX: [380] (44) 244-7350

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
represent grainfields under a blue sky

Economic 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. In early 1992, 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. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has developed a comprehensive economic reform program, maintained financial discipline, and removed almost all controls over prices and foreign trade. Implementation of KUCHMA's economic agenda is encountering considerable resistance from parliament, entrenched bureaucrats, and industrial interests. However, should KUCHMA succeed in implementing aggressive market reforms during 1996, the economy may stabilize and possibly achieve real growth in the range of 0.5%-1%.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $174.6 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 43% services: 26% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 23.55 million (January 1994) by occupation: industry and construction 33%, agriculture and forestry 21%, health, education, and culture 16%, trade and distribution 7%, transport and communication 7%, other 16% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 0.7% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers (December 1995)

Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing
(especially sugar)

Electricity: capacity: 54,380,000 kW production: 192.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $11.3 billion (1995)
  commodities: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
  chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, grain, meat
  partners: other FSU countries, China, Italy, Switzerland

Imports: $10.7 billion (1995)
  commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment,
  chemicals, textiles
  partners: other FSU countries, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $220 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $4.5 billion ($4.1 billion drawn)

Currency: on 2 September 1996, Ukraine introduced the long-awaited hryvnia (plural hryvni) as its national currency, replacing the karbovanets (in circulation since 12 November 1992) at a rate of 100,000 karbovantsi to 1 hryvnia

Railways: total: 23,350 km broad gauge: 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)

Highways:
  total: 169,964 km
  paved: 168,094 km (including 1,767 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 1,870 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 4,400 km navigable waterways, of which 1,672 km were on
the Pryp''yat' and Dnipro (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,010 km; petroleum products 1,920 km;
natural gas 7,800 km (1992)

Ports: Berdyans'k, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev
(Kyyiv), Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Pivdenne, Reni

Merchant marine:
  total: 353 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,262,341
  GRT/4,356,374 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 5, bulk 39, cargo 217, chemical tanker
  2, combination bulk 1, container 11, multifunction large-load
  carrier 3, oil tanker 21, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 5, railcar
  carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32,
  short-sea passenger 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 706
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 14
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 55
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 34
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 57
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 16
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 37
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 476 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: system is unsatisfactory both for business and for personal use; 3.56 million applications for telephones had not been satisfied as of January 1991; electronic mail services have been established in Kiev, Odessa, and Luhans'k by Sprint domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Kiev (Kyyiv) and allows direct dialing of international calls through Kiev's digital exchange international: calls to other CIS countries are carried by landline or microwave radio relay; calls to 167 other countries are carried by satellite or by the 150 leased lines through the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and NA Intersputnik

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are at least two radio broadcast stations of NA type

Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Internal Troops,
National Guard, Border Troops

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 12,388,788
  males fit for military service: 9,716,127
  males reach military age (18) annually: 362,000 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 1.35 billion hryvni, less than 2% of GDP
  (Ukrainian Government's forecast for 1996); note - conversion of
  defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate
  could produce misleading results

Location: 24 00 N, 54 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Gulf of
Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

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

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

Area:
  total area: 75,581 sq km
  land area: 75,581 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

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

International disputes: location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final, defacto 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); in 1992, the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 2%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 98%

Environment:
  current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome
  by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil
  spills
  natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
  international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
  Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
  ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

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

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 542,848; female 519,952)
  15-64 years: 64% (male 1,277,829; female 683,282)
  65 years and over: 1% (male 22,246; female 11,180) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.87 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.99 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.52 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.74 years male: 70.64 years female: 74.94 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write but definition of
  literacy not available (1995 est.)
  total population: 79.2%
  male: 78.9%
  female: 79.8%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
  conventional short form: none
  local long form: Al Imarata al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
  local short form: none
  former: Trucial States
  abbreviation: UAE

Type of government: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central 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 NA 1966) and
  Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990),
  ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) were elected by the Supreme Council of Rulers
  head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum
  (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) and Deputy Prime
  Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) were
  appointed by the president
  Supreme Council of Rulers: 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; council meets four times a year
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis
Watani Itihad); no elections; 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 600, 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 338-6500

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David C. LITT 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) telephone: [971] (2) 436691, 436692 FAX: [971] (2) 434771 consulate(s) general: Dubai

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

Economic overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes per capita 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, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years. Although much stronger economically than most Gulf states, the UAE faces similar problems with weak international oil prices and the pressures for cuts in OPEC oil production quotas. The UAE Government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 55% services: 43% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 794,400 (1993 est.)
  by occupation: industry and commerce 56%, services 38%, agriculture
  6% (1990 est.)
  note: 80% of labor force is foreign (est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $4.6 billion
  expenditures: $4.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction
materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling

Electricity: capacity: 4,760,000 kW production: 16.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,796 kWh (1993)

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

Exports: $25.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: crude oil 66%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
  partners: Japan 45%, India 6%, Oman 6%, South Korea 5%, Iran 5%
  (1994)

Imports: $21.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
  food
  partners: Japan 11%, UK 8%, Germany 8%, US 8%, Italy 7% (1994)

Ports: 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal
'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al
Qaywayn

Merchant marine:
  total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,068,980 GRT/1,876,504
  DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 17, chemical tanker 2, container 7,
  liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 22,
  refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 36
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 10
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,102,080 males fit for military service: 599,439 males reach military age (18) annually: 21,250 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.59 billion, 4.3% of GDP (1994)

Location: 54 00 N, 2 00 W — 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

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 dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and others

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 area: 244,820 sq km
  land area: 241,590 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
  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

International disputes: Northern Ireland question with Ireland;
  Gibraltar question 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)

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 lowest point: Fenland -4 m highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m

Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone,
iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica

Land use:
  arable land: 29%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 48%
  forest and woodland: 9%
  other: 14%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
  Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
  83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
  Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification

Geographic 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: 20% (male 5,853,545; female 5,565,153)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 19,050,420; female 18,797,406)
  65 years and over: 15% (male 3,753,361; female 5,470,090) (July 1996
  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: 0.69 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.41 years male: 73.78 years female: 79.17 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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.)
  note: the UK does not include a question on religion in its census

Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales),
Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
  schooling (1978 est.)
  total population: 99%
  male: NA%
  female: NA%

Name of country:
  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

Dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean
  Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,
  Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong (scheduled to become a Special
  Administrative Region of China on 1 July 1997), Jersey, Isle of Man,
  Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the
  South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

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

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
  hereditary monarch; Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen,
  born 14 November 1948)
  head of government: Prime Minister John MAJOR (since 28 November
  1990) is the leader of the party which holds the majority in the
  House of Commons and must have the consent of the monarch
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
  House of Lords: consists of a 1,200-member body, four-fifths are
  hereditary peers, two archbishops, 24 other senior bishops, serving
  and retired Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, other life peers, Scottish
  peers
  House of Commons: elections last held 9 April 1992 (next to be held
  by NA April 1997); results - Conservative 41.9%, Labor 34.5%,
  Liberal Democratic 17.9%, other 5.7%; seats - (651 total)
  Conservative 336, Labor 271, Liberal Democratic 20, other 24

Judicial branch: House of Lords, several Lords of Appeal in
Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life

Political parties and leaders: Conservative and Unionist Party,
  John MAJOR; Labor Party, Anthony (Tony) Blair; Liberal Democrats
  (LD), Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN; Scottish National Party, Alex SALMOND;
  Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru), Dafydd Iwan WIGLEY; Ulster
  Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), David TRIMBLE; Democratic
  Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), Rev. Ian PAISLEY; Social
  Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP, Northern Ireland), John HUME; Sinn
  Fein (Northern Ireland), Gerry ADAMS; Alliance Party (Northern
  Ireland), John ALDERDICE

Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress;
Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN,
  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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE,
  PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
  UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
  UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sir John Olav KERR chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-1340 FAX: [1] (202) 898-4255 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Dallas, Miami, and Seattle

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William J. CROWE, Jr. embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W. 1A1AE mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, London; FPO AE 09498-4040 telephone: [44] (71) 499-9000 FAX: [44] (71) 409-1637 consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh

Flag: 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 dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and others

Economic overview: The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers, and its economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. The economy is essentially capitalistic; over the past 13 years the ruling Tories have 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 about 1% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves, and primary energy production accounts for 12% 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 25% of the work force. The economy registered 3.9% GDP growth in 1994, the best rate for six years, but slipped back to 2.7% in 1995. Exports and manufacturing output have been the primary engines of growth. Unemployment is gradually falling. Inflation is at a tolerable 3%. A major economic policy question for the UK in the 1990s is the terms on which it participates in the financial and economic integration of Europe.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 1.7% industry: 27.7% services: 70.6% (1993)

Labor force: 28.048 million by occupation: services 62.8%, manufacturing and construction 25.0%, government 9.1%, energy 1.9%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1992)

Budget:
  revenues: $388.9 billion
  expenditures: $447.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (FY94/95 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: capacity: 65,360,000 kW production: 303 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,123 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish

Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; producer of synthetic drugs; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center

Exports: $200.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
  commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals,
  semifinished goods, transport equipment
  partners: EU countries 56.4% (Germany 12.7%, France 9.9%,
  Netherlands 7.0%), US 13.1%

Imports: $221.9 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
  commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods,
  foodstuffs, consumer goods
  partners: EU countries 54.9% (Germany 14.6%, France 10.0%,
  Netherlands 6.7%), US 12.2%

Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 17,561 km
  broad gauge: 434 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track); note - all
  1.600-m gauge track, of which 357 km is in common carrier use, is in
  Northern Ireland
  standard gauge: 16,892 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified;
  12,591 km double or multiple track); note - 16,532 km of 1.435-m
  routes are in common carrier service; the remaining 360 km are
  operated by a total of 40 tourist or other private companies
  narrow gauge: 235 km 0.260-m, 0.311-m, 0.381-m, 0.600-m, 0.610-m,
  0.686-m, 0.760-m, 0.762-m, 0.800-m, 0.825-m, 0.914-m and 1.067-m
  gauges; note - these short, narrow-gage lines are operated by a
  total of 25 tourist and other private firms (1995)

Highways:
  total: 386,243 km (1993 est.)
  paved: NA km (including 3,237 km of expressways in Great Britain)
  unpaved: NA km

Pipelines: crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; petroleum
products 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km

Ports: Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Grangemouth, Hull,
Leith, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Medway, Sullom Voe, Tees, Tyne

Merchant marine:
  total: 151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,191,969
  GRT/3,861,239 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 21, chemical tanker 2, container 24,
  liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 56, passenger 8, passenger-cargo
  1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 14, specialized
  tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 388
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 29
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 103
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 59
  with paved runways under 914 m: 166
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 22 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 14,515,077 males fit for military service: 12,102,431 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $35.1 billion, 3.1% of GDP (FY95/96)

Location: 38 00 N, 97 00 W — North America, bordering both the
North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and
Mexico

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

Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean
and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Area:
  total area: 9,372,610 sq km
  land area: 9,166,600 sq km
  comparative area: 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 smaller than
  China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe
  note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia

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

International disputes: 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; Republic of Marshall Islands claims Wake Island

Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and 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 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: 20%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 26%
  forest and woodland: 29%
  other: 25%

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
  natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around
  Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in the
  midwest; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west;
  flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to
  development
  international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
  Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
  Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
  Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but
  not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Desertification,
  Hazardous Wastes, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: world's fourth-largest country (after Russia,
Canada, and China)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22% (male 29,718,390; female 28,335,934)
  15-64 years: 65% (male 86,225,056; female 87,411,573)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 13,850,234; female 20,021,655) (July
  1996 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.95 years male: 72.65 years female: 79.41 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Native
American 0.8% (1992)

Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other
4%, none 10% (1989)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 97%

Name of country:
  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 Island note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986)

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President William Jefferson
  CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
  (since 20 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by a
  college of representatives elected directly from each state;
  election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November
  1996); results - William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 43.2%,
  George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross PEROT (independent)
  19.0%, other 0.1%
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president with Senate approval

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) Republican Party 54, Democratic Party 46 House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (435 total) Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 203, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman and Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
  ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC,
  ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,
  NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security
  Council, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG,
  UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO, ZC

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $27,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government purchases of goods and services are made predominantly in the 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. In all economic sectors, US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, medical equipment, and aerospace, although their advantage has steadily 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 professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. The years 1994-95 witnessed moderate gains in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment below 6%. The capture of both houses of Congress by the Republicans in the elections of 8 November 1994 has intensified the debate over how the US should address its major economic problems. These problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable budget and trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The outlook for 1996 is for continued moderate growth, low inflation, and about the same level of unemployment.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 23% services: 75% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 132.304 million (includes unemployed) (1995) by occupation: managerial and professional 28.3%, technical, sales and administrative support 30.0%, services 13.5%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 25.3%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.8%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.258 trillion
  expenditures: $1.461 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994)

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: capacity: 695,120,000 kW production: 3.1 trillion kWh consumption per capita: 11,236 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for domestic
  consumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons or
  about 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program
  aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production

Exports: $578 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw
  materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
  partners: Western Europe 24.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 10.5% (1993)

Imports: $751 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery,
  automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and
  beverages
  partners: Canada, 19.3%, Western Europe 18.1%, Japan 18.1% (1993)

Exchange rates:
  British pounds: (L) per US$ - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995),
  0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991)
  Canadian dollars: (Can$) per US$ - 1.3666 (January 1996), 1.3724
  (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991)
  French francs: (F) per US$ - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995),
  5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)
  Italian lire: (Lit) per US$ - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6
  (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6
  (1991)
  Japanese yen: (Y) per US$ - 105.84 (January 1996), 94.06 (1995),
  102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991)
  German deutsche marks: (DM) per US$ - 1.4617 (January 1996), 1.4331
  (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991)

Railways:
total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)

Highways:
  total: 6,284,488 km
  paved: 5,574,341 km (in 1991, included 85,267 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 710,147 km (1993 est.)

Ports: 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: 322 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,716,000
  GRT/15,259,000 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 20, chemical tanker 17, intermodal
  125, liquefied gas tanker 14, passenger-cargo 2, tanker 110, tanker
  tug-barge 13
  note: in addition, there are 190 government-owned vessels (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 13,387
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 179
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 201
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1,204
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2,361
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7,720
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 151
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1,563 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay,
  coaxial cable, and domestic satellites
  international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth
  stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean)
  (1990 est.), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat
  (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions)

Television broadcast stations: 1,092 (in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems)

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

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49: 69,302,573
  males fit for military service: NA
  males reach military age (18) annually: 1,864,580 (1996 est.)

Location: 33 00 S, 56 00 W — Southern South America, bordering
the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

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

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Area:
  total area: 176,220 sq km
  land area: 173,620 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State

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

International disputes: short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; 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

Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal
  lowland
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Land use:
  arable land: 8%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 78%
  forest and woodland: 4%
  other: 10%

Environment:
  current issues: substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along
  border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by
  Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
  inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
  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
  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,
  Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24% (male 405,041; female 386,155)
  15-64 years: 63% (male 1,004,089; female 1,035,336)
  65 years and over: 13% (male 170,109; female 238,222) (July 1996
  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
  all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.94 years male: 71.8 years female: 78.25 years (1996 est.)

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, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the
Brazilian frontier)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 97.3%
  male: 96.9%
  female: 97.7%

Name of country:
  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

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: President Julio Maria
  SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA
  (since 1 March 1995) were elected for five-year terms by popular
  vote; election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA
  November 1999)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)
  Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 27
  November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - Colorado
  36%, Blanco 34 %, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats -
  (30 total) Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New
  Sector 1
  Chamber of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections
  last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999);
  results - Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New
  Sector 5%; seats - (99 total) Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro
  Progresista 31, New Sector 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 (Blanco) Party, Alberto
  VOLONTE Berro; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition,
  12 member Executive Secretariat (as of 11 March 1996); New Sector
  Coalition, Hugo BATALLA; Encuentro Progresista (EP), Tabare VAZQUEZ

International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC,
  ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD,
  IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG,
  UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP,
  UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77 FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by high - though declining - inflation and extensive government regulation. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at continuing to reduce inflation, currently at 35.4%; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Uruguay went into recession during second quarter 1995 and ended the year with an estimated 2% fall in GDP and a two percentage point rise in unemployment to 11%. This was partly due to Argentina's recession and the slowdown in Brazilian growth in 1995, which contributed to declines in the Uruguayan manufacturing, construction, and service sectors. However, despite its Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) partners' troubles, Uruguayan trade expanded and potential new markets are being explored through Mercosur negotiations with neighboring countries and the European Union (EU). Uruguay also recently augmented its transport and agricultural sector ties with the US. The economy is expected to come out of recession as regional growth prospects improve.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 10.5% industry: 27.5% services: 62% (1994)

Labor force: 1.355 million (1991 est.) by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $3.03 billion
  expenditures: $3.37 billion with capital expenditures of $NA (1994
  est.)

Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles,
footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine

Electricity: capacity: 2,070,000 kW production: 9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,575 kWh (1993)

Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal
  products, leather, rice
  partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy

Imports: $3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals,
  plastics
  partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria

Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 7.12 (January
  1996), 5.6 (January 1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270
  (1992), 2.0188 (1991)
  note: on 1 March 1993 the former new peso (N$Ur) was replaced as
  Uruguay's unit of currency by the peso which is equal to 1,000 of
  the new pesos

Railways:
  total: 2,070 km (461 km closed; additional 460 km only partially
  operational)
  standard gauge: 2,070 km 1.435-m gauge

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,405 GRT/110,939 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 66
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8
  with paved runways under 914 m: 36
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard,
Marines), Air Force, Grenadier Guards, Coracero Guard, Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 783,890 males fit for military service: 636,454 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $256 million, 1.5% of GDP (1994)

Description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Area:
  total area: 447,400 sq km
  land area: 425,400 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
  total: 6,221 km
  border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan
  1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

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 and Sirdaryo; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west lowest point: Saryqamish Kuli -12 m highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium,
silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 47%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 42%

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 salinization; soil
  contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: party to - Climate Change,
  Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection;
  signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 4,732,585; female 4,618,503)
  15-64 years: 55% (male 6,441,052; female 6,540,479)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 416,571; female 669,191) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.6 years male: 60.44 years female: 68.97 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazak
4.1%, Tatar 2.4%, Karakalpak 2.1%, other 7%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 98%
  female: 96%

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
  conventional short form: Uzbekistan
  local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
  local short form: none
  former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati note: an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (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) was elected for
  a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 29 December
  1991 (next to be held NA 2000); results - Islam KARIMOV 86%,
  Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%; note - the 26 March 1995 referendum
  extended KARIMOV's term until 2000 (99.6% approval)
  head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since December
  1995), First Deputy Prime Minister Ismoil JURABEKOV (since NA),
  Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN (since NA), Bakhtiyor HAMIDOV
  (since NA), Kayim HAQQULOV (since NA), Rim GINIYATULLIN (since NA),
  Saidmukhtor SAIDQOSIMOV (since NA), Mirabror USMONOV (since NA),
  Murat SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA), Uktam ISMAILOV (since NA), Rustam
  YUNUSOV (since NA) were appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president with
  approval of the Supreme Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis): elections last held 25 December 1994
  (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (250 total) People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland
  Progress Party 12, other 31; note - final runoffs were held 22
  January 1995; seating was as follows: People's Democratic Party 69,
  Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local
  government 120

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly

Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party (PDP;
  formerly Communist Party), Islom A. KARIMOV, chairman; Fatherland
  Progress Party (FPP), Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman; Social Democratic
  Party, Anvar JORABAYEV, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Birlik (Unity) People's
  Movement (BPM), Ibrahim BURIYEV, chairman; Islamic Rebirth Party
  (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party was
  banned 9 December 1992
  note: UTAYEV (IRP) is either in prison or in exile

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD,
  ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
  Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM, OIC (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Fatiq TESHABAYEV
  chancery: (temporary) Suites 619 and 623, 1511 K Street NW,
  Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 638-4266, 4267
  FAX: [1] (202) 638-4268

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO
  embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81, 77-69-86
  FAX: [7] (3712) 89-13-35

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Economic overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest republics of the former Soviet Union with more than 60% of its population living in overpopulated rural communities. At the same time, Uzbekistan is 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, 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 stepped up the pace of reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization, 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 induce far-reaching structural changes.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.7 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% monthly average
(January-October 1995 est.)

Labor force: 8.234 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%, other 35% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 0.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers (December 1995)

Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas

Electricity: capacity: 11,690,000 kW production: 47.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,130 kWh (1994)

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; government eradication programs; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $3.1 billion (1995)
  commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous
  metals, textiles, food products
  partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, US

Imports: $2.9 billion (1995)
  commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other
  foods
  partners: principally other FSU countries, Czech Republic

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $71 million (1993)
  note: commitments, $2,915 million ($135 million in disbursements)
  (1992-95)

Currency: introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993
  which circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole
  legal currency 31 January 1994; was replaced in July 1994 by the som
  currency

Railways:
  total: 3,460 km in common carrier service; does not include
  industrial lines
  broad gauge: 3,460 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas
810 km (1992)

Airports:
  total: 261
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 14
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8
  with paved runways under 914 m: 5
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 216 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: poorly developed domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent 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 and Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations - NA Orbita and NA Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is at least one state-owned broadcast station of NA type

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces (internal and
border troops), National Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,672,621 males fit for military service: 4,623,960 males reach military age (18) annually: 231,293 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 164 million soms, 3.7% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Location: 16 00 S, 167 00 E — Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to
Australia

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Area:
  total area: 14,760 sq km
  land area: 14,760 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut
  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

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Land use:
  arable land: 1%
  permanent crops: 5%
  meadows and pastures: 2%
  forest and woodland: 1%
  other: 91%

Environment:
  current issues: a majority of the population does not have access to
  a potable and reliable supply of water
  natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
  volcanism causes minor earthquakes
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
  Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 36,409; female 35,105)
  15-64 years: 57% (male 51,969; female 48,901)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 2,802; female 2,318) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.13 years male: 58.27 years female: 62.09 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
  total population: 53%
  male: 57%
  female: 48%

Name of country: 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) was
  elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of
  Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils
  head of government: Prime Minister Maxime Carlot KORMAN (since 23
  February 1996) was elected by Parliament from among its members;
  Deputy Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 23 February 1996) was
  appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament;
  note - Prime Minister VOHOR resigned 7 February 1996 when faced with
  a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Parliament then convened an
  extraordinary session and voted 30 to 20 to elect Maxime Carlot
  KORMAN as the new prime minister
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister,
  responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament: elections last held 30 November 1995 (next to be held NA
  November 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50
  total) UMP 17, VP 14, NUP 9, MPP 5, TU 2, Na-Griamel Movement 1,
  Friend Melanesian Party 1, independent 1; note - after the election,
  a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the
  National United Party to form a new government on 14 December 1995,
  but political party associations are fluid
  note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom
  and land

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the
  president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader
  of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the
  president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission

Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties (UMP),
  Serge VOHOR; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Unity Front
  (UF) includes the Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS, Melanesian
  Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE, Tan Union (TU), Vincent
  BOULEKONE, and the Na-Griamel Movement, Frankie STEVENS; Friend
  Melanesian Party, leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Sethy
  REGENVANU; Independence Front (IF), Patrick CROWBY

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C,
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
  Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag: 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

Economic overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a living for the bulk of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy, with 43,000 visitors in 1992. 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.

Labor force: 66,597 (1989 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $74.8 million
  expenditures: $76.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 17,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 181 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish

Exports: $24.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee partners: EU 32%, Japan 29%, Australia 11%, New Caledonia 7% (1993)

Imports: $78.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals partners: Australia 41%, France 15%, NZ 11%, Japan 9%, Fiji 6% (1992)

Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1 - 114.40 (January 1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991)

Merchant marine:
  total: 112 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587,286
  GRT/2,173,970 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 29, chemical tanker 3, combination
  bulk 1, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1,
  oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 16, vehicle carrier 10
  note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20
  countries among which are Japan 37, US 19, Netherlands 10, Greece 6,
  Hong Kong 6, China 4, Canada 4, UAE 3, Russia 2, and Australia 2
  (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 31
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 17
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF;
includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)

Location: 8 00 N, 66 00 W — Northern South America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and
Guyana

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

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Area:
  total area: 912,050 sq km
  land area: 882,050 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

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

International disputes: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of ======================================================================

Location: 16 00 N, 106 00 E — Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf
of Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia

Area:
  total area: 329,560 sq km
  land area: 325,360 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries: total: 3,818 km border countries: Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 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

International disputes: maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands in the South China Sea occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of boundary with Cambodia are in dispute

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 lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m

Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate,
offshore oil deposits, forests

Land use:
  arable land: 22%
  permanent crops: 2%
  meadows and pastures: 1%
  forest and woodland: 40%
  other: 35%

Environment:
  current issues: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices
  are contributing to deforestation; soil degradation; water pollution
  and overfishing threatening marine life populations; inadequate
  supplies of potable water because of groundwater contamination
  natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
  flooding
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
  Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
  ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 36% (male 13,739,304; female 12,988,929)
  15-64 years: 59% (male 20,956,735; female 22,448,944)
  65 years and over: 5% (male 1,548,513; female 2,294,548) (July 1996
  est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.02 years male: 64.69 years female: 69.48 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai,
Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham

Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,
Islam, Protestant

Languages: Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer,
tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
  total population: 93.7%
  male: 96.5%
  female: 91.2%

Name of country:
  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: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and
  plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang,
  Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho,
  Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang,
  Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa
  Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son,
  Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan,
  Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh,
  Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh
  Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long,
  Vinh Phu, Yen Bai

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992) was
  elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly from among its
  members
  head of government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991)
  was appointed by the president from among the members of the
  National Assembly; First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since
  10 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen KHANH (since NA
  February 1987) and Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987) were
  appointed by the prime minister
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on proposal of the
  prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi): elections last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1997); results - CPV is the only party; seats - (395 total) CPV or CPV-approved 395

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president

Political parties and leaders: only party - Communist Party of
Vietnam (CPV), DO MUOI, general secretary

International organization participation: ACCT, 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,
  Mekong Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim
  Le Van BANG
  chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 501
  telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
  FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
  note: on 11 July 1995, President CLINTON announced the normalization
  of diplomatic relations with Vietnam; the liaison offices in both
  countries were upgraded to full embassies on 5 August 1995

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires L. Desaix
  ANDERSON
  embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
  mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
  telephone: [84] (4) 431500
  FAX: [84] (4) 350484
  note: on 11 July 1995, President CLINTON announced the normalization
  of diplomatic relations with Vietnam; the liaison offices in both
  countries were upgraded to full embassies on 5 August 1995

Economic overview: Vietnam's economic performance has been impressive in 1990-95, with real growth averaging over 8% annually. Much of this growth comes from a surge in foreign investment outlays which are estimated at $750 million in 1995, up 50% from 1993 levels. Utilization rates for official development assistance are also increasing, rising to an estimated $535 million in 1995. Foreign capital is contributing to a boom in commercial construction and strong growth in services and industrial output. Crude oil remains the country's largest single export but now accounts for only one-quarter of total exports, slightly more than manufactures. Imports are dominated by capital and intermediate goods closely related to investment outlays. Vietnamese authorities may not be moving quickly enough to establish the financial and legal infrastructure needed to sustain growth through the remainder of the decade. Reform of the banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to maintain rapid growth. Administrative and legal barriers are leading to costly delays for foreign investors, raising doubts about Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital. While government officials are leading an effort to accelerate reform, their continuing ideological bias in favor of state intervention and control of the economy may slow progress toward a more liberalized investment environment. Even with the strong growth of the economy, unemployment at 25% remains a major problem.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 28% services: 44% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 32.7 million by occupation: agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $4.67 billion
  expenditures: $5 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.36
  billion (1995 est.)

Industries: food processing, textiles, machine building, mining,
cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil

Electricity: capacity: 4,470,000 kW production: 20 billion kWh consumption per capita: 200 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture: paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee,
tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish catch of 943,100 metric tons (1989
est.)

Illicit drugs: opium producer and increasingly important transit
point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe;
growing opium addiction; possible small-scale heroin production

Exports: $5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: crude oil, rice, marine products, coffee, rubber, tea,
  and garments
  partners: Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, South Korea

Imports: $7.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: petroleum products, machinery and equipment, steel
  products, fertilizer, raw cotton, grain
  partners: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan

External debt: $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: ODA, $57 million (1993)
  note: $2.31 billion in credits and grants pledged by international
  donors for 1996

Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1 - 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991), 7,280 (December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990)

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
  other gauge: 230 km NA-m dual gauge (three rails)

Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft

Merchant marine:
  total: 112 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 569,269 GRT/947,938 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 95, oil tanker 10, refrigerated cargo
  3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
  note: Vietnam owns an additional 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  totaling 120,320 DWT operating under the registries of Honduras,
  Panama, The Bahamas, and Malta (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 48
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 8
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
  with paved runways under 914 m: 7
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
  with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

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 fully 100% of 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)

Branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes Ground Forces,
Navy, and Air Force)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 18,593,129 males fit for military service: 11,769,955 males reach military age (17) annually: 796,312 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $544 million, 2.7% of GDP (1995)

Location: 18 20 N, 64 50 W — Caribbean, islands between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

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

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

Area:
  total area: 352 sq km
  land area: 349 sq km
  comparative area: twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively
low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season
May to November

Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level
  land
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Land use:
  arable land: 15%
  permanent crops: 6%
  meadows and pastures: 26%
  forest and woodland: 6%
  other: 47%

Environment:
  current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
  natural hazards: rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe
  droughts, floods, and earthquakes
  international agreements: NA

Geographic 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: 97,120 (July 1996 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%

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.29 years male: 73.6 years female: 77.2 years (1996 est.)

Name of country:
  conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
  conventional short form: Virgin Islands
  former: Danish West Indies

Type of government: organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

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 (of the United States) William Jefferson
  CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
  (since 20 January 1993)
  head of government: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January
  1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995)
  were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; election
  last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998);
  results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 54.7%, former Lieutenant
  Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5
  November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15
  total) Democrats 7, independents 7, Republican 1
  US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994
  (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (ICM)
  54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) ICM 1;
  note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House
  of Representatives

Judicial branch: US District Court, handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases, judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases, judges appointed by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Marilyn
STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN;
Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, 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.

Labor force: 47,443 (1990 est.) by occupation: agriculture, industry, services, other (1990 est.)

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: capacity: 320,000 kW production: 970 million kWh consumption per capita: 9,172 kWh (1993)

Exports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities: refined petroleum products
partners: US, Puerto Rico

Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
  commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building
  materials
  partners: US, Puerto Rico

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
  note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1995
  est.)

Telephone system:
  domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
  international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
  satellite earth stations - NA

Location: 19 17 N, 166 36 E — Oceania, island in the North
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the
Northern Mariana Islands

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Area:
  total area: 6.5 sq km
  land area: 6.5 sq km
  comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
  DC

Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 100%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: occasional typhoons international agreements: NA

Geographic note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
emergency landing location for transpacific flights

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; there are 302 US military
and contract personnel (July 1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1 October 1994

Economic 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.

Transportation note: formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches

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

Television broadcast stations: NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) television service provided by satellite

Location: 13 18 S, 176 12 W — Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Description: a 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

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area:
  total area: 274 sq km
  land area: 274 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
  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

Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Singavi 765 m

Land use:
  arable land: 5%
  permanent crops: 20%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 75%

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
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.76 years male: 72.16 years female: 73.4 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1969 est.)
  total population: 50%
  male: 50%
  female: 50%

Name of country:
  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 (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
  1995), represented by High Administrator Leon-Alexandre LEGRAND
  (since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
  head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele
  TAUHAVILI (since NA)
  cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
  members appointed by the high administrator on advice of the
  Territorial Assembly
  note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale): elections last held
  22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11
  French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
  held by NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (1 total) RPR 1
  French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992
  (next to be held by NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1; note - Wallis and Futuna elect
  one deputy

Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French
law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings
administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union
  Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF);
  Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG);
  Taumu'a Lelei

Flag: a 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

Economic 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 sugar, rice, and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government
4% (est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $14.04 million
  expenditures: $14.04 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1994 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 1,200 kW production: 1 million kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA

Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing partners: France, Australia, New Zealand

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: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Area:
  total area: 5,860 sq km
  land area: 5,640 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware
  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 lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m

Land use:
  arable land: 27%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 32%
  forest and woodland: 1%
  other: 40%

Environment:
  current issues: NA
  natural hazards: NA
  international agreements: NA

Geographic note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for
  Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 202 Israeli settlements and
  civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 26 in East Jerusalem
  (August 1995 est.)

Population: 1,427,741 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West
Bank and 153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 45% (male 332,628; female 315,968)
  15-64 years: 51% (male 368,180; female 362,880)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 20,495; female 27,590) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.76 years male: 70.17 years female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
(widely understood)

Government note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, 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 has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in certain spheres for the rest of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in additional areas of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank

Economic overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states. Such transfers from the Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. The area's economic situation has worsened since Israel imposed stringent border restrictions in 1995 and 1996.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 7% services: 60% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)

Labor force: NA
  by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry
  14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9%
  (1991)
  note: excluding Israeli settlers

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:
  capacity: NA kW
  production: NA kWh
  consumption per capita: 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

Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables
partners: Jordan, Israel

Imports: $791 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
partners: Jordan, Israel

Economic aid:
  recipient: ODA, $NA
  note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledged
  in 1995 (includes aid to Gaza Strip)

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 - 3.1295 (January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991)

Highways:
  total: NA km
  paved: NA km
  unpaved: NA km
  note: small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to
  service Jewish settlements

Airports:
  total: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA note: Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication services in the West Bank

Television broadcast stations: 0
note: 1 broadcast station is planned for Jericho

Televisions: NA; note - 54% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)

Location: 24 30 N, 13 00 W — Northern Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Mauritania and Morocco

Area:
  total area: 266,000 sq km
  land area: 266,000 sq km
  comparative area: about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries: total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

International disputes: 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

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 lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed location 463 m

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 19%
  forest and woodland: 0%
  other: 81%

Environment:
  current issues: sparse water and arable land
  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
  international agreements: NA

Sex ratio:
  at birth: NA male(s)/female
  under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
  15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
  65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
  all ages: NA male(s)/female

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.01 years male: 46 years female: 48.34 years (1996 est.)

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara

Type of government: 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

Economic overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little 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.

Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 79 million kWh consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases);
camels, sheep, goats (kept by the nomads)

Exports: $NA
  commodities: phosphates 62%
  partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade
  partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Imports: $NA
  commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
  partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade
  partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.607 (January 1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991)

Airports:
  total: 12
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways under 914 m: 3
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

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

Location: 13 35 S, 172 20 W — Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand

Description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

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

Area:
  total area: 2,860 sq km
  land area: 2,850 sq km
  comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 24%
  meadows and pastures: 0%
  forest and woodland: 47%
  other: 10%

Environment:
  current issues: soil erosion
  natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40% (male 43,540; female 42,185)
  15-64 years: 56% (male 62,742; female 57,323)
  65 years and over: 4% (male 4,089; female 4,505) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.73 years male: 66.35 years female: 71.24 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write (1971 est.)
  total population: 97%
  male: 97%
  female: 97%

Name of country:
conventional long form: Independent State of Western Samoa
conventional short form: 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 (co-chief of
  state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April
  1963); upon his death, a new chief of state will be elected by the
  Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term
  head of government: Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7
  April 1988) was appointed by the chief of state with approval of the
  Legislative Assembly
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the chief of state with the prime
  minister's advice

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono): elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held 26 April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1 note: only matai (head of family) are able to run for the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party
  (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman; Samoan National Development
  Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman; Samoan Progressive
  Conservative Party, LEOTA Ituau Ale; Samoa All People's Party
  (SAPP), Matatumua MAIMOAGA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
  FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197 FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Western Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand) embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia telephone: [685] 21631 FAX: [685] 22030

Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

Economic overview: Agriculture employs more than one-half of the labor force, contributes 50% to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earnings comes from the sale of coconut oil and copra. The economy depends on emigrant remittances and foreign aid to supplement GDP and to support a level of imports much greater than export earnings. Tourism has become the most important growth industry. The economy continued to falter in 1994, as remittances and tourist earnings remained low. Production of taro, the primary food export crop, dropped 97% in 1993/94 when a fungal disease threatened the country's basic food crops. Nevertheless, the government is relying on recovery and further expansion in agricultural production to sustain economic growth of around 5% over the next several years.

Labor force: 45,635 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $78.6 million
  expenditures: $81.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1995 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 29,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 200 kWh (1993)

Exports: $6.4 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: coconut oil and cream, taro, copra, cocoa partners: New Zealand 34%, American Samoa 21%, Germany 18%, Australia 11%

Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12% partners: New Zealand 37%, Australia 25%, Japan 11%, Fiji 9%

Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5195 (January 1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994), 2.5681 (1993), 2.4655 (1992), 2.3975 (1991)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Area:
  total area: 510.072 million sq km
  land area: 148.94 million sq km
  water area: 361.132 million sq km
  comparative area: land area about 15 times the size of the US
  note: 70.8% of the world is water, 29.2% is land

Land boundaries: the land boundaries in the world total 250,883.64
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,
  Kazakstan, 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 Marianas Trench at 10,924 m in the Pacific Ocean 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 and the former USSR)
  pose serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are
  only beginning to address

Land use:
  arable land: 10%
  permanent crops: 1%
  meadows and pastures: 24%
  forest and woodland: 31%
  other: 34%

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
  natural hazards: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical
  cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis,
  volcanic eruptions)
  international agreements: selected international environmental
  agreements are included under the Environment entry for each country
  and in the Selected International Environmental Agreements appendix

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31% (male 919,402,570; female 874,330,478)
  15-64 years: 62% (male 1,824,524,365; female 1,776,639,084)
  65 years and over: 7% (male 162,216,128; female 213,712,993)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62 years male: 61 years female: 64 years

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: varies by individual country; 186 (not including
Yugoslavia) are parties to the UN International Court of Justice
(ICJ or World Court)

Economic overview: Real global output - gross world product (GWP) - again rose 3% in 1995, with the newly industrializing Third World countries setting the pace. And once more, results varied widely among regions and countries. Average growth of 2.5% in the GDP of industrialized countries (56% of GWP in 1995) and average growth of 5% in the GDP of less developed countries (38% of GWP) were partly offset by a small 1.5% drop in the GDP of the former USSR/Eastern Europe area (only 6% of GWP). With the notable exception of Japan at 3.1%, unemployment was typically 6%-12% in the industrial world. The US accounted for 22% of GWP in 1995; Western Europe accounted for 21%; and Japan accounted for 8%. These are the three "economic superpowers" presumably destined to compete for mastery in international markets on into the 21st century. As for the less developed countries: China, India, and the Four Dragons - South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore - once again posted records of 5% growth or better; however, many other countries, especially in Africa, continued to suffer from drought, rapid population growth, inflation, and civil strife. Central Europe continued its progress in moving toward "market-friendly" economies. The 15 ex-Soviet countries typically experienced further declines in output, although considerably less than in 1992-94. 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 in a number of cases is losing control over resources 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 nearly 100 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. (For specific economic developments in each country, see the individual country entries in this volume.)

GDP: GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $33.7 trillion (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  all countries: 25%
  developed countries: 2% to 6% typically
  developing countries: 10% to 60% typically (1995 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 6%-12% unemployment (1995 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 rapid development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental problems

Electricity:
  capacity: 2,773,000,000 kW
  production: 11.601 trillion kWh
  consumption per capita: 1,937 kWh (1993)

Exports: $4.3 trillion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods
  and services
  partners: in value, about 75% of exports from the developed countries

Imports: $4.4 trillion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods
  and services
  partners: in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries

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: Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille, Mina' al Ahmadi
(Kuwait), New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama

Merchant marine:
  total: 25,521 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 442,276,527
  GRT/701,647,274 DWT
  ships by type: barge carrier 22, bulk 5,308, cargo 8,089, chemical
  tanker 920, combination bulk 307, combination ore/oil 279, container
  1,938, liquefied gas tanker 709, livestock carrier 52, multifunction
  large-load carrier 62, oil tanker 4,320, passenger 298,
  passenger-cargo 117, railcar carrier 21, refrigerated cargo 1,022,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,034, short-sea passenger 484, specialized
  tanker 81, vehicle carrier 458 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: probably a small decline in 1995 in aggregate real expenditure on arms worldwide and somewhat less than three-quarters of a trillion dollars in money terms, or roughly 2% of gross world product (1995 est.)

Location: 15 00 N, 48 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Arabian
Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden,
and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Area:
  total area: 527,970 sq km
  land area: 527,970 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
  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

International disputes: large section of boundary with Saudi
  Arabia not defined; a dispute with Eritrea over sovereignty of the
  Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to
  arbitration under the auspices of the International Court of Justice

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 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: 6%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 30%
  forest and woodland: 7%
  other: 57%

Environment:
  current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources;
  inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion;
  desertification
  natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summer
  international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law
  of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Climate Change

Geographic note: controls 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 3,302,489; female 3,122,246)
  15-64 years: 50% (male 3,327,682; female 3,364,787)
  65 years and over: 2% (male 158,018; female 207,956) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.58 years male: 58.23 years female: 60.99 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in
western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small
European communities in major metropolitan areas

Religions: Muslim including Sha'fi (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a),
small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
  total population: 38%
  male: 53%
  female: 26%

Name of country:
  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, Aden, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah,
  Al Mahwit, Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramaut, 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 on 22 May 1990 with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen} and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen {Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen}; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

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) was elected for a five-year term by
  the House of Representatives; election last held 1 October 1994
  (next to be held NA 1999); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab
  Mansur al-HADI (since NA October 1994) was appointed by the president
  head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Aziz ABD AL-GHANI (since
  NA October 1994) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime
  Ministers Abd al-Wahhab al-ANISI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Abd
  al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Muhammad Said
  al-ATTAR (since NA October 1994), and Abd al-Qadir al-BA JAMAL
  (since NA October 1994)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
  advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives: elections last held 27 April 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (301 total) GPC 124, Islaah 61, YSP 55, others 13, independents 47, election nullified 1

Political parties and leaders: over 40 political parties are active in Yemen, but only three project significant influence; since the May-July 1994 civil war, President SALIH's General People's Congress (GPC) and Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR's Yemeni Grouping for Reform, or Islaah, have joined to form a coalition government; the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), headed by Ali Salih UBAYD, has regrouped as a loyal opposition

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,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
  (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Muhsin Ahmad al-AYNI
  chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
  telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760, 4761
  FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David G. NEWTON embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa telephone: [967] (1) 238843 through 238852 FAX: [967] (1) 251563

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Whereas the northern city Sanaa is the political capital of a united Yemen, the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port facilities, is the economic and commercial capital. Future economic development depends heavily on Western-assisted development of the country's moderate oil resources. Former South Yemen's willingness to merge stemmed partly from the steady decline in Soviet economic support. The low level of domestic industry and agriculture has made northern Yemen dependent on imports for practically all of its essential needs. Once self-sufficient in food production, northern Yemen has become a major importer. Land once used for export crops - cotton, fruit, and vegetables - has been turned over to growing a shrub called qat, whose leaves are chewed for their stimulant effect by Yemenis and which has no significant export market. Economic growth in former South Yemen has been constrained by a lack of incentives, partly stemming from centralized control over production decisions, investment allocation, and import choices. Yemen's large trade deficits have been compensated for by remittances from Yemenis working abroad and by foreign aid. Since the Gulf crisis, remittances have dropped substantially. High inflation and political divisions hinder the development of a forward-looking economic policy.

Labor force: no reliable estimates exist, 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: $1.4 billion
  expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 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: capacity: 810,000 kW production: 1.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 149 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly narcotic
shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, poultry, meat; fish

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables, dried and
  salted fish
  partners: US 17%, Japan 16%, Singapore 15%, China 13% (1994)

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
  commodities: textiles and other manufactured consumer goods,
  petroleum products, sugar, grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement,
  machinery, chemicals
  partners: US 11%, UK 7%, France 7%, Germany 5%, Japan 5% (1994)

Exchange rates: Yemeni rials per US$1 - 12.010 (official fixed rate); 90 (market rate, December 1994)

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 (1995 est.)

Airports:
  total: 41
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with paved runways under 914 m: 3
  with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10 (1995 est.)

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,985,764 males fit for military service: 1,685,517 males reach military age (18) annually: 145,161 (1996 est.)

Description: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Area:
  total area: 2,345,410 sq km
  land area: 2,267,600 sq km
  comparative area: slightly more than one-fourth the size of US

Land boundaries:
  total: 10,271 km
  border countries: Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African
  Republic 1,577 km, 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

International disputes: Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake
  Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally
  reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary
  has been settled; long section with Congo along the Congo river is
  indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)

Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler
  and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern
  highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry
  season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November
  to March, dry season April to October

Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in
  east
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Margherita Peak (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

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 4%
  forest and woodland: 78%
  other: 15%

Environment:
  current issues: poaching threatens wildlife populations; water
  pollution; deforestation; 1.2 million Rwandan refugees are
  responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and
  wildlife poaching in eastern Zaire
  natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity
  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; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental
  Modification

Geographic 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 11,161,347; female 11,124,583)
  15-64 years: 49% (male 11,197,097; female 11,783,524)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 539,775; female 692,213) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -14.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
  note: in 1994, more than one million refugees fled into Zaire to
  escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and
  Burundi; a small number of these returned to their homes in 1995
  despite fear of the ongoing violence; additionally, Zaire is host to
  about 100,000 Angolan, and about 100,000 Sudanese refugees

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.7 years male: 44.97 years female: 48.47 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are
Bantu; 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: age 15 and over can read and write in French, Lingala,
  Kingwana, or Tshiluba (1995 est.)
  total population: 77.3%
  male: 86.6%
  female: 67.7%

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Zaire conventional short form: Zaire local long form: Republique du Zaire local short form: Zaire former: Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa

Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region)
  and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire,
  Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu,
  Shaba, Sud-Kivu

National holiday: Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24
November (1965)

Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15
February 1978; amended April 1990; new transitional constitution
promulgated in April 1994

Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa
  Za Banga (since 24 November 1965) elected for a seven-year term by
  popular vote; election last held 29 July 1984 (next to be held by 9
  July 1997); results - President MOBUTU was reelected without
  opposition
  head of government: Prime Minister Leon KENGO wa Dondo (since 14
  June 1994) elected by the High Council of the Republic
  cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by mutual agreement
  of the president and the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral parliament: a single body consisting of the High Council of the Republic and the Parliament of the Transition with membership equally divided between presidential supporters and opponents

Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January 1991
  - Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include
  Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI
  wa Mulumba; Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC); Union of
  Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI); Unified Lumumbast
  Party (PALU), Antoine GIZENGA; Union of Independent Democrats (UDI),
  Leon KENGO wa Dondo

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
  CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador TATANENE Manata chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone: [243] (12) 21533 through 21535 FAX: [243] (88) 43805, ext. 2308 or 43467

Flag: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economic overview: Zaire's economy has continued to disintegrate, although Prime Minister KENGO has had some success in slowing the rate of economic decline. While meaningful economic figures are difficult to come by, Zaire's hyperinflation, chronic large government deficits, and plunging mineral production have made the country one of the world's poorest. Most formal transactions are conducted in hard currency as indigenous bank notes have lost almost all value, and a barter economy now flourishes in all but the largest cities. Most individuals and families hang on grimly through subsistence farming and petty trade. The government has not been able to meet its financial obligations to the IMF nor put in place the financial measures advocated by it. Although short-term prospects for improvement remain doubtful, improved political stability would boost Zaire's long-term potential to effectively exploit its vast mineral and agricultural resources.

Labor force: 14.51 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $479 million
  expenditures: $479 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
  (1996 est.)

Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, diamonds

Electricity: capacity: 2,830,000 kW production: 6.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 133 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Exports: $419 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oil partners: US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa

Imports: $382 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels partners: South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK

Exchange rates: new zaires (Z) per US$1 - 10,618 (October 1995),
  1,194 (1994), 3 (1993); zaire (Z) per US$1 - 645,549 (1992), 15,587
  (1991)
  note: on 22 October 1993 the new zaire, equal to 3,000,000 old
  zaires, was introduced

Railways:
  total: 5,138 km (1995); note - severely reduced trackage in use
  because of 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: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu,
Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Airports:
  total: 217
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 82
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 94 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
paramilitary Civil Guard, Special Presidential Division

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,025,536 males fit for military service: 5,108,385 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $46 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990)

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

Area:
  total area: 752,610 sq km
  land area: 740,720 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:
  total: 5,664 km
  border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km,
  Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zaire 1,930 km, Zimbabwe 797 km

International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled

Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m highest point: in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds,
gold, silver, uranium, hydropower potential

Land use:
  arable land: 7%
  permanent crops: 0%
  meadows and pastures: 47%
  forest and woodland: 27%
  other: 19%

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
  natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
  Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 49% (male 2,272,981; female 2,244,403)
  15-64 years: 48% (male 2,157,106; female 2,256,935)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 110,433; female 117,214) (July 1996 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.31 years male: 36.15 years female: 36.46 years (1996 est.)

Languages: English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda,
Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous
languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in English (1995 est.)
  total population: 78.2%
  male: 85.6%
  female: 71.3%

Name of country: 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 and head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA
  (since 31 October 1991) elected for a five-year term by popular
  vote; Vice President General Godfrey MIYANDA (since NA August 1994)
  appointed by the president; election last held 31 October 1991 (next
  to be held October 1996); results - Frederick CHILUBA 84%, Kenneth
  KAUNDA 16%
  cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the president from among the members
  of the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
  National Assembly: elections last held 31 October 1991 (next to be
  held October 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (150 total) MMD 125, UNIP 25; note - the MMD's majority was weakened
  by the defection of 13 of its parliamentary members during 1993 and
  the defeat of its candidates in four of the resulting byelections

Political parties and leaders: Movement for Multiparty Democracy
  (MMD), Frederick CHILUBA; United National Independence Party (UNIP),
  Kenneth KAUNDA; National Party (NP), Humphrey MULEMBIA; Labor Party
  (LP), Chibiza MFUNI; Zambia Democratic Congress (ZDC), Dean
  MUNG'OMBA; Liberal Progressive Front (LPF), Roger CHONGWE, president

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, NAM, OAU, SADC,
  UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA
  chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
  FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

US diplomatic representation:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Roland K. KUCHEL
  embassy: corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue,
  Lusaka
  mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
  telephone: [260] (1) 250-955, 252-230
  FAX: [260] (1) 252-225

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Despite continuing progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy is showing little improvement. Inflation, while slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA government. Four of Zambia's 20 banks collapsed in 1995, and the nation's debt stood at about $7 billion. 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. Food production is insufficient to meet the country's needs due to previous droughts and an end to government subsidization of agriculture. While the government's economic program aims for 6% growth in each of the next three years, a growth rate of 3-5% is more likely.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 22% services: 46% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 3.4 million by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%

Budget:
  revenues: $665 million
  expenditures: $767 million, including capital expenditures of $300
  million (1991 est.)

Industries: copper mining and processing, construction,
foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer

Electricity: capacity: 2,440,000 kW production: 7.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 650 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, beef, eggs

Illicit drugs: increasingly a regional transshipment center for methaqualone and heroin

Exports: $1.075 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
  partners: EU countries, Japan, South Africa, US, India, Thailand,
  Malaysia

Imports: $845 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
  commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels,
  manufactures
  partners: EU countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, US

Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 909.09 (December 1995), 833.33 (1995), 769.23 (1994), 434.78 (1993), 156.25 (1992), 61.7284 (1991)

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 New Kapiri M'poshi where it connects
  to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia
  Railways

Highways:
  total: 37,359 km
  paved: 6,575 km (including 56 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 30,784 km (1992 est.)

Airports:
  total: 104
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
  with paved runways under 914 m: 35
  with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 54 (1995 est.)

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)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,934,845 males fit for military service: 1,020,851 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $96 million, 2.7% of GDP (1995)

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

Area:
  total area: 390,580 sq km
  land area: 386,670 sq km
  comparative area: slightly larger than Montana

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,066 km
  border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa
  225 km, Zambia 797 km

International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zambia is in disagreement

Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east lowest point: junction of the Lundi and Savi 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: NEGL (coffee)
  meadows and pastures: 13%
  forest and woodland: 49%
  other: 31%

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
  natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are
  rare
  international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
  but not ratified - Desertification

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44% (male 2,513,606; female 2,481,478)
  15-64 years: 53% (male 2,935,188; female 3,030,270)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 152,244; female 158,528) (July 1996 est.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
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: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
  all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.85 years male: 41.91 years female: 41.78 years (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 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: age 15 and over can read and write in English (1995 est.)
  total population: 85%
  male: 90%
  female: 80%

Name of country:
  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 (Victoria),
  Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Executive branch:
  chief of state and head of government: Executive President Robert
  Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987) was nominated by the House
  of Assembly (if more than one nomination, electoral college of
  members of the House of Assembly elect the president); election last
  held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2002); results -
  Robert MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA 4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%;
  Co-Vice President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987);
  Co-Vice President Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990) was
  appointed by the president
  cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president; responsible to
  Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
  Parliament: elections last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA
  March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150
  total, 120 elected) ZANU-PF 118, ZANU-Ndonga 2

Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National
  Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert MUGABE; Zimbabwe African
  National Union-NDONGA (ZANU-NDONGA), Ndabaningi SITHOLE; Zimbabwe
  Unity Movement (ZUM), Edgar TEKERE; Democratic Party (DP), Emmanuel
  MAGOCHE; Forum Party of Zimbabwe, Enock DUMBUTSHENA; United Parties,
  Abel MUZOREWA

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
  FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
  NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI
  chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
  FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnnie CARSON embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone: [263] (4) 794521 FAX: [263] (4) 796488

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Agriculture employs 70% of the labor force of this landlocked nation and supplies almost 40% of exports. Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment, but minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Severe drought caused GDP to drop 8% in 1992, with growth rebounding to 2% in 1993 and 4.5% in 1994, only to drop by 2.4% in 1995. The government is continuing to push its IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program aimed at encouraging exports and foreign investment. Officials face the difficult task of restraining expenditures in their effort to keep inflation within bounds.

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 18.3% industry: 35.3% services: 46.4% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 4.228 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 70%, transport and services 22%, industry 8%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.7 billion
  expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $253
  million (FY92/93)

Industries: mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals, foodstuffs, fertilizer, beverage, transportation equipment, wood products

Electricity: capacity: 2,040,000 kW production: 9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 913 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
  commodities: agricultural 35% (tobacco 30%, other 5%), manufactures
  25%, gold 12%, ferrochrome 10%, textiles 8% (1992)
  partners: UK 14%, Germany 11%, South Africa 10%, Japan 7%, US 5%
  (1991)

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
  commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 41%, other
  manufactures 23%, chemicals 16%, fuels 12% (1991)
  partners: South Africa 25%, UK 15%, Germany 9%, US 6%, Japan 5%
  (1991)

Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 -9.3633 (January 1996), 8.6580 (1995), 8.1500 (1994), 6.4725 (1993), 5.0942 (1992), 3.4282 (1991)

Railways:
  total: 2,759 km (1995)
  narrow gauge: 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km
  double track) (1995 est.)

Highways:
  total: 91,078 km
  paved: 14,572 km
  unpaved: 76,506 km (1992 est.)

Airports:
  total: 403
  with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
  with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
  with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
  with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8
  with paved runways under 914 m: 185
  with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
  with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 198 (1995 est.)

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)

Branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,629,880 males fit for military service: 1,632,391 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $236 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY95/96)

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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 1996 CIA World Factbook

THE 1996 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

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