← The 2003 CIA World Factbook, Volume 1
Z (part 11)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,
Police Force
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Puerto Rico
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Qatar
Introduction Qatar
Background:
Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed
itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling
into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas
revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy
was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by
the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown by
his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless
coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border
disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas
revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the
leading industrial countries of Western Europe.
Geography Qatar
Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1.27% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
deposits
People Qatar
Population:
817,052 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 102,938; female 98,934)
15-64 years: 72.4% (male 415,302; female 176,183)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,199; female 6,496) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 21.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.87% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.43 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
17.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.65 male(s)/female
total population: 1.9 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.14 years
male: 70.65 years
female: 75.76 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
Muslim 95%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.5%
male: 81.4%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Qatar
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
Government type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Doha
Administrative divisions:
10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al
Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan
al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:
provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir
HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent
constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari
voters approved the new constitution
Legal system:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil
codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and
personal matters
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad
Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASIM bin Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by
the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed
forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,
brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime
Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch
(since 20 January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member
Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimed
at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election
for the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative branch:
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members
appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there
were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their
terms extended every four years since; the new constitution provides
for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public
would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would
appoint the remaining members
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
telephone: (202) 274-1600
consulate(s) general: Houston
FAX: (202) 237-0061
chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN
embassy: Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: 488 4101
FAX: 488 4298
Flag description:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side
Economy Qatar
Economy - overview:
Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export
earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given
Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West
European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 14.5 billion
barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23
years. Production and export of natural gas are becoming
increasingly important to the economy. Qatar's proved reserves of
natural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the
world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature
the development of offshore natural gas reserves. Since 2000, Qatar
has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil
prices and increased natural gas exports, and Qatar's economy is
expected to receive an added boost as it begins to increase liquid
natural gas exports.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $15.91 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 67.6%
services: 32% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002)
Labor force:
280,122 (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.7% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $5 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (FY 02/03 est.)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals,
steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
9.264 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.616 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
14.51 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
17.93 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Exports:
$10.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners:
Japan 40.1%, South Korea 16.6%, Singapore 8.2%, US 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 17.8%, Japan 10.1%, US 8.5%, UK 8.3%, Germany 8%, Italy
6.7%, UAE 5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$15.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Qatari rial (QAR)
Currency code:
QAR
Exchange rates:
Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000),
3.64 (1999), 3.64 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Qatar
Telephones - main lines in use:
142,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43,476 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio
relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
256,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
230,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.qa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
75,000 (2001)
Transportation Qatar
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 90 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 902 km; liquid
petroleum gas 87 km; oil 722 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 638,815 GRT/995,096 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2,
container 7, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Kuwait 1, UAE 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 1
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Qatar
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 320,835 note: includes non-nationals (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 168,416 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 7,192 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$723 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
10% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Qatar
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Reunion
Introduction Reunion
Background:
The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the
17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented by
influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave the
island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost
the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade
route.
Geography Reunion
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references:
World
Area:
total: 2,517 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,507 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
207 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry
from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.2% permanent crops: 2% other: 84.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la
Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton de
la Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis,
which is the monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean
People Reunion
Population:
755,171 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 121,119; female 115,501)
15-64 years: 62.8% (male 233,607; female 240,502)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 18,036; female 26,406) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 25.2 years
female: 27.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.47% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
20.17 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 8.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.43 years
male: 70.03 years
female: 77 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups:
French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)
Languages:
French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.9%
male: 87%
female: 90.8% (2003 est.)
Government Reunion
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local short form: Ile de la Reunion
local long form: none
former: Bourbon Island
Dependency status:
overseas department of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Gonthier FRIEDERICI (since NA)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
head of government: President of the General Council Jean-Luc
POUDROUX (since NA March 1998) and President of the Regional Council
Paul VERGES (since NA March 1993)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council (49 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral
Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popular
vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next to
be held NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next
to be held NA 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10,
UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 19, UDF 9, RPR
8, various right-wing candidates 4, various left-wing candidates 5
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held NA 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Reunion also
elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, UMP 1,
PCR 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; Rally for the
Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS
[Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Gilbert
GERARD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, InOC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Reunion
Economy - overview:
The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, but
services now dominate. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more
than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports.
The government has been pushing the development of a tourist
industry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to one-third of
the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the
poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social
tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better
off than other segments of the population, often approaching
European standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty and
unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.
The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the
seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from
France.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.174 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 19%
services: 73% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
309,900 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000)
Unemployment rate:
36% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.26 billion
expenditures: $2.62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)
Industries:
sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.08 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 55.5% hydro: 44.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.005 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn
Exports:
$214 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%,
(1993)
Exports - partners:
France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (2000)
Imports:
$2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and
transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
Imports - partners:
France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (2000)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - substantial annual subsidies from France
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Reunion
Telephones - main lines in use:
268,500 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
197,000 (September 2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
173,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
127,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.re
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
10,000 (2000)
Transportation Reunion
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 2,724 km
paved: 1,300 km (including 73 km of four-lane road)
unpaved: 1,424 km (1994)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Le Port, Pointe des Galets
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Reunion
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French forces (including
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 198,341 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 101,116 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,795 (2003 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Reunion
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Romania
Introduction Romania
Background:
Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a
Communist "peoples republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king.
The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power
in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly
oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown
and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the
government until 1996, when they were swept from power by a
fractious coalition of centrist parties. Currently, the Social
Democratic Party forms a nominally minority government, which
governs with the support of the opposition Democratic Union of
Hungarians in Romania. Bucharest must address rampant corruption,
while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms, before
Romania can achieve its hope of joining the European Union.
Geography Romania
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and
Ukraine
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east)
169 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny
summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia
on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the
Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources:
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron
ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 40.57% permanent crops: 2.4% other: 57.03% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
28,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure
and climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in
south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta
wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note:
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,
Moldova, and Ukraine
People Romania
Population:
22,271,839 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 1,932,204; female 1,838,240)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,634,481; female 7,739,232)
65 years and over: 14% (male 1,290,343; female 1,837,339) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.4 years
male: 34 years
female: 37.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.21% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 20.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.62 years
male: 66.88 years
female: 74.59 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
350 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups:
Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German
0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002)
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant
6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%, unaffiliated 0.2%
(2002)
Languages:
Romanian (official), Hungarian, German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (2003 est.)
Government Romania
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local short form: Romania local long form: none
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bucharest
Administrative divisions:
41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*
(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi,
Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati,
Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov,
Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from Turkey; independence
recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed
26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
National holiday:
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:
8 December 1991
Legal system:
former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is
now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 December 2000)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 26 November 2000, with runoff between the top two
candidates held 10 December 2000 (next to be held NA
November/December 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Adrian NASTASE (since 29 December
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
election results: percent of vote - Ion ILIESCU 66.84%, Corneliu
Vadim TUDOR 33.16%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(140 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (345 seats; members are
elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation
basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in
the fall of 2004); Chamber of Deputies - last held 26 November 2000
(next to be held in the fall of 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDSR (now PSD)
37.1%, PRM 21.0%, PD 7.6%, PNL 7.5%, UDMR 6.9%; seats by party - PSD
65, PRM 36, PNL 13, UDMR 12, PD 9, independents 5; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - PDSR (now PSD) 36.6%, PRM
19.5%, PD 7.0%, PNL, 6.9%, UDMR 6.8%; seats by party - PSD 171, PRM
69, PD 29, PNL 27, UDMR 27, ethnic minorities 18, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the president on
the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or PD [Traian BASESCU]; Democratic Union of
Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party
or PNL [Theodor STOLOJAN]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian
Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD
[Adrian NASTASE], formerly known as the Party of Social Democracy in
Romania or PDSR
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York FAX: (202) 232-4748 telephone: (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. GUEST embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: (21) 210-4042 FAX: (21) 210-0395 branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow
band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also
resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Economy Romania
Economy - overview:
Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely
obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the
country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing
three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets.
Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in
construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above
4%. An IMF Standby Agreement, signed in 2001, has been accompanied
by slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, and
the curbing of inflation. Nonetheless, recent macroeconomic gains
have done little to address Romania's widespread poverty, while
corruption and red tape hinder foreign investment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $169.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 35% services: 50% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 44.5% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 25% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
22.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
9.9 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 40%, industry 25%, services 35% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $11.7 billion
expenditures: $12.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining,
timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food
processing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002)
Electricity - production:
50.86 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 9.9%
Electricity - consumption:
46.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
400 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
127,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
215,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.055 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
14.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
19.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
111.1 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep
Exports: $13.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and
equipment, minerals and fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 24.4%, Germany 15.5%, France 7.7%, UK 5.4%, US 5%, Turkey
4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$16.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and minerals 12%, chemicals 9%,
textile and products 19% (1999)
Imports - partners:
Italy 20.2%, Germany 18.1%, France 6.6%, Russia 5.6%, Austria 4.9%,
Hungary 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$13.7 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
leu (ROL)
Currency code:
ROL
Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 33,055.4 (2002), 29,060.8 (2001), 21,708.7
(2000), 15,332.8 (1999), 8,875.58 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Romania
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.777 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
645,500 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor domestic service, but improving
domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is
mostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; about
one-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villages
have no service
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digital,
international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest; note -
Romania is an active participant in several international
telecommunication network projects (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
7.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
5.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ro
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
38 (2000)
Internet users:
1 million (2002)
Transportation Romania
Railways:
total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified)
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
broad gage: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
Highways:
total: 198,603 km
paved: 98,308 km (including 113 km of expressways)
unpaved: 100,295 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,724 km (1984)
Pipelines:
gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea
Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 494,670 GRT/650,863 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1, Italy 5 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 39, container 1, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, railcar carrier 2, roll
on/roll off 4
Airports:
65 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 39
under 914 m: 25 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 12
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military Romania
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR), Paramilitary Forces,
Civil Defense, Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,912,284 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,974,240 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 157,840 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$985 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.47% (2002)
Transnational Issues Romania
Disputes - international:
has not resolved claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmyinyy (Snake)
Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks based
on 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years; joint
boundary commission is rectifying boundary with Bulgaria based on
shifts in Danube since last delimitation in 1920; Hungary has yet to
amend status law extending special social and cultural benefits to
ethnic Hungarians in Romania, who protest the law
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the
Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for
Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Russia
Introduction Russia
Background:
Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led
to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and
to the overthrow in 1917 of the 300-year old Romanov Dynasty. The
Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed
the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthened
Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions
of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following
decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91)
introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an
attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently
released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15
independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its
efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to
replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the
Communist period. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues
Russia in Chechnya.
Geography Russia
Location:
Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included with
Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North
Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 17,075,200 sq km
water: 79,400 sq km
land: 16,995,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 19,990 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland
1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,
Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,485
km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576
km
Coastline:
37,653 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much
of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the
polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid
in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along
Arctic coast
Terrain:
broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest
and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border
regions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources:
wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural
gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
exploitation of natural resources
Land use: arable land: 7.46% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 92.43% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
46,630 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to
development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and
earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and
summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European
Russia
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric
plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal,
and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts;
deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper
application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes
intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from
toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of
obsolete pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably
located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its
size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either
too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount Elbrus is Europe's
tallest peak
People Russia
Population:
144,526,278 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 11,815,360; female 11,335,715)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 49,399,322; female 52,367,194)
65 years and over: 13.6% (male 6,394,411; female 13,214,276) (2003
est.)
Median age: total: 37.6 years male: 34.7 years female: 40.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
13.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.66 years
male: 62.46 years
female: 73.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.33 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
700,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian
Ethnic groups:
Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir
0.9%, Belarusian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1% (1989)
Religions:
Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other
Languages:
Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
Government Russia
Country name:
conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
local short form: Rossiya
Government type:
federation
Capital:
Moscow
Administrative divisions:
49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics* (respublik,
singular - respublika), 10 autonomous okrugs**(avtonomnykh okrugov,
singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 6 krays*** (krayev, singular - kray),
2 federal cities (singular - gorod)****, and 1 autonomous
oblast*****(avtonomnaya oblast'); Adygeya (Maykop)*, Aginskiy
Buryatskiy (Aginskoye)**, Altay (Gorno-Altaysk)*, Altayskiy
(Barnaul)***, Amurskaya (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'skaya,
Astrakhanskaya, Bashkortostan (Ufa)*, Belgorodskaya, Bryanskaya,
Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude)*, Chechnya (Groznyy)*, Chelyabinskaya,
Chitinskaya, Chukotskiy (Anadyr')**, Chuvashiya (Cheboksary)*,
Dagestan (Makhachkala)*, Evenkiyskiy (Tura)**, Ingushetiya
(Nazran')*, Irkutskaya, Ivanovskaya, Kabardino-Balkariya
(Nal'chik)*, Kaliningradskaya, Kalmykiya (Elista)*, Kaluzhskaya,
Kamchatskaya (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya
(Cherkessk)*, Kareliya (Petrozavodsk)*, Kemerovskaya,
Khabarovskiy***, Khakasiya (Abakan)*, Khanty-Mansiyskiy
(Khanty-Mansiysk)**, Kirovskaya, Komi (Syktyvkar)*, Koryakskiy
(Palana)**, Kostromskaya, Krasnodarskiy***, Krasnoyarskiy***,
Kurganskaya, Kurskaya, Leningradskaya, Lipetskaya, Magadanskaya,
Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola)*, Mordoviya (Saransk)*, Moskovskaya, Moskva
(Moscow)****, Murmanskaya, Nenetskiy (Nar'yan-Mar)**,
Nizhegorodskaya, Novgorodskaya, Novosibirskaya, Omskaya,
Orenburgskaya, Orlovskaya (Orel), Penzenskaya, Permskaya,
Komi-Permyatskiy (Kudymkar)**, Primorskiy (Vladivostok)***,
Pskovskaya, Rostovskaya, Ryazanskaya, Sakha (Yakutiya)*,
Sakhalinskaya (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samarskaya, Sankt-Peterburg
(Saint Petersburg)****, Saratovskaya, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya
[North Ossetia] (Vladikavkaz)*, Smolenskaya, Stavropol'skiy***,
Sverdlovskaya (Yekaterinburg), Tambovskaya, Tatarstan (Kazan')*,
Taymyrskiy (Dudinka)**, Tomskaya, Tul'skaya, Tverskaya, Tyumenskaya,
Tyva (Kyzyl)*, Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)*, Ul'yanovskaya, Ust'-Ordynskiy
Buryatskiy (Ust'-Ordynskiy)**, Vladimirskaya, Volgogradskaya,
Vologodskaya, Voronezhskaya, Yamalo-Nenetskiy (Salekhard)**,
Yaroslavskaya, Yevreyskaya*****; note - when using a place name with
an adjectival ending 'skaya' or 'skiy,' the word Oblast' or
Avonomnyy Okrug or Kray should be added to the place name
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Constitution:
adopted 12 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (acting
president since 31 December 1999, president since 7 May 2000)
head of government: Premier Mikhail Mikhaylovich KASYANOV (since 7
May 2000); Deputy Premiers Viktor Borisovich KHRISTENKO (since 31
May 1999), Aleksey Leonidovich KUDRIN (since 18 May 2000), Aleksey
Vasilyevich GORDEYEV (since 20 May 2000), Boris Sergeyevich ALESHIN
(since 24 April 2003), Galina Nikolayevna KARELOVA (since 24 April
2003), Vladimir Anatolyevich YAKOVLEV (since 16 June 2003)
cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of
the premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other
individuals; all are appointed by the president
note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides
staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential
decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a
Security Council also reports directly to the president
election results: Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN elected president;
percent of vote - Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN 52.9%, Gennadiy
Andreyevich ZYUGANOV 29.2%, Grigoriy Alekseyevich YAVLINSKIY 5.8%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 26 March 2000 (next to be held March 2004); note
- no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot
exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns,
the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as acting president
until a new presidential election is held, which must be within
three months; premier appointed by the president with the approval
of the Duma
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of the
Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (178 seats; as of July 2000,
members appointed by the top executive and legislative officials in
each of the 89 federal administrative units - oblasts, krays,
republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the federal cities of
Moscow and Saint Petersburg; members serve four-year terms) and the
State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats; 225 seats elected by
proportional representation from party lists winning at least 5% of
the vote, and 225 seats from single-member constituencies; members
are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: State Duma - percent of vote received by parties
clearing the 5% threshold entitling them to a proportional share of
the 225 party list seats - United Russia 37.1%, KPRF 12.7%, LDPR
11.6%, Motherland 9.1%; seats by party - United Russia 222, KPRF 53,
LDPR 38, Motherland 37, People's Party 19, Yabloko 4, Union of
Rightist Forces 2, other 7, independents 65, repeat election
required 3
elections: State Duma - last held 7 December 2003 (next to be held
NA December 2007)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Superior Court of Arbitration;
judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation
Council on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of the Russian Federation or KPRF [Gennadiy
Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR
[Vladimir Volfovich ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Motherland Bloc (Rodina) [Sergey
GLAZYEV and Dmitriy ROGOZIN]; People's Party [Gennadiy RAYKOV];
Union of Rightist Forces or SPS [Anatoliy Borisovich CHUBAYS, Yegor
Timurovich GAYDAR, Irina Mutsuovna KHAKAMADA, Boris Yefimovich
NEMTSOV]; United Russia [Boris Vyacheslavovich GRYZLOV]; Yabloko
Party [Grigoriy Alekseyevich YAVLINSKIY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC,
CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, G- 8, GEF,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNDP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET,
UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy Viktorovich USHAKOV chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle FAX: (202) 298-5735 telephone: (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW embassy: Bolshoy Devyatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721 telephone: (095) 728-5000 FAX: (095) 728-5090 consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
Economy Russia
Economy - overview:
A decade after the implosion of the Soviet Union in December 1991,
Russia is still struggling to establish a modern market economy and
achieve strong economic growth. In contrast to its trading partners
in Central Europe - which were able within 3 to 5 years to overcome
the initial production declines that accompanied the launch of
market reforms - Russia saw its economy contract for five years, as
the executive and legislature dithered over the implementation of
many of the basic foundations of a market economy. Russia achieved a
slight recovery in 1997, but the government's stubborn budget
deficits and the country's poor business climate made it vulnerable
when the global financial crisis swept through in 1998. The crisis
culminated in the August depreciation of the ruble, a debt default
by the government, and a sharp deterioration in living standards for
most of the population. The economy subsequently has rebounded,
growing by an average of more than 6% annually in 1999-2002 on the
back of higher oil prices and the 60% depreciation of the ruble in
1998. These GDP numbers, along with a renewed government effort to
advance lagging structural reforms, have raised business and
investor confidence over Russia's prospects in its second decade of
transition. Yet serious problems persist. Oil, natural gas, metals,
and timber account for more than 80% of exports, leaving the country
vulnerable to swings in world prices. Russia's industrial base is
increasingly dilapidated and must be replaced or modernized if the
country is to maintain vigorous economic growth. Other problems
include a weak banking system, a poor business climate that
discourages both domestic and foreign investors, corruption, local
and regional government intervention in the courts, and widespread
lack of trust in institutions. In 2003 President PUTIN further
tightened his control over the "oligarchs," especially in the realm
of political expression.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.409 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.8% industry: 34.6% services: 59.6% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (37622 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 5.9% highest 10%: 47% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.9 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
71.8 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 12.3%, industry 22.7%, services 65% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% plus considerable underemployment (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $70 billion
expenditures: $62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal,
oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from
rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles;
shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications
equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction
equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment;
medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles,
foodstuffs, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
3.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
846.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 64.3% hydro: 20.5% other: 0.4% (2001) nuclear: 14.8%
Electricity - consumption:
773 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
21.16 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
7 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
7.286 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.595 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
51.22 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
580.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
408.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
205.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
32.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
47.86 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk
Exports:
$104.6 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood
products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and
military manufactures
Exports - partners:
Germany 7.5%, Italy 6.9%, Netherlands 6.7%, China 6.3%, US 6.1%,
Ukraine 5.5%, Belarus 5.4%, Switzerland 5% (2002)
Imports:
$60.7 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, sugar,
semifinished metal products
Imports - partners:
Germany 14.3%, Belarus 8.9%, Ukraine 7.1%, US 6.4%, China 5.2%,
Italy 4.8%, Kazakhstan 4.3%, France 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$153.5 billion (yearend 2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
in FY01 from US, $979 million (including $750 million in
non-proliferation subsidies); in 2001 from EU, $200 million
Currency:
Russian ruble (RUR)
Currency code:
RUR
Exchange rates:
Russian rubles per US dollar - 31.27 (2002), 29.17 (2001), 28.13
(2000), 24.62 (1999), 9.71 (1998)
note: the post-1 January 1998 ruble is equal to 1,000 of the pre-1
January 1998 rubles
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Russia
Telephones - main lines in use:
30 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19 million (January 2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the telephone system has undergone significant
changes in the 1990s; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed
to offer communication services; access to digital lines has
improved, particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail
services are improving; Russia has made progress toward building the
telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy;
however, a large demand for main line service remains unsatisfied
domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint
Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the
telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital
infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are
available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are
still outdated, inadequate, and low density
international: Russia is connected internationally by three undersea
fiber-optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more
than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations
provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and
Orbita systems
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 420, FM 447, shortwave 56 (1998)
Radios:
61.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
7,306 (1998)
Televisions:
60.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ru; Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su" that
was allocated to the Soviet Union, its legal status and ownership
are contested by the Russian Government, ICANN, and several Russian
commercial entities
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
300 (June 2000)
Internet users:
18 million (2002)
Transportation Russia
Railways:
total: 87,157 km
broad gauge: 86,200 km 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 957 km 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island)
note:: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrrier lines serve
industries (2002)
Highways:
total: 532,393 km
paved: 358,833 km
unpaved: 173,560 km (2000)
Waterways:
95,900 km (total routes in general use)
note: routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet
- 95,900 km; routes with night navigational aids - 60,400 km;
man-made navigable routes - 16,900 km (January 1994)
Pipelines:
gas 135,771 km; oil 70,833 km; refined products 11,536 km; water 23
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', De-Kastri,
Indigirskiy, Kaliningrad, Kandalaksha, Kazan', Khabarovsk, Kholmsk,
Krasnoyarsk, Lazarev, Mago, Mezen', Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka,
Nevel'sk, Novorossiysk, Onega, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Rostov,
Shakhtersk, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Taganrog, Tuapse, Uglegorsk,
Vanino, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg
Merchant marine:
total: 933 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,495,122 GRT/5,490,103 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 22, cargo 553, chemical tanker
12, combination bulk 21, combination ore/oil 36, container 30,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 38, passenger/cargo
3, petroleum tanker 167, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 20,
short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 9, Denmark 1, Estonia 4,
Greece 3, Honduras 1, Latvia 4, Lithuania 3, Moldova 3, Netherlands
1, South Korea 1, Turkey 18, Turkmenistan 2, Ukraine 10, UK 5, US 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
2,743 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 471
over 3,047 m: 56
2,438 to 3,047 m: 178
1,524 to 2,437 m: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 92 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2,272
over 3,047 m: 28
2,438 to 3,047 m: 118
1,524 to 2,437 m: 204
914 to 1,523 m: 324
under 914 m: 1,598 (2002)
Military Russia
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces; Airborne troops, Strategic Rocket
Forces, and Military Space Forces are classified as independent
combat arms, not subordinate to any of the three branches
:
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 36 million (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 24 million (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1.243 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Russia
Disputes - international:
China continues to seek a mutually acceptable solution to the
disputed alluvial islands at the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri
rivers and a small island on the Argun River as part of the 2001
Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation; the
islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group
identified by the Russians as the "Southern Kurils" and by Japan as
the "Northern Territories" occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now
administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; boundary with Georgia has
been largely delimited but not demarcated with several small,
strategic segments remaining in dispute and OSCE observers
monitoring volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti
region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; equidistant seabed treaties
have been signed with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the Caspian Sea
but no resolution on dividing the water column among any of the
littoral states; Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in
the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's
territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone; Russia continues
to reject signing and ratifying the joint 1996 technical border
agreement with Estonia; the Russian Parliament refuses to consider
ratification of the boundary treaties with Estonia and Latvia, but
in May 2003, ratified land and maritime boundary treaty with
Lithuania, which ratified the 1997 treaty in 1999, legalizing limits
of former Soviet republic borders; discussions are still ongoing
among Russia, Lithuania and the EU concerning a simplified transit
document for residents of the Kaliningrad coastal exclave to transit
through Lithuania to Russia; land delimitation with Ukraine is
ratified, but maritime regime of the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait is
unresolved; delimitation with Kazakhstan is scheduled for completion
in 2003; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990 Maritime Boundary
Agreement with the US in the Bering Sea
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and
producer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption;
government has active illicit crop eradication program; used as
transshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American
cocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extent
Western and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major source
of heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime are
key concerns; heroin increasingly popular in domestic market
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Rwanda
Introduction Rwanda
Background:
In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority
ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the
next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some
150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of
these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic
Front, and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several
political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions,
culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis
and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and
ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu
refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring
Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire. Since then, most of the
refugees have returned to Rwanda. Despite substantial international
assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local
elections in March 1999 - the country continues to struggle to boost
investment and agricultural output and to foster reconciliation. A
series of massive population displacements, a nagging Hutu extremist
insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two wars over the past four
years in the neighboring DROC continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts.
Geography Rwanda
Location:
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 26,338 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to
January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain:
mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with
altitude declining from west to east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources:
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane,
hydropower, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 32.43%
permanent crops: 10.13%
other: 57.44% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Environment - current issues:
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel;
overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the
population predominantly rural
People Rwanda
Population:
7,810,056
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,667,128; female 1,651,422)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 2,128,495; female 2,148,694)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 85,576; female 128,741) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.84% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
21.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 102.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 97.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 107.66 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.33 years
male: 38.51 years
female: 40.18 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.6 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
8.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
500,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
49,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups:
Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%,
indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
Languages:
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French
(official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in
commercial centers
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
male: 76.3%
total population: 70.4%
People - note:
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Government Rwanda
Country name:
conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form: Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
Government type:
republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital:
Kigali
Administrative divisions:
12 prefectures (in French - prefectures, singular - prefecture; in
Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular - prefegitura); Butare, Byumba,
Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali
Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri
Independence:
1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:
on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted as
Fundamental Law the constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the
1993 Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the Rwanda
Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty protocol of
understanding
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (FPR) (since 22
April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct
popular vote; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%,
Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (53 seats;
members elected by direct vote)
elections: last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held NA)
election results: seats by party under the Arusha peace accord - FPR
40, PSD 7, PL 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts
Political parties and leaders:
Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene NAYINZIRA];
Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [J. Damascene NTAWUKURIRYAYO];
Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [leader NA]; Democratic
Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic
Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Pie MUGABO]; Party
for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [Pasteur BIZIMUNGU and
Charles NTAKARUTINKA]; Rwanda Patriotic Front or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul
KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
IBUKA - association of genocide survivors
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGA
FAX: (202) 232-4544
telephone: (202) 232-2882
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret K. McMILLION embassy: #337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: 50 56 01 through 03 FAX: 57 2128
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and
green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue
band
Economy Rwanda
Economy - overview:
Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population
engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely
populated country in Africa; landlocked with few natural resources
and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are coffee
and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base,
severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded
the country's ability to attract private and external investment.
However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and
rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although poverty
levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has been
curbed. Export earnings, however, have been hindered by low beverage
prices, depriving the country of much needed hard currency. Attempts
to diversify into non-traditional agriculture exports such as
flowers and vegetables have been stymied by a lack of adequate
transportation infrastructure. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem,
food production often does not keep pace with population growth,
requiring food to be imported. Rwanda continues to receive
substantial amounts of aid money and was approved for IMF-World Bank
Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in late
2000. But Kigali's high defense expenditures cause tension between
the government and international donors and lending agencies.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $8.92 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 20% services: 35% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 60% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.9 (1985)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
4.6 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 90%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $199.3 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
96.78 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.3% hydro: 97.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
140 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
50 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Exports:
$68 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, hides, tin ore
Exports - partners:
Indonesia 30.8%, Germany 14.6%, Hong Kong 9%, South Africa 5.5%
(2002)
Imports:
$253 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products,
cement and construction material
Imports - partners:
Kenya 21.8%, Germany 8.4%, Belgium 7.9%, Israel 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$372.9 million (1999)
Currency:
Rwandan franc (RWF)
Currency code:
RWF
Exchange rates:
Rwandan francs per US dollar - 475.37 (2002), 442.99 (2001), 389.7
(2000), 333.94 (1999), 312.31 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Rwanda
Telephones - main lines in use:
600,000 note - 90% in Kigali (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
81,000 (2001)
note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several
prefecture capitals (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone system primarily serves business and
government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the
prefectures by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular
telephone service; much 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of
repeaters and the third FM program is a 24 hour BBC program),
shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
601,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.rw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2002)
Internet users:
20,000 (2002)
Transportation Rwanda
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 12,000 km paved: 996 km unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
note: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
Ports and harbors:
Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Airports:
9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Rwanda
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,932,637 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 982,909 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$59.57 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Rwanda
Disputes - international:
Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated
political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces
continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries
of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to
gain control over populated areas and natural resources - government
heads pledge to end conflicts, but localized violence continues
despite UN peacekeeping efforts
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Saint Helena
Introduction Saint Helena
Background:
Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint
Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It
acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815
until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call
declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension
Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough
Island has a meteorological station.
Geography Saint Helena
Location:
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South
America and Africa
Geographic coordinates:
15 56 S, 5 42 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 410 sq km
note: includes Saint Helena Island, Ascension, and the island group
of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan da Cunha Island,
Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three Nightingale Islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 410 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
60 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds;
Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds
(tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain:
Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the
world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
People Saint Helena
Population:
7,367 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 704; female 685)
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 2,732; female 2,545)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 309; female 392) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.2 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 33.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.67% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 24.66 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.38 years
male: 74.49 years
female: 80.42 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.54 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic groups:
African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
Religions:
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
Government Saint Helena
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Jamestown
Administrative divisions:
1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint
Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
1 January 1989
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
NA years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by
the monarch
head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Michael CLANCY
(since NA October 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio
officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3
ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
Economy Saint Helena
Economy - overview:
The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK,
which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of
annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from
fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because
there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek
employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $18 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
3,500
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%,
services 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92)
Industries:
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
4.65 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da
Cunha)
Exports:
$704,000 f.o.b. (1995)
Exports - commodities:
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee,
handicrafts
Exports - partners:
US 23.7%, Japan 20.5%, Netherlands 16%, Tanzania 15.4%, Spain 6.4%,
UK 5.1%, Indonesia 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$14.434 million c.i.f. (1995)
Imports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building
materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Imports - partners:
UK 47.6%, Tanzania 14.6%, Italy 12.1%, South Africa 10.9%, US 5.3%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997)
Currency:
Saint Helenian pound (SHP)
Currency code:
SHP
Exchange rates:
Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001),
0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998),
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Helena
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: can communicate worldwide
domestic: automatic network
international: HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascensionm,
which is a major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South
Africa, Portugal, and UK; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
3,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0
note: television programs are received in Saint Helena via satellite
and distributed by cable (2002)
Televisions:
2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Communications - note:
Gough Island has a meteorological station
Transportation Saint Helena
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da
Cunha 20 km)
paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha
10 km)
unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha
10 km) (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Helena
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Saint Helena
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Saint Kitts and Nevis
Introduction Saint Kitts and Nevis
Background:
First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an
associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of
Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and
Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a
referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds
majority needed.
Geography Saint Kitts and Nevis
Location:
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way
from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
land: 261 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
135 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal
temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 80.55% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two
volcanic islands are separated by a three-km-wide channel called The
Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint
Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its
almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that
of its sister island
People Saint Kitts and Nevis
Population:
38,763 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 5,754; female 5,499)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 12,098; female 12,105)
65 years and over: 8.5% (male 1,365; female 1,942) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.1 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-8.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.57 years
male: 68.76 years
female: 74.56 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality: noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups:
predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
Religions:
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
Government Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name:
conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament
Capital:
Basseterre
Administrative divisions:
14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point,
Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James
Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary
Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter
Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island,
Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence:
19 September 1983 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution:
19 September 1983
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
(since 1 January 1996)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11
popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve
five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
SKNLP 8, CCM 2, NRP 1
elections: last held 6 March 2000 (next to be held by July 2005)
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of
the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Political parties and leaders:
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation
Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM
[Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS,
OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 686-2636 FAX: (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US
Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band
bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in
yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
Economy Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy - overview:
Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until
the 1970s. Although the crop still dominates the agricultural
sector, activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing,
and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy. As
tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign
exchange, a decline in stopover tourist arrivals following the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has eroded government finances.
The opening of a 1,000+ bed Marriott hotel in February 2003 is
expected to bring in much-needed revenue.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
18,172 (June 1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million, including capital expenditures of
$19.5 million (2003 est.)
Industries:
sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,
beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
100.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
93.26 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
710 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Exports:
$47 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 66.5%, UK 7.6%, Canada 6.8%, Portugal 6% (2002)
Imports:
$152 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 41.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 16.2%, Canada 9.8%, UK 6.9%, Japan 4%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$171 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$8 million (2001)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saint Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:
17,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
205 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good interisland and international connections
domestic: inter island links to Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin
(Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF
radiotelephone
international: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to
Antigua and Barbuda and switched there to submarine cable or to
Intelsat; or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands
Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
28,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Saint Kitts and Nevis
Railways:
total: 50 km
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane
plantations during harvest season (2002)
Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 136 km
unpaved: 184 km (1999 est)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:
Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (including Coast Guard), Royal
Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (including Special Service Unit)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Saint Kitts and Nevis
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; some money-laundering activity
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Saint Lucia
Introduction Saint Lucia
Background:
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested
between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th
centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to
the UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence
in 1979.
Geography Saint Lucia
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
13 53 N, 60 68 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 616 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 606 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
158 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from
January to April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain:
volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs,
geothermal potential
Land use: arable land: 4.92% permanent crops: 22.95% other: 72.13% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped
peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights
of the Caribbean
People Saint Lucia
Population:
162,157 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 25,883; female 24,569)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 50,711; female 52,508)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,147; female 5,339) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 24.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.25% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
20.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.08 years
male: 69.52 years
female: 76.9 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.29 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:
black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 3%, other Protestant 7%
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 67%
male: 65%
female: 69% (1980 est.)
Government Saint Lucia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:
Westminster-style parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Castries
Administrative divisions:
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery,
Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:
22 February 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:
22 February 1979
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September
1997)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24
May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members
appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice
of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with
religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly
(17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member
constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP
55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3
elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be
held NA December 2006)
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada,
Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party
or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth
ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE];
United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: (202) 364-6723 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador
in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:
blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the
upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy Saint Lucia
Economy - overview:
The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the
increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic
diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The island
nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment,
especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. The
manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean
area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana
industry. Economic fundamentals remain solid.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $866 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 20%
services: 73% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
43,800
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 21.7%, services 53.6%, industry, commerce, and manufacturing 24.7% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16.5% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of
$25.1 million (2000 est.)
Industries:
clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated
cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:
-8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
120.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
111.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Exports:
$68.3 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
UK 48.6%, US 27.8%, Barbados 7.6% (2002)
Imports:
$319.4 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:
Brazil 41.7%, US 21.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$214 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$51.8 million (1995)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use:
37,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,600 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
111,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)
Televisions:
32,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.lc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2000)
Internet users:
3,000 (2000)
Transportation Saint Lucia
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,210 km paved: 63 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Lucia
Military branches:
Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and
Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
$NA
Transnational Issues Saint Lucia
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Introduction Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Background:
First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands
represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North
American possessions.
Geography Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Location:
Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south
of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates:
46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 242 sq km
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
Miquelon groups
water: 0 sq km
land: 242 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Terrain:
mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: arable land: 13.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 86.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Geography - note: vegetation scanty
People Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Population:
6,976 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 891; female 851)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,306; female 2,210)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 310; female 408) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.9 years
male: 32.7 years
female: 33.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.62 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.82 years
female: 80.51 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups:
Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 99%
Languages:
French (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
Government Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre
and Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Dependency status:
self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions:
none (territorial collectivity of France); note - there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at
the second order
Independence:
none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French
control since 1763)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as
housing and taxation
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Claude VALLEIX (since 9 October 2002)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held, first round - 21 April 2002, second round
- 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prefect appointed by the
French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior;
president of the General Council is elected by the members of the
council
head of government: President of the General Council Marc
PLANTAGENEST (since NA)
cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 from
Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular
vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be held
NA April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French
National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002,
second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 1
Judicial branch:
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP)
[leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour la
Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description:
a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side 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 (called
ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the
corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four
sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine
pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized
yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three
heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque
Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used
for official occasions
Economy Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Economy - overview:
The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by
fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of
Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of
disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the
number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration
panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km
to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although
it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are
heavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of living
standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost
economic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way
for development of the energy sector.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $74 million - supplemented by annual
payments from France of about $60 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1991-96 average)
Labor force:
3,261 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)
Industries:
fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
42.03 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
39.08 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports:
$12 million f.o.b. (1999)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and
crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Exports - partners:
US 33.3%, Zambia 30.3%, Ecuador 16.2%, France 5.1%, Canada 4%,
Spain 4% (2002)
Imports:
$55 million f.o.b. (1999)
Imports - commodities:
meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building
materials
Imports - partners:
Zambia 61.5%, France 21.8%, Canada 13% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
approximately $60 million in annual grants from France
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in
the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.pm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Saint Pierre
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Introduction Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Background:
Disputed between France and the United Kingdom in the 18th century,
Saint Vincent was ceded to the latter in 1783. Autonomy was granted
in 1969 and independence in 1979.
Geography Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
land: 389 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
84 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May
to November)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, cropland
Land use:
arable land: 10.26%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 71.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a
constant threat
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is
divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
People Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population:
116,812 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.2% (male 16,755; female 16,163)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 39,308; female 37,149)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,215; female 4,222) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 25.1 years
female: 25.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-7.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.08 years
male: 71.3 years
female: 74.92 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:
black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 7%
Religions:
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, Hindu Seventh-Day
Adventist, other Protestant
Languages:
English, French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:
parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the
Commonwealth
Capital:
Kingstown
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint
George, Saint Patrick
Independence:
27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:
27 October 1979
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE
(since 2 September 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29
March 2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives
and 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular
vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
ULP 12, NDP 3
elections: last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of
the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:
National Reform Party or NRP [Joel MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party or
NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Ken
BOYEA]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [leader NA]; United People's
Movement or UPM [Adrian SAUNDERS]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph
GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or
SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ellsworth I. A. JOHN chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 364-6730 FAX: (202) 364-6736 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines
Flag description:
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and
green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V
pattern
Economy Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Economy - overview:
Bananas and other agricultural products remain the staple of this
lower-middle income country's economy. Although tourism and other
services have been growing moderately in recent years, the
government has been ineffective at introducing new industries.
Unemployment remains high, and economic growth hinges upon seasonal
variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Tropical storms
wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002, and
tourism in the Eastern Caribbean has suffered low arrivals following
11 September 2001. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking
sector, but its restrictive secrecy laws have come under
international review. As of June 2001, it remained on the Financial
Action Task Force's list of noncooperative jurisdictions. Saint
Vincent is also the largest producer of marijuana in the Eastern
Caribbean and is increasingly being used as a transshipment point
for illegal narcotics from South America.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
92.48 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.3% hydro: 30.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
86 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports: $53.7 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports - partners:
France 25.2%, Greece 19.1%, Spain 16.4%, UK 9.5%, US 7.1% (2002)
Imports:
$185.6 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers,
minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:
France 32.7%, US 11.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.4%, Singapore 10.1%,
Spain 7.9%, Greece 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$167.2 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$47.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (1998)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines
international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to
Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;
access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
77,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.vc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2000)
Internet users:
3,500 (2001)
Transportation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 720 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Kingstown
Merchant marine:
total: 769 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,365,887 GRT/9,665,937 DWT
ships by type: bulk 133, cargo 376, chemical tanker 21, combination
bulk 7, container 58, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 4,
multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 5, petroleum tanker
43, refrigerated cargo 46, roll on/roll off 45, short-sea passenger
10, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 1, Anguilla 1, Argentina 1, Australia 2, The
Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Barbados 2, Belgium 4, Bulgaria 14, Canada
1, Cayman Islands 1, China 135, Colombia 1, Croatia 12, Cyprus 6,
Denmark 16, Egypt 7, Estonia 6, France 27, Germany 12, Greece 156,
Guyana 7, Hong Kong 23, Iceland 1, India 11, Indonesia 3, Israel 2,
Italy 19, Japan 1, Kenya 4, Latvia 5, Lebanon 9, Liberia 5,
Lithuania 1, Malta 1, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 1,
Monaco 6, Netherlands 14, Netherlands Antilles 1, Nigeria 3, Norway
33, Pakistan 5, Panama 2, Poland 2, Portugal 2, Puerto Rico 2,
Russia 8, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 4,
Slovenia 7, South Korea 4, Spain 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 10, Syria
2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey
15, Ukraine 8, UAE 45, UK 16, US 25, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:
Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes
Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Samoa
Introduction Samoa
Background:
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at
the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the
islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when
the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish
independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western"
from its name in 1997.
Geography Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2,944 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to
October)
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in
interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19.43%
permanent crops: 23.67%
other: 56.9% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
People Samoa
Population:
178,173 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 26,613; female 25,715)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 72,135; female 42,903)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,980; female 5,827) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.7 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 20.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.27% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15.41 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.68 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 34.98 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.11 years
male: 67.35 years
female: 73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian
blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions:
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)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Government Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Government type:
constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital:
Apia
Administrative divisions:
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga,
Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga,
Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence:
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962
is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated
Constitution:
1 January 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of
legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from
1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1996); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from
1992 until he assumed the prime ministership in 1996, when former
Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health;
TUILA'EPA was confirmed as prime minister after TOFILAU died; the
post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of
state with the prime minister's advice
elections: upon the death of Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a new
chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve
a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of
state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by
voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral
districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly Eurasian, voters who
cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only
chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: election last held 3 March 2001 (next election to be held
not later than March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
HRPP 30, SNDP 13, independents 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Land and Titles Court
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party [leader NA]; Human Rights Protection
Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA, chairman]; Samoa All
People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua MAIMOANA]; Samoan National
Development Party or SNDP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman] (opposition);
Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan
Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]; Samoan United
Independents Party or SUIP [Dr. Saleimoa VAAI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Feturi ELISAIA
FAX: (212) 599-0797
telephone: (212) 599-6196, 6197
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to
Samoa
embassy: Vailima
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone: 21631/22696
FAX: 22030
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing
five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation
Economy Samoa
Economy - overview:
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on
development aid, family remittances from overseas, and agriculture
and fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms.
Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90%
of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The
manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. The
decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism
is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000
tourists visited the islands in 2001. The Samoan Government has
called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of
investment, and continued fiscal discipline, meantime protecting the
environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market
as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves
are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and
inflation is low.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 23%
services: 63% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
90,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%; note - substantial underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $105 million
expenditures: $119 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001/2002)
Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2000)
Electricity - production:
105.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
97.74 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Exports:
$15.5 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer
Exports - partners:
Australia 66.1%, US 10%, Japan 3.7% (2002)
Imports:
$130.1 million f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
New Zealand 23.3%, Fiji 20.2%, Australia 15.7%, Japan 13.1%, Taiwan
6.4%, US 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$197 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$42.9 million (1995)
Currency:
tala (SAT)
Currency code:
SAT (former WST code is still in wide use)
Exchange rates:
tala per US dollar - 3.37 (2002), 3.48 (2001), 3.29 (2000), 3.01
(1999), 2.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
June 1 - May 31
Communications Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,183 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,545 (February 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
174,849 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2002)
Televisions:
8,634 (1999)
Internet country code:
.ws
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
3,000 (2002)
Transportation Samoa
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 790 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 458 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 7,091 GRT/8,127 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Samoa
Military branches:
no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Military - note:
Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces;
informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider
any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues Samoa
Disputes - international: none; note - some EEZ demarcations, including the one with American Samoa, are undefined
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@San Marino
Introduction San Marino
Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco)
also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to
tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in
301 A.D. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy.
Social and political trends in the republic also track closely with
those of its larger neighbor.
Geography San Marino
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 61.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 61.2 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 39 km border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
rugged mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Natural resources: building stone
Land use: arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 0% other: 83.33% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Nuclear
Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography - note:
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See
and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People San Marino
Population:
28,119 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 2,364; female 2,220)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 9,149; female 9,731)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 2,009; female 2,646) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 40 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.38% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.49 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
11.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.41 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.43 years
male: 77.9 years
female: 85.26 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.31 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups:
Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95% (1976 est.)
Government San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
Government type:
independent republic
Capital:
San Marino
Administrative divisions:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo
Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte
Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (301)
Constitution:
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions
of a constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Giovanni
LONFERNINI and Captain Regent Valeria CIAVATTA (for the period 1
October 2003-31 March 2004)
elections: cochiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA
September 2003 (next to be held NA March 2004); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held 17 December 2002
(next to be held NA June 2007)
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (cochiefs
of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the
Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which
has 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and General Council;
assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the
secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some of the
prerogatives of a prime minister
election results: Giovanni LONFERNINI and Valeria CIAVATTA elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA%; Fiorenzo STOLFI
elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs;
percent of legislative vote - 40%
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Fiorenzo STOLFI (since 17 December 2002)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale
(60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 June 2001 (next to be held by June 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 24.2%,
PD 20.8%, APDS 8.2%, RC 3.4%, AN 1.9%; seats by party - PDCS 25, PSS
15, PD 12, APDS 5, RC 2, AN 1
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Ideas in Movement or IM
[Alessandro ROSSI]; National Alliance or AN [leader NA]; Party of
Democrats or PD [Claudio FELICI]; San Marino Christian Democratic
Party or PDCS [Giovanni LONFERNINI]; San Marino Popular Alliance of
Democrats or APDS [Roberto GIORGETTI]; San Marino Socialist Party or
PSS [Alberto CECCHETTI]; Socialists for Reform or SR [Renzo GIARDI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
San Marino does not have an embassy in the US
honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC and New York
honorary consulate(s): Detroit and Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul
General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the
national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms
has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a
wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS
(Liberty)
Economy San Marino
Economy - overview:
The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 2000 more than 3
million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking,
wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural
products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and
standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous
regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $940 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $34,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2001)
Labor force:
18,500 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 57%, industry 42%, agriculture 1% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.6% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
NA
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.18% other: 0% nuclear: 0% hydro: 58.82%
Electricity - consumption:
NA (2000)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
note: electric power supplied by Italy
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
note: electricity supplied by Italy
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese,
hides
Exports:
trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Exports - commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics
Imports:
trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
18,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,010 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into
Italian system
international: connected to Italian international network
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
16,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Televisions:
9,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation San Marino
Railways:
0 km; note - there is a 1.5-km cable railway connecting the city of
San Marino to Borgo Maggiore
Highways: total: 220 km paved: 220 km unpaved: 0 km (2001)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
none (2002)
Military San Marino
Military branches:
Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar), Gendarmerie;
note - the Voluntary Military Force performs ceremonial duties and
limited police assistance
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$700,000 (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues San Marino
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Sao Tome and Principe
Introduction Sao Tome and Principe
Background:
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the
islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the
19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of
which lingered into the 20th century. Although independence was
achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the
late 1980s. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the
political environment has been one of continued instability with
frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003.
The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have
a significant impact on the country's economy.
Geography Sao Tome and Principe
Location:
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the
Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,001 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,001 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
209 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 41% other: 57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a
chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous
People Sao Tome and Principe
Population:
175,883 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.7% (male 42,480; female 41,411)
15-64 years: 48.3% (male 41,043; female 43,986)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,197; female 3,766) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.1 years
male: 15.5 years
female: 16.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.18% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
41.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 46.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 48.07 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.28 years
male: 64.79 years
female: 67.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups:
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros
(descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from
Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais
born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions:
Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day
Adventist)
Languages:
Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.3%
male: 85%
female: 62% (1991 est.)
Government Sao Tome and Principe
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Sao Tome
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Independence:
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution:
approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September
2001)
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao
Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 July 2001 (next to be held NA July 2006);
prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the
president
head of government: Prime Minister Maria das NEVES (since 7 October
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for
Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats
by party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23,
Ue-Kedadji coalition 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change
Democratic Movement [leader NA]; Independent Democratic Action or
ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and
Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da
COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo BANDEIRA];
Ue-Kedadji coalition [leader NA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does
have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary
Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor,
New York, NY 10022, telephone (212) 317-0580
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the
Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a
nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and
green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the
center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the
hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Sao Tome and Principe
Economy - overview:
This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on
cocoa since independence 28 years ago. Cocoa production has
substantially declined in recent years because of drought and
mismanagement, but strengthening prices brighten prospects for 2003.
Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer
goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has been
unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on
concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200
million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) program. Sao Tome's success in implementing
structural reforms has been rewarded by international donors, who
pledged increased assistance in 2001. Considerable potential exists
for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken
steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has
attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. Sao Tome is
optimistic that substantial petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in
its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea;
production could begin as early as 2004.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $200 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 10%
services: 65% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54
million (1993 est.)
Industries:
light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
17 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.2% hydro: 58.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
15.81 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Exports:
$5.5 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 30.1%, Poland 11.8%, Canada 9.7%, Germany 7.5%,
Philippines 7.5%, Spain 7.5%, Belgium 6.5%, France 4.3%, Portugal
4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$24.8 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$253.8 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program
Currency:
dobra (STD)
Currency code:
STD
Exchange rates:
dobras per US dollar - NA (2002), 8,842.11 (2001), 7,978.17 (2000),
7,118.96 (1999), 6,883.24 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Sao Tome and Principe
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,600 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,942 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate facilities
domestic: minimal system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
38,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2002)
Televisions:
23,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.st
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
9,000 (2002)
Transportation Sao Tome and Principe
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,595 GRT/99,873 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, livestock
carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll
off 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 1, Kenya 1, Portugal 1, Syria 1, Turkey
1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Sao Tome and Principe
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Security Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 36,905 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 19,443 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$400,000 (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Sao Tome and Principe
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Saudi Arabia
Introduction Saudi Arabia
Background:
In 1902, ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh and
set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. In the
1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country. Following
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti
royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab
troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the
following year. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an
economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all
major governmental concerns.
Geography Saudi Arabia
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of
Yemen
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline:
2,640 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 NM continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain:
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use: arable land: 1.72% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 98.22% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great
leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and
Suez Canal
People Saudi Arabia
Population: 24,293,844 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 5,245,413; female 5,028,595)
15-64 years: 54.8% (male 7,700,121; female 5,622,099)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 393,173; female 304,443) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 20.9 years
female: 16.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.27% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
37.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.37 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female
total population: 1.22 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 47.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 50.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.73 years
male: 66.99 years
female: 70.55 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
Government Saudi Arabia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
Riyadh
Administrative divisions:
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud
ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash
Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran,
Tabuk
Independence:
23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)
National holiday:
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that
articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was
introduced in 1993
Legal system:
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced;
commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief
of state and head of government
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
January to 22 February 1996); note - the monarch is both the chief
of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and
includes many royal family members
Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
none allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
telephone: (202) 342-3800
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. JORDAN embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: (1) 488-3800 FAX: (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description:
green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as
There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a
white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is
the traditional color of Islam
Economy Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:
This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over
major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of
petroleum in the world (26% of the proved reserves), ranks as the
largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The
petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of
GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from the
private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important
role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service
sectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing
the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization
of the telecommunications company. The government is supporting
private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and
increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population.
Priorities for government spending in the short term include
additional funds for the water and sewage systems and for education.
Water shortages and rapid population growth constrain the
government's efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural
products.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $268.9 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 51.2%
services: 43.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 7 million note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $46 billion
expenditures: $56.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2003 est.)
Industries:
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals,
cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
122.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
113.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
8.711 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
261.7 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.339 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports:
$71 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners:
US 18.6%, Japan 15.6%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 5.1%, China
4.6% (2002)
Imports:
$39.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,
textiles
Imports - partners:
US 11.2%, Japan 8.8%, Germany 7.6%, UK 4.9%, France 4.9%, Italy
4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$25.9 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon;
since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance
to the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development in
Afghanistan
Currency:
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:
SAR
Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001), 3.75 (2000),
3.75 (1999), 3.75 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
6.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
117 (1997)
Televisions:
5.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2003)
Internet users:
1.453 million (2002)
Transportation Saudi Arabia
Railways:
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2002)
Highways:
total: 151,470 km
paved: 45,592 km
unpaved: 105,878 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil
5,062 km; refined products 69 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji,
Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:
total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,461,964 GRT/2,301,258 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 11, container 4, livestock
carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 4,
roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 8
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Egypt 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1,
UK 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:
209 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 31
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 138
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 79
Heliports:
5 (2002)
Military Saudi Arabia
Military branches:
Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National
Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,123,784 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,431,281 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 253,685 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$18.3 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
13% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:
nomadic groups on border region with Yemen resist demarcation of
boundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been negotiating a
long-contested maritime boundary with Iran; because the treaties
have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with
the UAE is still unknown and labeled approximate
Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin,
cocaine, and hashish
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Senegal
Introduction Senegal
Background:
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to
form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the
envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out,
and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern
separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces
since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in
international peacekeeping.
Geography Senegal
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates:
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau
338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong
southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot,
dry, harmattan wind
Terrain:
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 11.58% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 88.23% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
710 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost
an enclave of Senegal
People Senegal
Population:
10,580,307 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,330,395; female 2,289,706)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 2,707,195; female 2,929,998)
65 years and over: 3% (male 156,514; female 166,499) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 18.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 57.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 61.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.37 years
male: 54.83 years
female: 57.95 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
27,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,500 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups:
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%,
Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions:
Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman
Catholic)
Languages:
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2%
male: 50%
female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
Government Senegal
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
Government type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Dakar
Administrative divisions:
10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick,
Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
note: there may be another region called Matam
Independence:
4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon
dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:
a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001
Legal system:
based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the
government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Idrissa SECK (since 4 November
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
election results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of vote
in the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, Abdou
DIOUF (PS) 41.51%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
under new constitution; election last held 27 February and 19 March
2000 (next to be held 27 February 2005); prime minister appointed by
the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10
note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001,
had 140 seats
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or
Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note - the judicial system was
reformed in 1992
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known as
PADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party of
Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP
[Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (also
known as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-Labor
Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for
Socialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; Gainde
Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party
or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier
DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition (a
coalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE]; Union for Democratic
Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOVIC, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA
FAX: (202) 332-6315
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: (202) 234-0540
chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Harriet L. ELAM-THOMAS
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone: 823-4296
FAX: 822-2991
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red
with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Senegal
Economy - overview:
In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic
reform program with the support of the international donor
community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's
currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the
French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been
steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in
1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform
program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually during
1995-2002. Annual inflation had been pushed down to less than 1%,
but rose to an estimated 3.3% in 2001 and 3.0% in 2002. Investment
rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a
member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU),
Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a
unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet
connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information
technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of
GDP. In 2003, GDP will probably again grow at about 5%. On the
negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic
unemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug
addiction.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $15.64 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 27% services: 55% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%
Unemployment rate:
48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.373 billion
expenditures: $1.373 billion, including capital expenditures of $357
million (2002 est.)
Industries:
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer
production, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
8.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.518 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.412 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports:
$1.15 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:
India 20.7%, France 13%, Mali 8.9%, Greece 7.7%, Italy 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.46 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:
France 25.6%, Nigeria 8.7%, Thailand 7.2%, US 5.4%, Germany 5.4%,
Italy 4.5%, Spain 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$3.1 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$362.6 million (2002 est.)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Senegal
Telephones - main lines in use:
234,916 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
373,965 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system
domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial
cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
361,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Senegal
Railways: total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 14,576 km
paved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expressways
unpaved: 10,305 km (2000)
Waterways: 897 km note: 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river
Pipelines:
gas 564 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Airports:
20 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Senegal
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
(Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,404,838 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,256,973 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 116,688 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$68.6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Senegal
Disputes - international:
separatist war in Casamance region results in refugees and
cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and
political instability in Guinea-Bissau
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving
to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Serbia and Montenegro
Introduction Serbia and Montenegro
Background:
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its
name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Occupation by Nazi Germany
in 1941 was resisted by various paramilitary bands that fought
themselves as well as the invaders. The group headed by Marshal TITO
took full control upon German expulsion in 1945. Although Communist,
his new government successfully steered its own path between the
Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half
decades. In the early 1990s, post-TITO Yugoslavia began to unravel
along ethnic lines: Slovenia, Croatia, and The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia all declared their independence in 1991;
Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia
and Montenegro declared a new "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY)
in 1992 and, under President Slobodan MILOSEVIC, Serbia led various
military intervention efforts to unite Serbs in neighboring
republics into a "Greater Serbia." All of these efforts were
ultimately unsuccessful. In 1999, massive expulsions by FRY forces
and Serb paramilitaries of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo
provoked an international response, including the NATO bombing of
Serbia and the stationing of NATO, Russian, and other peacekeepers
in Kosovo. Federal elections in the fall of 2000, brought about the
ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president.
The arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001 allowed for his subsequent transfer
to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in
The Hague to be tried for crimes against humanity. In 2001, the
country's suspension was lifted, and it was once more accepted into
UN organizations under the name of Yugoslavia. Kosovo has been
governed by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
since June 1999, under the authority of UN Security Council
Resolution 1244. In 2002, the Serbian and Montenegrin components of
Yugoslavia began negotiations to forge a looser relationship. These
talks became a reality in February 2003 when lawmakers restructured
the country into a loose federation of two republics called Serbia
and Montenegro. An agreement was also reached to hold a referendum
in each republic in three years on full independence.
Geography Serbia and Montenegro
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albania
and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates:
44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 102,350 sq km
water: 214 sq km
land: 102,136 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
total: 2,246 km
border countries: Albania 287 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km,
Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241 km, Croatia (south) 25 km,
Hungary 151 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km,
Romania 476 km
Coastline:
199 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid
summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion,
continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic
climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfall inland
Terrain:
extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,
limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and
hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands
off the coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:
oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite,
chrome, hydropower, arable land
Land use: arable land: 36.34% permanent crops: 3.44% other: 60.22% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
570 sq km
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in
tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade
and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes
dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography - note:
controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey
and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People Serbia and Montenegro
Population: 10,655,774 note: a census was taken in Serbia 1-15 April 2002 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.3% (male 1,062,625; female 990,071)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 3,422,543; female 3,548,058)
65 years and over: 15.3% (male 696,716; female 935,761) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.2 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 37.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.57 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 77.16 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:
Serb 62.6%, Albanian 16.5%, Montenegrin 5%, Hungarian 3.3%, other
12.6% (1991)
Religions:
Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other
11%
Languages:
Serbian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 97.2%
female: 88.9% (1991)
Government Serbia and Montenegro
Country name:
conventional long form: Serbia and Montenegro
conventional short form: none
local short form: none
local long form: Srbija i Crna Gora
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Belgrade; note - Podgorica is the judicial capital
Administrative divisions:
2 republics (republike, singular - republika); and 2 nominally
autonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular - autonomna
pokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence:
27 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY formed as
self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia or SFRY)
National holiday:
National Day, 27 April
Constitution:
4 February 2003
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Svetozar MAROVIC (since 7 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Dragisa PESIC (since 24 July
2001); Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub LABUS (since 25 January 2001)
cabinet: Federal Ministries act as Cabinet
elections: president elected by the Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 7 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Svetozar MAROVIC elected president by the
Parliament; vote was Svetozar MAROVIC 65, other 47
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (126 seats - 91 Serbian, 35 Montenegrin -
filled by nominees of the two state parliaments for the first two
years, after which the president will call for public elections
elections: last held 25 February 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
DOS 37, DLECG 19, DSS 17, ZP 14, SPS 12, SRS 8, SDP 5, SSJ 5, other 9
Judicial branch:
Federal Court or Savezni Sud; Constitutional Court; judges for both
courts are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms
note: after the promulgation of the new Constitution, the Federal
Court will have constitutional and administrative functions; it will
have an equal number of judges from each republic
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Opposition of Serbia or DOS (a coalition of many small
parties including DSS) [leader NA]; Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians
or SVM [Jozsef KASZA]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Dr.
Ibrahim RUGOVA, president]; Democratic List for European Montenegro
or DLECG [Milo DJUKANOVIC, Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Democratic Party or DS
[collective interim leadership led by Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party of
Socialists of Montenegro or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]; Party of Serb
Unity or SSJ [Borislav PELEVIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS
[Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Socialist Party or SPS (former Communist
Party and party of Slobodan MILOSEVIC) [Zoran ANDJELKOVIC, general
secretary]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Rasim LJAJIC]; Together
for Changes or ZP [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ];
Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Ibrahim RUGOVA]; Democratic
Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Group of 17 Independent
Economists or G-17 [leader NA]; National Movement for the Liberation
of Kosovo or LKCK [Sabit GASHI]; Otpor Student Resistance Movement
[leader NA]; Political Council for Presevo, Meveda and Bujanovac or
PCPMB [leader NA]; The People's Movement for Kosovo or LPK [Emrush
XHEMAJLI]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, BIS, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago
FAX: (202) 332-3933
telephone: (202) 332-0333
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070
telephone: (11) 361-9344
FAX: (11) 361-8230
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red
Economy Serbia and Montenegro
Economy - overview:
MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of
economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure
and industry during the war in Kosovo have left the economy only
half the size it was in 1990. Since the ousting of former Federal
Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in October 2000, the Democratic
Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government has implemented
stabilization measures and embarked on an aggressive market reform
program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000,
Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international community
by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A World Bank-European
Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised
$1.3 billion for economic restructuring. An agreement rescheduling
the country's $4.5 billion Paris Club government debts was concluded
in November 2001; it will write off 66% of the debt; a similar debt
relief agreement on its $2.8 billion London Club commercial debt is
still pending. The smaller republic of Montenegro severed its
economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC
era and continues to maintain its own central bank, uses the euro
instead of the Yugoslav dinar as official currency, collects customs
tariffs, and manages its own budget. Kosovo, while technically still
part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and
Montenegro) according to United Nations Security Council Resolution
1244, is moving toward local autonomy under United Nations Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and is dependent on the
international community for financial and technical assistance. The
euro and the Yugoslav dinar are official currencies, and UNMIK
collects taxes and manages the budget. The complexity of Serbia and
Montenegro political relationships, slow progress in privatization,
and stagnation in the European economy are holding back the economy.
Arrangements with the IMF, especially requirements for fiscal
discipline, are an important element in policy formation. Severe
unemployment remains a key political economic problem.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $23.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 36% services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
19% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
32% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.9 billion
expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks and
weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy
(steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth,
cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore,
limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs,
appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and
pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
31.71 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.9% hydro: 37.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
32.37 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
446 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.33 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
64,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
38.75 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.07 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:
$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials
Exports - partners:
Italy 32%, Germany 19.5%, Greece 7%, Austria 6.1%, France 4.6%
(2002)
Imports:
$6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants,
manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
Imports - partners:
Germany 19.4%, Italy 18%, Austria 8.5%, Slovenia 5.6%, Greece 4.4%,
France 4.3%, Bulgaria 4.2%, Romania 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$9.2 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2 billion pledged in 2001 (disbursements to follow for several
years)
Currency:
new Yugoslav dinar (YUM); note - in Montenegro the euro is legal
tender; in Kosovo both the euro and the Yugoslav dinar are legal
(2002)
Currency code:
YUM
Exchange rates:
new Yugoslav dinars per US dollar - official rate: 65 (2002), 10.0
(December 1998); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Serbia and Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.017 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
87,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 113, FM 194, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
3.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: more than 771 (including 86 strong stations and 685 low-power stations, plus 20 repeaters in the principal networks; also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)
Televisions:
2.75 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.yu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
400,000 (2001)
Transportation Serbia and Montenegro
Railways: total: 4,059 km standard gauge: 4,059 km 1.435-m gauge (1,364 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 49,805 km
paved: 31,029 km (including 560 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,776 km (2000)
Waterways:
587 km
note: the Danube River, central Europe's connection to the Black
Sea, runs through Serbia; since early 2000, a pontoon bridge,
replacing a destroyed conventional bridge, has obstructed river
traffic at Novi Sad; the obstruction is bypassed by a canal system,
but the inadequate lock size limits the size of vessels which may
pass; the pontoon bridge can be opened for large ships but has
slowed river traffic (2001)
Pipelines:
gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Tivat, Zelenika
Airports:
45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Heliports: 4 (2002)
Military Serbia and Montenegro
Military branches:
Army (VJ) (including ground forces with border troops, naval
forces, air and air defense forces)
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,579,620 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,077,660 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 81,547 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$654 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Serbia and Montenegro
Disputes - international:
the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights of
ethnic Albanians outside its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbia
and Montenegro while continuing to seek regional cooperation;
several ethnic Albanian groups in Kosovo voice union with Albania;
has delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and
Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute;
in late 2002, Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia adopted an interim
agreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka Peninsula, allowing the
withdrawal of the UN monitoring mission (UNMOP), but discussions
could be complicated by the inability of Serbia and Montenegro to
come to an agreement on the economic aspects of the new federal union
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western
Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Seychelles
Introduction Seychelles
Background:
A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands
ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came
in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new
constitution and free elections in 1993. The most recent
presidential elections were held 31 August-2 September 2001.
President RENE, who has served since 1977, was re-elected.
Geography Seychelles
Location:
Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 455 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
491 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon
(late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon
(March to May)
Terrain:
Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others
are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources:
fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:
arable land: 2.22%
permanent crops: 13.33%
other: 84.45% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short
droughts possible
Environment - current issues:
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
People Seychelles
Population:
80,469 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 11,116; female 10,844)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 26,068; female 27,425)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,654; female 3,362) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.9 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.46% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.25 years
male: 65.78 years
female: 76.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups:
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions:
Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other
4.1%
Languages:
English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 56%
female: 60% (1971 est.)
Government Seychelles
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Victoria
Administrative divisions:
23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse
Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau
Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe),
Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont
Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint
Louis, Takamaka
Independence:
29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday:
Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Constitution:
18 June 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA
2006)
election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent of
vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO)
44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that
presidential elections have been held separately from legislative
elections
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June
1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25
elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to
parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next held by 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%,
DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the
percentage that each party won of the total vote
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are
appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Daniel BELLE]; Mouvement
Seychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles National
Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel
RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France
Albert RENE, James MICHEL] - the governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Roman Catholic Church; trade unions
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
FAX: (212) 972-1786
telephone: (212) 972-1785
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to
Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles
Flag description:
five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and
green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
Economy Seychelles
Economy - overview:
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean
archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old
near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector,
which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than
70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years
the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade
hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has
moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the
development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. A
sharp drop illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in
1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war, and once again following the 11
September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Other issues facing the
government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the
containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of
public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, due to sluggish
tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and
the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic
prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half
the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency
the tourist sector should remain sluggish as vacationers seek
cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $626 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 24.4%
services: 73.2% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
30,900 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $249 million
expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries:
fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut
fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
Exports:
$235 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products
(reexports)
Exports - partners:
UK 28.6%, France 20%, Italy 8.7%, US 8.4%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 6.7%,
Netherlands 6.6%, Thailand 6.4% (2002)
Imports:
$380 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 15.6%, France 12.8%, Spain 9.9%, Italy 9.7%, South
Africa 8.4%, Singapore 7.3%, UK 6.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$170 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$16.4 million (1995)
Currency:
Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Currency code:
SCR
Exchange rates:
Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.48 (2002), 5.86 (2001), 5.71
(2000), 5.34 (1999), 5.26 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,635 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16,316 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: effective 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
42,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
9,000 (2002)
Transportation Seychelles
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 373 km paved: 315 km unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Victoria
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 37,281 GRT/55,702 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: South Africa 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
14 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Seychelles
Military branches:
Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit
(includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile
Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the
Army in maintaining internal stability)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 23,444 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,639 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$12.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Seychelles
Disputes - international: claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Sierra Leone
Introduction Sierra Leone
Background:
Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and
the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third
of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring
countries. After several setbacks, the end to the 11-year conflict
in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the
UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and
international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF
and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed.
National elections were held in May 2002 and the government
continues to slowly reestablish its authority.
Geography Sierra Leone
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea
and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter
dry season (December to April)
Terrain:
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland
plateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use: arable land: 6.76% permanent crops: 0.78% other: 92.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
290 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to
February); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues:
rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting
of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn
agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion;
civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year,
making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
People Sierra Leone
Population:
5,732,681 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,259,421; female 1,310,516)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,420,900; female 1,557,597)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 89,078; female 95,169) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.94% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
43.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
20.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly
returning (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 146.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 128.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 164.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.84 years
male: 40.33 years
female: 45.42 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups:
20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%),
Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were
settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees
from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans,
Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Religions:
Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Languages:
English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende
(principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in
the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of
freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a
lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but
understood by 95%)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende,
Temne, or Arabic
total population: 31.4%
male: 45.4%
female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
Government Sierra Leone
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Freetown
Administrative divisions:
3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence:
27 April 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution:
1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Legal system:
based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996,
reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March
1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note -
president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms
election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of
vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12
filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC
22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
All People's Congress or APC [Alhaji Sat KOROMA, interim chairman];
Citizens United for Peace and Progress or CUPP [Alfred Musa CONTEH,
interim chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP [Jeridine
WILLIAM-SARHO, interim leader]; Democratic Center Party or DCP [Adu
Aiah KOROMA]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [George E. L. PALMER];
Democratic Party or DP [Henry BALO, acting chairman]; National
Alliance Democratic Party or NADP [Mohamed Yahya SILLAH, chairman];
National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Amadu M. B. JALLOH]; National
People's Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY]; National Republican Party or
NRP [Stephen Sahr MAMBU]; National Unity Movement or NUM [Sam LEIGH,
interim chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [John BENJAMINE,
interim leader]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington
MORRISON, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Alliance or PDA
[Cpl. (Ret.) Abdul Rahman KAMARA, interim chairman]; People's
Democratic Party or PDP [Osman KAMARA]; People's National Convention
or PNC [Edward John KARGBO]; People's Progressive Party or PPP
[Abass Chernok BUNDU, chairman]; Revolutionary United Front Party or
RUFP [Foday Saybana SANKOH, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or
SDP [Andrew Victor LUNGAY]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP
[Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, chairman]; United National People's Party or
UNPP [John KAREFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting leader];
Young People's Party or YPP [Cornelius DEVEAUS, interim chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Trade Unions and Student Unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA
FAX: (202) 483-1793
telephone: (202) 939-9261 through 9263
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (22) 226481 through 226485 FAX: (22) 225471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light
blue
Economy Sierra Leone
Economy - overview:
Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous
inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral,
agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and
social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social
disorders continue to hamper economic development, following a
11-year civil war. About two-thirds of the working-age population
engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of
the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the
domestic market. Plans continue to reopen bauxite and rutile mines
shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency
consists of the mining of diamonds. The fate of the economy depends
upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of
substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe
trade imbalance and to supplement government revenues.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.826 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 31% services: 21% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 68% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
62.9 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.369 million (1981 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $96 million
expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles,
cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
250.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
232.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports:
$35 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)
Exports - partners:
Belgium 41.9%, Germany 28.1%, UK 3.6% (2002)
Imports:
$190 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants,
chemicals (1995)
Imports - partners:
Germany 25%, UK 10.9%, Netherlands 7.5%, US 5.7%, Cote d'Ivoire
4.9%, Italy 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$103 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
leone (SLL)
Currency code:
SLL
Exchange rates:
leones per US dollar - 2,099.03 (2002), 1,986.15 (2001), 2,092.12
(2000), 1,804.19 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Sierra Leone
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects
Freetown to Bo and Kenema
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:
1.12 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1999)
Televisions:
53,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
20,000 (2001)
Transportation Sierra Leone
Railways:
total: 84 km
narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
note: Sierra Leone has no common carrier railroads; the existing
railroad is private and used on a limited basis while the mine at
Marampa is closed (2001)
Highways: total: 11,330 km paved: 895 km unpaved: 10,435 km (1999)
Waterways:
800 km (of which 600 km is navigable year round)
Ports and harbors:
Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2
Airports:
10 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 7
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Sierra Leone
Military branches:
Army (RSLAF)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,228,664 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 596,617 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$10.26 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Sierra Leone
Disputes - international:
large UN peacekeeping presence ended civil war but rebel gang
fighting, ethnic rivalries, illegal diamond trading, corruption, and
refugees spill over into neighboring states beset with their own
civil disorder, refugees, and violence
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Singapore
Introduction Singapore
Background:
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It
joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years
later and became independent. It subsequently became one of the
world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading
links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and with per capita
GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
Geography Singapore
Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 692.7 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 682.7 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
193 km
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; two distinct monsoon seasons -
Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon
from June to September; inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early
evening thunderstorms
Terrain:
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment
area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 98.36% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People Singapore
Population:
4,608,595 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 411,656; female 385,575)
15-64 years: 75.5% (male 1,687,217; female 1,793,783)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 144,277; female 186,087) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 34.3 years
female: 34.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
25.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.42 years
male: 77.46 years
female: 83.6 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
140 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%
Religions:
Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh,
Taoist, Confucianist
Languages:
Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil
(official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 96.7%
female: 89.7% (2003 est.)
Government Singapore
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Singapore
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:
3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of
Singapore Constitution)
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN (since 1
September 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November
1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers Brig. Gen. (Ret.) LEE Hsien Loong
(since 28 November 1990) and TAN Keng Yam Tony (since 1 August 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to
Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 28 August 1999 (next to be held by August 2005);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the
president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN elected president
unopposed
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine
nominated members; the losing opposition candidate who came closest
to winning a seat may be appointed as a "nonconstituency" member
elections: last held 3 November 2001 (next to be held 25 June 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 75.3% (in contested
constituencies), other 24.7%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the
advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the
president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:
governing party: People's Action Party or PAP [GOH Chok Tong];
opposition parties: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [leader NA];
National Solidarity Party or NSP [Steve CHIA]; Singapore Democratic
Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong] (includes SPP, PKMS, NSP, SJP);
Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore
Justice Party or SJP [leader NA]; Singapore National Malay
Organization or PKMS [Muhammad ALI Aman]; Singapore People's Party
or SPP [CHIAM See Tong]; Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Kiang]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee consulate(s): New York consulate(s) general: San Francisco FAX: (202) 537-0876 telephone: (202) 537-3100 chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin L. LAVIN embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: PSC Box 470, FPO AP 96507-0001 telephone: 6476-9100 FAX: 6476-9340
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist
side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed
portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white
five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
Economy Singapore
Economy - overview:
Singapore, a highly developed and successful free market economy,
enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable
prices, and one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world. The
economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and
manufacturing. It was hard hit in 2001-2002 by the global recession
and the slump in the technology sector. The government hopes to
establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the
external business cycle than the current export-led model but is
unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast
Asia's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $112.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NEGL%
industry: 33%
services: 67% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.19 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: financial, business, and other services 35%, manufacturing 21%, construction 13%, transportation and communication 9%, other 22%
Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $27.9 billion
expenditures: $19.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.4
billion (FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment,
petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed
food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate:
-9.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
30.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
28.35 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
700,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish
Exports: $127 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods,
chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Malaysia 17.4%, US 15.3%, Hong Kong 9.2%, Japan 7.1%, China 5.5%,
Taiwan 4.9%, Thailand 4.6%, South Korea 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$113 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Malaysia 18.2%, US 14.3%, Japan 12.5%, China 7.6%, Thailand 4.6%,
Taiwan 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$8.2 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Singapore dollar (SGD)
Currency code:
SGD
Exchange rates:
Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.72
(2000), 1.69 (1999), 1.67 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Singapore
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.95 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.74 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: major consideration given to serving business
interests; excellent international service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities
international: submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular
Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations
- 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat
(Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 16, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
2.6 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)
Televisions:
1.33 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
2.31 million (2002)
Transportation Singapore
Railways:
total: 38.6 km
narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge
note: there is also an 83 km mass transit system with 48 stations
Highways:
total: 3,066 km
paved: 3,066 km (including 150 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 139 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Singapore
Merchant marine:
total: 859 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,836,021 GRT/32,765,063 DWT
ships by type: bulk 125, cargo 85, chemical tanker 87, combination
bulk 6, combination ore/oil 8, container 176, liquefied gas 38,
livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 2,
petroleum tanker 277, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 4,
short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 31
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 7, Belgium 6, China 12, Denmark 27, Germany
17, Greece 4, Hong Kong 44, Indonesia 8, Japan 52, Malaysia 4,
Monaco 22, Netherlands 2, Norway 42, Philippines 6, Russia 3,
Slovenia 1, South Korea 10, Sweden 13, Switzerland 7, Taiwan 46,
Tanzania 2, Thailand 22, UAE 4, UK 14, US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Singapore
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,392,740 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,012,498 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.47 billion (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Singapore
Disputes - international:
disputes with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore,
Singapore's land reclamation works on Johor, maritime boundaries,
and Singapore-occupied Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist
- parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three
years
Illicit drugs:
as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is
vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to be used as a
transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money
laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Slovakia
Introduction Slovakia
Background:
In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form
Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia
became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe. Soviet
influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became
free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1
January 1993. Slovakia was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Geography Slovakia
Location:
Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates:
48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 48,845 sq km
water: 45 sq km
land: 48,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 1,524 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677
km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in
the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Natural resources:
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and
manganese ore; salt; arable land
Land use: arable land: 30.74% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 66.62% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health
risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the
Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes
and valleys
People Slovakia
Population:
5,430,033 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 495,316; female 471,823)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 1,903,335; female 1,924,065)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 238,912; female 396,582) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 35 years
male: 33.3 years
female: 36.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
9.22 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.43 years
male: 70.44 years
female: 78.64 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups:
Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.6%, Roma 1.6% (the 1992 census figures
underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is about 500,000),
Czech, Moravian, Silesian 1.1%, Ruthenian and Ukrainian 0.6%, German
0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.2% (1996)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%,
other 17.5%
Languages:
Slovak (official), Hungarian
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Slovakia
Country name:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local short form: Slovensko
local long form: Slovenska Republika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Bratislava
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky,
Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Constitution:
ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993; changed
in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended
February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the
obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rudolf SCHUSTER (since 15 June 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30
October 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Pavol RUSKO (since 24 September
2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 29 May 1999 (next to be held NA May/June
2004); following National Council elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the president
note: government coalition - SDKU, SMK, KDH, ANO
election results: Rudolf SCHUSTER elected president in the first
direct, popular election; percent of vote - Rudolf SCHUSTER 57%;
Mikulas DZURINDA reelected prime minister October 2002
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada
Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - HZDS-LS 19.5%, SDKU
15.1%, SMER 13.5%, SMK 11.2%, KDH 8.3%, ANO 8%, KSS 6.3%; seats by
party - governing coalition 78 (SDKU 28, SMK 20, KDH 15, ANO 15),
opposition 72 (HZDS 36, SMER 25, KSS 11) (as of February 2003, 12
deputies had split from HZDS and formed an independent faction)
elections: last held 20-21 September 2002 (next to be held NA
September 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council);
Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of
nominees approved by the National Council)