← The 2003 CIA World Factbook, Volume 1
Z (part 13)
Illicit drugs:
growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast Asian
heroin and South American cocaine destined for South African,
European, and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for
Southern Africa; money laundering remains a problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Thailand
Introduction Thailand
Background:
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century.
Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian
country never to have been taken over by a European power. A
bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In
alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally
following the conflict.
Geography Thailand
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 514,000 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Coastline:
3,219 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to
September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain:
central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources:
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish,
gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use: arable land: 32.88% permanent crops: 7% other: 60.12% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
47,490 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the
water table; droughts
Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People Thailand
Population:
64,265,276
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: 24.2% (male 7,955,597; female 7,604,652)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 21,819,445; female 22,362,085)
65 years and over: 7% (male 2,081,768; female 2,441,729) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.1 years
male: 29.4 years
female: 30.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.95% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.37 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.86 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 23.17 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.24 years
male: 69.07 years
female: 73.53 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
670,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
55,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups:
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other
0.6% (1991)
Languages:
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and
regional dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.5%
female: 94.6% (2003 est.)
Government Thailand
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
former: Siam
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Bangkok
Administrative divisions:
76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang
Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi,
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng
Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon
(Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha
Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom,
Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan,
Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani,
Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,
Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket,
Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi
Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut
Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,
Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon
Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence:
1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday:
Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)
Constitution:
new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997
Legal system:
based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
note: there is also a Privy Council
head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since 9
February 2001) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gen. (Ret.) CHAWALIT
Yongchaiyut, KON Thappharansi, SUWIT Khunkitti, CHATURON Chaisaeng,
VISHANU Krua-ngam, and PROMMIN Lertsuridej (since 18 February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister is
designated from among the members of the House of Representatives;
following national elections for the House of Representatives, the
leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually
is appointed prime minister by the king
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or
Wuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen
Ratsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29 April, 4 June, 9 July, and
22 July 2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); House of
Representatives - last held 6 January 2001 (next to be held NA
January 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - TRT 248, DP 128, TNP 41, NDP 29, other 54
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [BANTADTAN Banyat];
National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [KORN Dabbaransi];
Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN Sinlapa-acha];
Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMISET, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador SAKTHIP Krairiksh consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York FAX: (202) 944-3611 telephone: (202) 944-3600 chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: (2) 205-4000 FAX: (2) 254-2990, 205-4131 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width),
white, and red
Economy Thailand
Economy - overview:
Thailand has a free enterprise economy and welcomes foreign
investment. Exports feature computers and electrical appliances.
After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 -
averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on
Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial
sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long
pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56
to the dollar in January 1998, and the economy contracted by 10.2%
that same year. Thailand then entered a recovery stage, expanding by
4.2% in 1999 and 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports. An
ailing financial sector and the slow pace of corporate debt
restructuring, combined with a softening of global demand, slowed
growth to 1.4% in 2001. Increased consumption and investment
spending pushed GDP growth up to 5.2% in 2002 despite a sluggish
global economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $445.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 40% services: 49% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 12.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
33.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $19 billion
expenditures: $21 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages,
tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric
appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits,
furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and
third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
97.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.3% hydro: 6.4% other: 2.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
90.91 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
200 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
350 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
173,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
785,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
551.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
18.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
23.93 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
368.2 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports:
$67.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
computers, transistors, seafood, clothing, rice (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 19.6%, Japan 14.5%, Singapore 8.1%, Hong Kong 5.4%, China 5.2%,
Malaysia 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$58.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer
goods, fuels (2000)
Imports - partners:
Japan 23%, US 9.6%, China 7.6%, Malaysia 5.6%, Singapore 4.5%,
Taiwan 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$62.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$131.5 million (1998 est.)
Currency:
baht (THB)
Currency code:
THB
Exchange rates:
baht per US dollar - 42.96 (2002), 44.43 (2001), 40.11 (2000),
37.81 (1999), 41.36 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Thailand
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.6 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.1 million (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public adequate, but
investment in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of
service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and
microwave radio relay network
domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic
satellite system being developed
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:
13.96 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
15.19 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.th
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2000)
Internet users:
1.2 million (2001)
Transportation Thailand
Railways: total: 4,071 km narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 64,600 km paved: 62,985 km unpaved: 1,615 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
4,000 km
note: 3,701 km are navigable throughout the year by boats with
drafts up to 0.9 meters; numerous minor waterways serve
shallow-draft native craft
Pipelines:
gas 3,066 km; refined products 265 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla
Merchant marine:
total: 317 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,744,103 GRT/2,657,666 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1, Greece 1, Indonesia 1, Japan 1, Norway 24,
Panama 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 33, cargo 136, chemical tanker 5, combination
bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 17, liquefied gas 21,
multi-functional large-load carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker
74, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger
2, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 1
Airports:
111 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 62 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 5 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Heliports: 2 (2002)
Military Thailand
Military branches:
Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine
Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes the
Border Patrol Police [including Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit],
Thahan Phran, Special Action Forces, Police Aviation Division, Thai
Marine Police, and the Volunteer Defense Corps)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 17,904,298 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 10,724,565 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 520,472 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.775 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Thailand
Disputes - international:
completion of boundary demarcation with Cambodia hampered by
accusations of moving and destroying boundary markers,
encroachments, initiating border incidents, and sealing off Preah
Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962;
demarcation complete except for a 1 kilometer segment at the mouth
of the Kolok River in dispute with Malaysia; demarcation with Laos
complete except for certain Mekong River islets and complaints of
Thai squatters; despite continuing border committee talks,
significant differences remain with Burma over boundary alignment
and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal
cross-border activities
Illicit drugs:
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transit
point for heroin en route to the international drug market from
Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of
cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring
countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication
efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in
amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing
indigenous abuse of methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Togo
Introduction Togo
Background:
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967, is Africa's longest-serving
head of state. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted
in the early 1990s, the government continues to be dominated by
President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party
has maintained power almost continually since 1967. In addition,
Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human
rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. Most bilateral and
multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen.
Geography Togo
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and
Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 56,785 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
land: 54,385 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline: 56 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 30 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau;
low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Land use: arable land: 41.37% permanent crops: 1.84% other: 56.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during
winter; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct
geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
People Togo
Population:
5,429,299
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: 44.5% (male 1,211,252; female 1,203,564)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,404,763; female 1,473,360)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 57,535; female 78,825) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 16.9 years
female: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.37% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
35.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.51 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.58 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.43 years
male: 51.47 years
female: 55.45 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.97 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups:
native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe,
Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the
two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled
Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Togo
Country name:
conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local short form: none
former: French Togoland
local long form: Republique Togolaise
Government type:
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Lome
Administrative divisions:
5 regions (regions, singular - region); De La Kara, Des Plateaux,
Des Savanes, Centrale, Maritime
Independence:
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution:
multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the
Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system:
French-based court system
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Koffi SAMA (since 29 June 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 1 June 2003 (next to be held NA June 2008); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA reelected president; percent of
vote - Gnassingbe EYADEMA 57.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 34.1%, Yawovi
AGBOYIBO 5.2%, Maurice Dahuku PERE 2.3%, Edem KODJO 1.0%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 October 2002 (next NA 2007)
note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union of
the Forces for Change, and the Action Committee for Renewal
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPT 72, RSD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders: Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace and Equality or MOCEP [leader NA]; Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Hanay OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [President Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU] note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA, was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Akoussoulelou BODJONA FAX: (202) 232-3190 telephone: (202) 234-4212 chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory ENGLE embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: 221 29 91 through 221 29 94 FAX: 221 79 52
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating
with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in
the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy Togo
Economy - overview:
This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both
commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment
for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be
imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export
earnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is
the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate, but production
fell an estimated 22% in 2002 due to power shortages and the cost of
developing new deposits. The government's decade-long effort,
supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic
reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in
line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on
following through on privatization, increased openness in government
financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and
continued support from foreign donors.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.594 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 21% services: 37% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.74 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $232 million
expenditures: $252 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries:
phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts,
textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
101.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.7% hydro: 1.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
614.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
520 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exports:
$449 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners:
Ghana 17.7%, Benin 13.3%, Burkina Faso 8.2%, Philippines 4.9%,
Niger 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$561 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
France 21.3%, China 17%, Netherlands 6.5%, Germany 5.3%, UK 4.8%,
Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$1.4 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $80 million (2000 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 Togo
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,995 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave
radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile
cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional
system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
73,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2001)
Internet users:
50,000 (2002)
Transportation Togo
Railways: total: 525 km narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
50 km (Mono river)
Ports and harbors:
Kpeme, Lome
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Togo
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,270,146 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 666,132 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$23.72 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Togo
Disputes - international:
in 2001 Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint
commission presently resurveying the boundary
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money
laundering not a significant problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Tokelau
Introduction Tokelau
Background:
Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island
groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in
1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.
Geography Tokelau
Location:
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain:
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues:
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to
emigration to New Zealand
Geography - note:
consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number
of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three
meters above sea level
People Tokelau
Population: 1,418 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: 68 years
female: 70 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA 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: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian
Religions:
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with
the Congregational Christian Church predominant
Languages:
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Literacy:
NA
Government Tokelau
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are
drafting a constitution and developing institutions and patterns of
self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with New
Zealand
Government type:
NA
Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:
none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in
1970
Legal system:
New Zealand and local statutes
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since
NA March 1993)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the
head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves
a one-year term
head of government: Aliki Faipule Pio TUIA (since NA 2002)
cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders
- one from each atoll - functions as a cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Fono (48 seats; members chosen by each atoll's
Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note -
the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power
on the General Fono
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal
jurisdiction in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
SPC, UNESCO (associate), WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:
the flag of New Zealand is used
Economy Tokelau
Economy - overview:
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of
resources greatly restrain economic development and confine
agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid
from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public
services, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The
principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage
stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to
families from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $430,830
expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of
$37,300 (1987 est.)
Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited
craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
Exports:
$98,000 f.o.b. (1983)
Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports - partners:
NZ (2000)
Imports:
$323,000 c.i.f. (1983)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Imports - partners:
NZ (2000)
Debt - external:
$0
Economic aid - recipient:
from New Zealand about $4 million annually
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.154 (2002), 2.3776 (2001),
2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated
telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satellite earth stations,
established in 1997
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Tokelau
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
none; lagoon landings are possible by amphibious aircraft (2002)
Military Tokelau
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues Tokelau
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Tonga
Introduction Tonga
Background:
The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a
Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in
1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its
independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Geography Tonga
Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds
of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 748 sq km
water: 30 sq km
land: 718 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
419 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May),
cool season (May to December)
Terrain:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral
formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 23.61%
permanent crops: 43.06%
other: 33.33% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on
Fonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues:
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for
agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish
and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens
native sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People Tonga
Population:
108,141 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 21,085; female 20,265)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 30,785; female 31,532)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,973; female 2,501) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 20.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.54 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.88 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 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: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.4%
female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Government Tonga
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
Government type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions:
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English law
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,
the Cabinet, and two governors
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the monarch, consists of 12 members
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA
(since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU
(since NA January 2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12
reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles
selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular
vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 7 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 70%; seats -
pro-democratic 7, traditionalist 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of
Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief
justice of the Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi POHIVA,
president]
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: (917) 369-1136 consulate(s) general: San Francisco FAX: (917) 369-1024
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is
accredited to Tonga
Flag description:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner
Economy Tonga
Economy - overview:
Tonga has a small, open economy with a narrow export base in
agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are
the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total
exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food,
mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the second-largest source of
hard currency earnings following remittances. The country remains
dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities
overseas to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing
the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement
of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and
education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and
well-developed social services.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
33,908 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13.3% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $39.9 million
expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9
million (FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:
tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
8.6% (FY 98/99)
Electricity - production:
27.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
25.36 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: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Exports:
$8.9 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:
Japan 43.2%, US 41.2%, Greece 4% (2002)
Imports:
$70 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
New Zealand 30.8%, Fiji 20.7%, US 14.2%, Australia 13.2%, China
6.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$57.5 million (June 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
Currency:
pa'anga (TOP)
Currency code:
TOP
Exchange rates:
pa'anga per US dollar NA (2002), 2.12 (2001), 1.76 (2000), 1.6
(1999), 1.49 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
302 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
(1996)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
61,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2001)
Televisions:
2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.to
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
1,000 (2000)
Transportation Tonga
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine:
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 250,020 GRT/350,055 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, chemical tanker 4, container 1,
liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 2, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 1, Australia 4, Austria 1, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 1,
Djibouti 1, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Lebanon 2, Liberia 2, Marshall
Islands 2, Morocco 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, Sao
Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 1, Sweden 1,
Switzerland 3, Syria 5, Ukraine 1, UAE 16, US 4 (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Tonga
Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services (made up of three operational command
components and two support elements, including the Royal Marines,
Royal Guards, Maritime Force, a support/logistics group, and a
training group), Police; note - a new air wing that will be
subordinate to the Ministry of Defense is being developed
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Tonga
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Trinidad and Tobago
Introduction Trinidad and Tobago
Background:
The islands came under British control in the 19th century;
independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most
prosperous in the Caribbean, thanks largely to petroleum and natural
gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is
targeted for expansion and is growing.
Geography Trinidad and Tobago
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
362 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:
mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: arable land: 14.62% permanent crops: 9.16% other: 76.22% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and
raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's
largest natural reservoir of asphalt
People Trinidad and Tobago
Population:
1,104,209 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.2% (male 125,470; female 119,270)
15-64 years: 70% (male 402,137; female 370,600)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 38,928; female 47,804) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.9 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 30.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.68% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-10.79 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: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.59 years
male: 67.07 years
female: 72.23 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,200 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups:
black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from
northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other
1.2%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim 5.8%,
Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%
Languages:
English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Trinidad and Tobago
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions:
8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni,
Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint
George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
Independence:
31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution:
1 August 1976
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24
December 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
five-year term; election last held 14 February 2003 (next to be held
NA 2008); the president usually appoints as prime minister the
leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percent
of electoral college vote - 43%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; members
appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and the
House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (next
to be held by October 2007)
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
serving four-year terms
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM
55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice
and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the
advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Court of
Justice; Court of Appeals the highest court of appeal is the Privy
Council in London
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Hochoy CHARLES];
People's Empowerment Party or PEP [leader NA]; People's National
Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; Team Unity or TUN [Ramesh
MAHARAJ]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Jamaat-al Musilmeen [Yasin BAKR]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALERE (as of February
2003)
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: (202) 785-3130
telephone: (202) 467-6490
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain telephone: (868) 622-6372 through 6376, 622-6176 FAX: (868) 628-5462
Flag description:
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist
side to the lower fly side
Economy Trinidad and Tobago
Economy - overview:
Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent
investment site for international businesses. A leading performer
the past four years has been the booming natural gas sector. Tourism
is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in
many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from low
inflation and a trade surplus. The year 2002 was marked by solid
growth in the oil sector, offset in part by domestic political
uncertainty.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.07 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.6% industry: 43.2% services: 55.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
21% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
564,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $1.54 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3
million (1998)
Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage,
cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
5.315 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0% other: 0.2% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
4.943 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
125,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
716 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
15.19 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
11.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
3.65 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
610.6 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Exports:
$4.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products,
fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
Exports - partners:
US 56.9%, Jamaica 7.3%, France 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$3.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live
animals
Imports - partners:
US 42%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.5%, UK 5%, Japan 4.5%, Brazil 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$24 million (1999 est.)
Currency:
Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Currency code:
TTD
Exchange rates:
Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.24 (2002), 6.23
(2001), 6.3 (2000), 6.3 (1999), 6.3 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Trinidad and Tobago
Telephones - main lines in use:
252,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,411 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent international service; good local
service
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1997)
Televisions:
425,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
120,000 (2002)
Transportation Trinidad and Tobago
Railways:
minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; common
carrier railway service was discontinued in 1968 (2001)
Highways: total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain,
Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,032 GRT/5,106 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Trinidad and Tobago
Military branches:
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (including Ground Force, Coast
Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 327,823 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 233,488 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$90 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (1999)
Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; producer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Tromelin Island
Introduction Tromelin Island
Background:
First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the
jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea
turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological
station.
Geography Tromelin Island
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3.7 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones;
wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
People Tromelin Island
Population: uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Tromelin Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local short form: Ile Tromelin
local long form: none
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the
Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Tromelin Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Tromelin Island
Communications - note: important meteorological station
Transportation Tromelin Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Tromelin Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Tromelin Island
Disputes - international: claimed by Mauritius
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Tunisia
Introduction Tunisia
Background:
Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib
BOURGUIBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated the
country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and
establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In
recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in
its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising
pressure for a more open political society.
Geography Tunisia
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria
and Libya
Geographic coordinates:
34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 163,610 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers;
desert in south
Terrain:
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges
into the Sahara
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:
arable land: 18.67%
permanent crops: 12.87%
other: 68.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
3,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health
risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water
resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Tunisia
Population:
9,924,742 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 1,388,839; female 1,297,313)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,306,782; female 3,299,883)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 309,103; female 322,822) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.2 years
male: 25.7 years
female: 26.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.09% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.6 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: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.4 years
male: 72.77 years
female: 76.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.04% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages:
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French
(commerce)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.2%
male: 84%
female: 64.4% (2003 est.)
Government Tunisia
Country name:
conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local short form: Tunis
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Tunis
Administrative divisions:
24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin
'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba
(Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili
(Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah),
Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax
(Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse
(Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan
(Zaghwan)
Independence:
20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution:
1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17
November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a
third term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN
ALI nearly 100%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party
- RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reforms
enabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats, increasing the
number of seats they hold from 19 in the last election to 34 now
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH]; Constitutional Democratic Rally
Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President
Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social
Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Democratic Socialists or MDS
[Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR];
Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is
outlawed
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), ECA, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH,
MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hatem ATALLAH
FAX: (202) 862-1858
telephone: (202) 862-1850
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rust M. DEMING
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La
Goulette, Tunisia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: 71 782-566
FAX: 71 789-719
Flag description:
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly
encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are
traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Tunisia
Economy - overview:
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,
energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of
economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the
past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax
structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 5.4%
in 1997-2001 but slowed to 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural
drought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Increased rainfall
portends higher growth levels for 2003, but continued regional
tension from the war in Iraq will most likely continue to suppress
tourism earnings. Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers to
trade with the European Union over the next decade. Broader
privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to
increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,
and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges for the
future.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 32% services: 56% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 2.69 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.2 billion
expenditures: $5.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6
billion (2002 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism,
textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
10.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
9.748 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
417 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
77.16 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Exports:
$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural
products, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners:
France 31.3%, Italy 21.6%, Germany 11.5%, Spain 4.8%, Libya 4.7%,
Belgium 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
France 25.6%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$13.6 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$222.7 million (2000)
Currency:
Tunisian dinar (TND)
Currency code:
TND
Exchange rates:
Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.42 (2002), 1.44 (2001), 1.37
(2000), 1.19 (1999), 1.14 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:
654,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
50,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be
upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet
access available
domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial
cable, and microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave
radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; two
international gateway digital switches
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
2.06 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
920,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Tunisia
Railways:
total: 2,152 km
standard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gauge
dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2002)
narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 18,997 km
paved: 12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,687 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 139,990 GRT/148,394 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
(2002 est.)
Airports:
30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Military Tunisia
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,866,984 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,629,241 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 106,513 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$356 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Tunisia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Turkey
Introduction Turkey
Background:
Present-day Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish remnants of
the Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter, the country instituted secular
laws to replace traditional religious fiats. In 1945 Turkey joined
the UN, and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. Turkey intervened
militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to protect Turkish Cypriots and prevent
a Greek takeover of the island; the northern 37 percent of the
island remains under Turkish Cypriot control. Relations between the
two countries remain strained, but have begun to improve over the
past few years. In 1984, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a
Marxist-Leninist, separatist group, initiated an insurgency in
southeast Turkey, often using terrorist tactics to try to attain its
goal of an independent Kurdistan. The group - whose leader, Abdullah
OCALAN, was captured in Kenya in February 1999 - has observed a
unilateral cease-fire since September 1999, although there have been
occasional clashes between Turkish military units and some of the
4,000-5,000 armed PKK militants, most of whom currently are encamped
in northern Iraq. The PKK changed its name to the Kurdistan Freedom
and Democracy Congress (KADEK) in April 2002.
Geography Turkey
Location:
southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey
west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering
the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the
Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 780,580 sq km
water: 9,820 sq km
land: 770,760 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,648 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline:
7,200 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime
boundary agreed upon with the former USSR
territorial sea: 6 NM in the Aegean Sea; 12 NM in Black Sea and in
Mediterranean Sea
Climate:
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in
interior
Terrain:
high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several
mountain ranges
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources:
antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulfur, iron
ore, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 34.53% permanent crops: 3.36% other: 62.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
42,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an
arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment - current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea
of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount
Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the far
eastern portion of the country
People Turkey
Population:
68,109,469 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 9,422,242; female 9,082,840)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 22,978,251; female 22,243,477)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 2,013,926; female 2,368,733) (2003
est.)
Median age: total: 26.8 years male: 26.7 years female: 27 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.16% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.95 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 44.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 47.91 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.8 years
male: 69.41 years
female: 74.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001
est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups:
Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)
Religions:
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Languages:
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 94.3%
female: 78.7% (2003 est.)
Government Turkey
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye
Government type:
republican parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Ankara
Administrative divisions:
81 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri,
Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir,
Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur,
Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce,
Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun,
Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir,
Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis,
Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya,
Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye,
Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas,
Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat,
Zonguldak
Independence:
29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 29 October (1923)
Constitution:
7 November 1982
Legal system:
derived from various European continental legal systems; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ahmet Necdet SEZER (since 16 May 2000)
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
seven-year term; election last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA
May 2007); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by
the president
note: a National Security Council serves as an advisory body to the
government composed of top military and cabinet officials and
presided over by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (14 March
2003); note - Abdullah GUL resigned 11 March 2003; Recep Tayyip
ERDOGAN was given a mandate to form a new government
election results: Ahmed Necdet SEZER elected president on the third
ballot; percent of National Assembly vote - 60%
note: president must have a two-thirds majority of the National
Assembly on the first two ballots and a simple majority on the third
ballot
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk
Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); note
- a special rerun of the General Election in the province of Siirt
on 9 March 2003 resulted in the election of Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN to
a seat in parliament, a prerequisite for becoming prime minister on
13 March 2003
election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 34.3%, CHP 19.4%,
DYP 9.6%, MHP 8.3%, ANAP 5.1%, DSP 1.1%, and others; seats by party
- AKP 363, CHP 178, independents 9; note - parties surpassing the
10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court
of Appeals and Council of State (judges are elected by the Supreme
Council of Judges and Prosecutors)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left Party or DSP [Bulent ECEVIT]; Justice and
Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayip ERDOGAN]; Motherland Party or
ANAP [Ahmet Mesut YILMAZ]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP [Devlet
BAHCELI]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Deniz BAYKAL]; True Path
Party (sometimes translated as Correct Way Party) or DYP [Tansu
CILLER]; Young Party or GP [Cem UZAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami EVREN];
Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Suleyman
CELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
or MUSIAD [Erol YARAR]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim
USLU]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or
TUSIAD [Muharrem KAYHAN]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions
or TISK [Refik BAYDUR]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is
[Bayram MERAL]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or
TESK [Dervis GUNDAY; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and
Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]
International organization participation:
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Osman Faruk LOGOGLU FAX: (202) 612-6744 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 612-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Eric S. EDELMAN embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 telephone: (312) 455-5555 FAX: (312) 467-0019 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir
Flag description:
red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward
the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside
the crescent opening
Economy Turkey
Economy - overview:
Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and
commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that in 2001
still accounted for 40% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly
growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in
basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The most
important industry - and largest exporter - is textiles and
clothing, which is almost entirely in private hands. In recent years
the economic situation has been marked by erratic economic growth
and serious imbalances. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many
years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp
declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. Meanwhile, the public
sector fiscal deficit has regularly exceeded 10% of GDP - due in
large part to the huge burden of interest payments, which account
for more than 50% of central government spending. Inflation, in
recent years in the high double-digit range, fell to 26% in 2003.
Perhaps because of these problems, foreign direct investment in
Turkey remains low - less than $1 billion annually. In late 2000 and
early 2001 a growing trade deficit and serious weaknesses in the
banking sector plunged the economy into crisis - forcing Turkey to
float the lira and pushing the country into recession. Results in
2002-03 were much better, because of strong financial support from
the IMF and tighter fiscal policy. Continued slow global growth and
serious political tensions in the Middle East could result in
negative growth in 2004.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $489.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.9%
industry: 30.4%
services: 56.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 32.3% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
45.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
23.8 million
note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2001 3rd quarter)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 39.7%, services 37.9%, industry 22.4% (3rd quarter,
2001)
Unemployment rate:
10.8% (plus underemployment of 6.1%) (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $42.4 billion
expenditures: $69.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper,
boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
116.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 79.3% hydro: 20.4% other: 0.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
112.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
433 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
4.579 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
48,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
619,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
46,110 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
616,500 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
288.4 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
312 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
15.94 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
8.685 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock
Exports: $35.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities: apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Germany 16.6%, US 9.2%, UK 8.5%, Italy 6.4%, France 6% (2002)
Imports:
$50.8 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport
equipment
Imports - partners:
Germany 13.7%, Italy 8.1%, Russia 7.6%, US 6%, France 5.9%, UK
4.8%, Switzerland 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$118.3 billion (Yearend 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $300 million (2000)
Currency:
Turkish lira (TRL)
Currency code:
TRL
Exchange rates:
NA (2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999),
260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Turkey
Telephones - main lines in use:
19.5 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17.1 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: undergoing rapid modernization and expansion,
especially with cellular telephones
domestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid
increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of
technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both
fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay is facilitating
communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a
domestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to mobile
cellular telephone service is growing rapidly
international: international service is provided by three submarine
fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, linking
Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia;
also by 12 Intelsat earth stations, and by 328 mobile satellite
terminals in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:
11.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
20.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.tr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2001)
Internet users:
2.5 million (2002)
Transportation Turkey
Railways: total: 8,607 km standard gauge: 8,607 km 1.435-m gauge (2,131 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 385,960 km
paved: 131,226 km (including 1,749 km of expressways)
unpaved: 254,734 km (1999)
Waterways:
1,200 km (approximately)
Pipelines:
gas 3,177 km; oil 3,562 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel
(Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon
Merchant marine:
total: 525 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,306,506 GRT/8,424,837 DWT
ships by type: bulk 125, cargo 229, chemical tanker 44, combination
bulk 3, combination ore/oil 3, container 34, liquefied gas 6,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 4, roll
on/roll off 26, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 5
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belize 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 2, Greece 1, Italy 1,
Thailand 1, UK 11 (2002 est.)
Airports:
120 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 86 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 5 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 24 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 8
Heliports: 8 (2002)
Military Turkey
Military branches:
Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry), Air
Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 19,534,455 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,801,267 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 679,882 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8.1 billion (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.5% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Turkey
Disputes - international:
complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the
Aegean Sea; Cyprus question remains with Greece; Syria and Iraq
protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates
waters; Turkey is quick to rebuff any perceived Syrian claim to
Hatay province; border with Armenia remains closed over
Nagorno-Karabakh
Illicit drugs:
key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and
- to a far lesser extent the US - via air, land, and sea routes;
major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking
organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert
imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey
as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over
areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Turkmenistan
Introduction Turkmenistan
Background:
Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a
Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon the
dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains absolute
control over the country and opposition is not tolerated. Extensive
hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this
underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can be
worked out.
Geography Turkmenistan
Location:
Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 488,100 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 488,100 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379
km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical desert
Terrain:
flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the
south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in
west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note - Sarygamysh Koli is a
lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates
above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya (the lake has
dropped as low as -110 m)
highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Land use: arable land: 3.47% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 96.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
17,500 sq km (2003 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals,
pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation
methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the
flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's
inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; the western and central low-lying, desolate portions of
the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which
occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau
People Turkmenistan
Population:
4,775,544 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 899,954; female 855,293)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,386,606; female 1,438,333)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 74,958; female 120,400) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.1 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 22 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.82% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
28.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.92 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 73.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.19 years
male: 57.72 years
female: 64.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.5 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: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups:
Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)
Religions:
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Languages:
Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government Turkmenistan
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
local short form: Turkmenistan
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Ashgabat
Administrative divisions:
5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty
(Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap
Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers
Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct
presidential election occurred); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first
direct presidential election occurred); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA); note -
President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by
the Assembly on 28 December 1999); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of
ministers are appointed by the president
election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without
opposition; percent of vote - Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%
note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28
December 1999 by the Assembly (Majlis) during a session of the
People's Council (Halk Maslahaty)
Legislative branch:
under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a
unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats,
some of which are elected by popular vote and some of which are
appointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Assembly or
Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - NA; note - all 50 elected officials preapproved by
President NIYAZOV; most are from the DPT
elections: People's Council - NA; Assembly - last held 12 December
1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV]
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the
two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been Gundogar and
Erkin; Gundogar was led by former Foreign Minister Boris
SHIKHUMRADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25
November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; Erkin is
led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOV
FAX: (202) 588-0697
telephone: (202) 588-1500
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON
embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (9312) 35-00-45
FAX: (9312) 39-26-14
Flag description:
green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side,
containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked
above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on
the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in
the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe
Economy Turkmenistan
Economy - overview:
Turkmenistan is largely desert country with intensive agriculture
in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of its
irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's
tenth-largest producer. With an authoritarian ex-Communist regime in
power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken
a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton
sales to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain
limited. In 1998-2003, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack
of adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations on
extensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total
exports rose by 38% in 2003, largely because of higher international
oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are
discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, the burden of
foreign debt, and the unwillingness of the government to adopt
market-oriented reforms. However, Turkmenistan's cooperation with
the international community in transporting humanitarian aid to
Afghanistan may foreshadow a change in the atmosphere for foreign
investment, aid, and technological support. Turkmenistan's economic
statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject
to wide margins of error. In any event, GDP increased substantially
in 2003 because of a strong recovery in agriculture and rapid
industrial growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $31.34 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
21.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 50% services: 23% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 34.4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.8 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.34 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 48%, industry 15%, services 37% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $588.6 million
expenditures: $658.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
10.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.9% hydro: 0.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.509 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
980 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
20 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
162,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
63,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
273 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
48.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
38.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.43 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain; livestock
Exports:
$2.97 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
gas 57%, oil 26%, cotton fiber 3%, textiles 2% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Ukraine 49.7%, Italy 18%, Iran 13.1%, Turkey 6.2% (2002)
Imports:
$2.25 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 60%, foodstuffs 15% (1999)
Imports - partners:
Russia 19.8%, Turkey 12.8%, Ukraine 11.7%, UAE 10%, US 7.5%, China
6%, Germany 5.7%, Iran 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.4 billion to $5 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$16 million from the US (2001)
Currency:
Turkmen manat (TMM)
Currency code:
TMM
Exchange rates:
Turkmen manats per US dollar - 5,200 (2002), 5,200 (2001), 5,200
(2000), 5,200 (1999), 4,890.17 (1998); note - the official exchange
rate has not varied for the last four years; the unofficial rate has
fluctuated slightly, hovering around 21,000 manats to the dollar
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Turkmenistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
363,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,300 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed
domestic: NA
international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other
CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from
Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat
switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;
satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
1.225 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (much programming relayed from Russia and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions:
820,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.tm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Turkmenistan
Railways: total: 2,440 km broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 24,000 km paved: 19,488 km unpaved: 4,512 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan, as
is the man-made Kara Kum canal
Pipelines:
gas 6,634 km; oil 853 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Turkmenbasy
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT
ships by type: combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
76 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 63 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 41 (2002)
Military Turkmenistan
Military branches:
Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air Defense, Navy, Border
Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,239,737 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,005,686 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 53,825 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$90 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Turkmenistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for
Amu Darya river states; Turkmenistan has not committed to follow
either Iran or the other littoral states in the division of the
Caspian Sea seabed and water column; ICJ decision expected to
resolve dispute with Azerbaijan over sovereignty over Caspian
oilfields; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan is underway
- maritime boundary not resolved
Illicit drugs:
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a
lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation
of opium poppy for domestic consumption; small-scale government-run
eradication of illicit crops; transit point for heroin precursor
chemicals bound for Afghanistan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Turks and Caicos Islands
Introduction Turks and Caicos Islands
Background:
The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when
they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's
independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965
to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate
governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982,
the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British
overseas territory.
Geography Turks and Caicos Islands
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast
of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 430 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
389 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain:
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use: arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
frequent hurricanes
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Geography - note: about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
People Turks and Caicos Islands
Population:
19,350 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 26.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
3.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
12.25 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: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74 years
male: 71.82 years
female: 76.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.15 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: none adjective: none
Ethnic groups:
black 90%, mixed, European, or north American 10%
Religions:
Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other
14% (1990)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
female: 98% (1970 est.)
male: 99%
total population: 98%
People - note:
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound
for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US
Government Turks and Caicos Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution:
introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised
5 March 1988
Legal system:
based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica
and The Bahamas
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),
represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and
five appointed by the governor from among the members of the
Legislative Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly
elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%;
seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August
2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now
has 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive
National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party
or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the
shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Economy Turks and Caicos Islands
Economy - overview:
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and
offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for
domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of
tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in
1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore
financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in
2002 but appeared to be picking up at yearend.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 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):
4% (1995)
Labor force:
4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
Unemployment rate:
10% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997-98 est.)
Industries:
tourism, offshore financial services
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 NA (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Exports:
$169.2 million (2000)
Exports - commodities:
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners:
US, UK
Imports:
$175.6 million (2000)
Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction
materials
Imports - partners:
US, UK
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$4.1 million (1997)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
8,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is
established) (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.tc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
14 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Turks and Caicos Islands
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Turks and Caicos Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Turks and Caicos Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Tuvalu
Introduction Tuvalu
Background:
In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice
Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert
Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate
British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000,
Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv"
for $50 million in royalties over the next dozen years.
Geography Tuvalu
Location:
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 S, 178 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 26 sq km
Area - comparative:
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
24 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November);
westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain:
very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were
three cyclones; low level of islands make them very sensitive to
changes in sea level
Environment - current issues:
since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not
potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with
storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one
desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion
because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive
clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral
reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is
very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions
and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's
underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to
Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels
should make evacuation necessary
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the
coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and
Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao
have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon
People Tuvalu
Population:
11,305 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.9% (male 1,838; female 1,772)
15-64 years: 63% (male 3,432; female 3,687)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 231; female 345) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 25.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
21.58 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.34 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 24.35 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.32 years
male: 65.15 years
female: 69.59 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.05 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: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%
Religions:
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist
1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages:
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Literacy: definition: NA% total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Tuvalu
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's
eight traditionally inhabited islands
former: Ellice Islands
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began
debating republic status in 1992
Capital:
Funafuti
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
1 October 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution:
1 October 1978
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Faimalaga LUKA (since 9 September
2003)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime
minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of Parliament; election last held 2 August 2002 (next to be held NA)
election results: Saufatu SOPOANGA elected prime minister;
Parliamentary vote - Saufatu SOPOANGA 8, Amasone KILEI 7
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Saufatu SOPOANGA (since 2 August
2002)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly
(15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15
Judicial branch:
High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over its
sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in
Fiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's only diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, New York 10017, telephone: (212) 490-0534
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
Flag description:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country
with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands
Economy Tuvalu
Economy - overview:
Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine
coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral
resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the
primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,
visit Tuvalu annually. Government revenues largely come from the
sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000
Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru has
begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resources
decline. Substantial income is received annually from an
international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, and
the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wise
investments and conservative withdrawals, this Fund has grown from
an initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The US
government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu, because of
payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to reduce its
dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector
reforms, including privatization of some government functions and
personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenue
from use of its area code for "900" lines and in 2000, from the
lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these new
technology sources could increase substantially over the next
decade. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandise
imports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing and
telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers,
official transfers, and investment income from overseas assets.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $12.2 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
7,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs,
and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers
in the phosphate industry and sailors)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $22.5 million
expenditures: $11.2 million, including capital expenditures of $4.2
million (2000 est.)
Industries:
fishing, tourism, copra
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts; fish
Exports:
$276,000 f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:
copra, fish
Exports - partners:
UK 58.3%, Italy 16.7%, Denmark 8.3%, Fiji 8.3% (2002)
Imports:
$7.2 million c.i.f. (1998)
Imports - commodities:
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Hungary 68.2%, Japan 12.9%, Fiji 11.9% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$13 million ; note - major donors are Australia, Japan, and the US
(1999 est.)
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is also a Tuvaluan dollar
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.8406
(2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Tuvalu
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: serves particular needs for internal
communications
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1999)
Radios:
4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
800
Internet country code:
.tv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Tuvalu
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 8 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 8 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Funafuti, Nukufetau
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,199 GRT/56,187 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 5 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1
Airports:
1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Tuvalu
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force (includes Maritime
Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance
operations)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Tuvalu
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Uganda
Introduction Uganda
Background:
Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorial
regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some
300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under
Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives.
During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential
and legislative elections.
Geography Uganda
Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 236,040 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,698 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933
km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to
February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain:
mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25.34% permanent crops: 8.77% other: 65.89% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note: landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers
People Uganda
Population:
25,632,794
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: 50.8% (male 6,528,724; female 6,486,736)
15-64 years: 46.8% (male 5,985,911; female 6,024,798)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 266,930; female 339,695) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 14.7 years
female: 14.8 years (2002)
male: 14.6 years
Population growth rate:
2.96% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
46.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
16.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to the UNHCR, by the end of 2001, Uganda was host to
178,815 refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including:
Sudan 155,996, Rwanda 14,375, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
7,459 (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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 87.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 95.41 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 44.88 years
male: 43.42 years
female: 46.38 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
84,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups:
Baganda 17%, Ankole 8%, Basoga 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, Langi 6%,
Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Batoro 3%, Bunyoro 3%,
Alur 2%, Bagwere 2%, Bakonjo 2%, Jopodhola 2%, Karamojong 2%, Rundi
2%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 8%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs
18%
Languages:
English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used
in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts),
Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages,
preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be
taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan
languages, Swahili, Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.5%
female: 60.4% (2003 est.)
Government Uganda
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Kampala
Administrative divisions:
56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi,
Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido,
Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese,
Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi,
Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara,
Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola,
Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule,
Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe
Independence:
9 October 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution:
8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent
Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been
proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon
the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995
Legal system:
in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on
English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
seizing power 26 January 1986); note - the president is both chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
seizing power 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Apollo NSIBAMBI
(since 5 April 1999); note - the president is both chief of state
and head of government; the prime minister assists the president in
the supervision of the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected
legislators
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 12 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); note -
first popular election for president since independence in 1962 was
held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 69.3%, Kizza
BESIGYE 27.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (303 members - 214 directly elected by
popular vote, 81 nominated by legally established special interest
groups [women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8 ex
officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 June 2001 (next to be held May or June 2006);
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved
by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
only one political organization, the Movement (formerly the
NRM)[President MUSEVENI, chairman] is allowed to operate unfettered;
note - the president maintains that the Movement is not a political
party, but a mass organization, which claims the loyalty of all
Ugandans
note: the constitution requires the suspension of political parties
while the Movement organization is in governance; of the political
parties that exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates,
the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Milton
OBOTE]; Democratic Party or DP [Paul SSEMOGERERE]; Conservative
Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Justice Forum [Muhammad Kibirige
MAYANJA]; and National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
FAX: (202) 726-1727
telephone: (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: (41) 234-142 FAX: (41) 258-451
Flag description:
six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black,
yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and
depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist
side
Economy Uganda
Economy - overview:
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils,
regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt.
Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing
over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk of export
revenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support of foreign
countries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and
stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising
producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum
products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are
especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and
export earnings. During 1990-2001, the economy turned in a solid
performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of
infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports,
reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the
return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Ongoing Ugandan
involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
corruption within the government, and slippage in the government's
determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation
of strong growth. In 2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced Highly
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and
Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combined
with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion.
Growth for 2001-02 was solid despite continued decline in the price
of coffee, Uganda's principal export. Prospects for 2003 are mixed,
with probable strengthening of coffee prices yet with halting growth
in the economies of major export customers.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30.49 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 43% industry: 19% services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
35% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 21% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
12 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 82%, industry 5%, services 13% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $959 million
expenditures: $1.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 est.)
Industries:
sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
6.3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.928 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.9% hydro: 99.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
1.62 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
174 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry, cut flowers
Exports: $476 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, fish and fish products, tea; gold, cotton, flowers,
horticultural products
Exports - partners:
Belgium 16.2%, Netherlands 13.7%, Germany 7.5%, Spain 5.5%, Hong
Kong 4.9%, US 4.6%, UK 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Portugal 4.1% (2002)
Imports:
$1.14 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Imports - partners:
Kenya 45.3%, South Africa 6.8%, India 5.7%, UK 5.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.4 billion (2000)
Currency:
Ugandan shilling (UGX)
Currency code:
UGX
Exchange rates:
Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,797.55 (2002), 1,755.66 (2001),
1,644.48 (2000), 1,454.83 (1999), 1,240.31 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Uganda
Telephones - main lines in use:
50,074; however, 80,868 main lines have been installed (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: seriously inadequate; two cellular systems have
been introduced, but a sharp increase in the number of main lines is
essential; e-mail and Internet services are available
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and
radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile cellular
systems for short-range traffic
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)
Televisions:
500,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.ug
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
60,000 (2002)
Transportation Uganda
Railways: total: 1,241 km narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 27,000 km paved: 1,809 km unpaved: 25,191 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George, Lake Edward,
Victoria Nile, Albert Nile
Ports and harbors:
Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT
ships by type: roll on/roll off 3
note: these ships are in cargo and passenger (ferry) service on
Uganda's inland waterways (2002 est.)
Airports:
27 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Military Uganda
Military branches:
Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (including Army, Marine unit, Air
Wing)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,476,612 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,974,259 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$124.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Uganda
Disputes - international:
Tutsi, Hutu, and other ethnic groups, associated political rebels,
armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the
Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control
over populated areas and natural resources; government heads pledge
to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN
peacekeeping efforts; conflict in Sudan has extended rebel forces
and refugees into Uganda
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Ukraine
Introduction Ukraine
Background:
Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kievan Rus, which
during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful
state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol
invasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan Rus laid the foundation
for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new
Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the
mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite
continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain
autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the
18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by
the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in
1917, Ukraine was able to bring about a short-lived period of
independence (1917-1920), but was reconquered and forced to endure a
brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22
and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German
and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million more
deaths. Although independence was achieved in 1991 with the
dissolution of the USSR, true freedom remains elusive, as many of
the former Soviet elite remain entrenched, stalling efforts at
economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties.
Geography Ukraine
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
49 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:
Asia, Europe
Area:
total: 603,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 603,700 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,663 km
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km,
Poland 526 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia
1,576 km, Slovakia 97 km
Coastline:
2,782 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean
coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west
and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool
along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across
the greater part of the country, hot in the south
Terrain:
most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus,
mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the
Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur,
graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber,
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 57.1%
permanent crops: 1.73%
other: 41.17% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
24,540 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution;
deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986
accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia;
second-largest country in Europe
People Ukraine
Population:
48,055,439 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 4,004,948; female 3,832,931)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 15,779,735; female 17,225,103)
65 years and over: 15% (male 2,419,612; female 4,793,110) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38 years
male: 34.8 years
female: 40.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.69% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.41 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 22.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.5 years
male: 61.1 years
female: 72.17 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
250,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective: Ukrainian
Ethnic groups:
Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%,
Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%,
Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001)
Religions:
Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev
Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic
(Uniate), Protestant, Jewish
Languages:
Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Ukraine
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic
local short form: Ukrayina
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Kiev (Kyyiv)
Administrative divisions:
24 oblasti (singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtomnaya
respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular - misto) with
oblast status**; Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy), Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv),
Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi), Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k),
Donets'ka (Donets'k), Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k),
Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv), Khersons'ka (Kherson), Khmel'nyts'ka
(Khmel'nyts'kyy), Kirovohrads'ka (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka
(Kiev), Luhans'ka (Luhans'k), L'vivs'ka (L'viv), Mykolayivs'ka
(Mykolayiv), Odes'ka (Odesa), Poltavs'ka (Poltava), Avtonomna
Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Rivnens'ka (Rivne), Sevastopol'**,
Sums'ka (Sumy), Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya),
Volyns'ka (Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka
(Zaporizhzhya), Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr); note - when using a place
name with an adjectival ending "s'ka" or "z'ka," the word Oblast'
should be added to the place name
note: oblasts have the administrative center name following in
parentheses
Independence:
24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 August (1991); the date of 22 January (1918),
the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet
Russia), is now celebrated as Unity Day
Constitution:
adopted 28 June 1996
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor YANUKOVYCH (since 21
November 2002); First Deputy Prime Minister Mykola AZAROV (since 26
November 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president and
approved by the Supreme Council
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 31 October and 14 November 1999 (next to be held
NA October 2004); prime minister and deputy prime ministers
appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
election results: Leonid D. KUCHMA elected president; percent of
vote - Leonid KUCHMA 57.7%, Petro SYMONENKO 38.8%
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but
significantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; the
NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential edicts and
provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions
that serves as an advisory body created by President KUCHMA in
September 1994 that includes chairmen of the Kiev (Kyyiv) and
Sevastopol' municipalities and chairmen of the oblasti
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; under
Ukraine's new election law, 225 of the Supreme Council's seats are
allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 4% or
more of the national electoral vote; the other 225 members are
elected by popular vote in single-mandate constituencies; all serve
four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Our Ukraine 24%, CPU
20%, United Ukraine 12%, United Social Democratic Party 6%, SPU 7%,
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 7%, other 24%; seats by party - Our Ukraine
102, CPU 60, Regions of Ukraine 42, Working Ukraine-Industrialists
and Entrepreneurs 41, United Social Democratic Party 39, Democratic
Initiatives 22, SPU 20, People's Power 19, European Choice 18,
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 18, Agrarian Party 17, People's Democratic
Party 16, People's Choice 15, others 21
note: following the election, United Ukraine splintered into the
Agrarian Party, European Choice, People's Choice, People's
Democratic Party, Regions of Ukraine, and Working
Ukraine-Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
elections: last held 31 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Party [Kateryna VASHCHUK]; Communist Party of Ukraine or
CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; Democratic Initiatives [Stepan HAVRYSH];
European Choice [Volodymyr STASYUK]; Our Ukraine [Viktor
YUSHCHENKO]; People's Choice [Mykola HAPOCHKA]; People's Democratic
Party or PDP [Valeriy PUSTOVOYTENKO, chairman]; People's Power
[Bohdan HUBSKYY]; Regions of Ukraine [Viktor YANUKOVYCH]; Socialist
Party of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman]; United Social
Democratic Party [Leonid KRAVCHUK]; Working Ukraine-Industrialists
and Entrepreneurs [Ihor SHAROV]; Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc [Yuliya
TYMOSHENKO]
note: and numerous smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNMOVIC, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sergiy
KORSUNSKYI
FAX: (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
telephone: (202) 349-2920
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos E. PASCUAL embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynskyi Street, Kiev 01901 mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850 telephone: (44) 490-4000 FAX: (44) 244-7350
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
represent grainfields under a blue sky
Economy Ukraine
Economy - overview:
After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most
important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing
about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its
fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet
agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities
of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise,
its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for
example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and
mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the
former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially
natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements.
Shortly after independence in December 1991, the Ukrainian
Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for
privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the
government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led
to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of
the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to
hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on
Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural
reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external
shocks. Now in his second term, President KUCHMA has pledged to
reduce the number of government agencies, streamline the regulatory
process, create a legal environment to encourage entrepreneurs, and
enact a comprehensive tax overhaul. Reforms in the more politically
sensitive areas of structural reform and land privatization are
still lagging. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have
encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. GDP in
2000 showed strong export-based growth of 6% - the first growth
since independence - and industrial production grew 12.9%. The
economy continued to expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and
industrial output grew by over 14%. Growth of 4.1% in 2002 was more
moderate, in part a reflection of faltering growth in the developed
world. In general, growth has been undergirded by strong domestic
demand, low inflation, and solid consumer and investor confidence.
Growth was a sturdy 6% in 2003 despite a loss of mementum in needed
economic reforms.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $218 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 42% services: 35% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 29% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 23.2% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
22.8 million (yearend 1997)
Labor force - by occupation:
industry 32%, agriculture 24%, services 44% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
3.8% officially registered; large number of unregistered or
underemployed workers (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $10.2 billion
expenditures: $11.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and
transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
164.7 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 48.6% hydro: 7.9% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 43.5%
Electricity - consumption:
152.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
800 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
86,490 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
290,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
197.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
18.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
74.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
55.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
560.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk
Exports:
$18.1 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Exports - partners:
Russia 18.6%, Italy 7.4%, Turkey 5.6%, Germany 4.1%, China 4.1%
(2002)
Imports:
$18 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Russia 32.3%, Germany 11.7%, Turkmenistan 7.4%, Poland 6%, Italy 4%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$14.2 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient: $637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2 billion (1998)
Currency:
hryvnia (UAH)
Currency code:
UAH
Exchange rates:
hryvnia per US dollar - 5.33 (2002), 5.37 (2001), 5.44 (2000), 4.13
(1999), 2.45 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Ukraine
Telephones - main lines in use:
9.45 million (April 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
236,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan,
running through 2005, emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines,
international connections, and the mobile cellular system
domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a
telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair;
more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be
satisfied; telephone density is now rising slowly and the domestic
trunk system is being improved; the mobile cellular telephone system
is expanding at a high rate
international: two new domestic trunk lines are a part of the
fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and three Ukrainian links
have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL)
project which connects 18 countries; additional international
service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR)
fiber-optic submarine cable and by earth stations in the Intelsat,
Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 134, FM 289, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
45.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: at least 33 (plus 21 repeaters that relay broadcasts from Russia) (1997)
Televisions:
18.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ua
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
260 (2001)
Internet users:
750,000 (2001)
Transportation Ukraine
Railways: total: 22,473 km broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 169,491 km paved: 163,898 km unpaved: 5,593 km (2000)
Waterways: 4,499 km note: 1,672 km are on the Pryp'yat' and Dniester (Dnister) (1990)
Pipelines:
gas 20,069 km; oil 4,435 km; refined products 4,098 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Berdyans'k, Feodosiya, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev
(Kyyiv), Kiliya, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni, Sevastopol',
Yalta, Yuzhnyy
Merchant marine:
total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 633,932 GRT/640,743 DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 89, container 5, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 14, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 10, railcar
carrier 2, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Panama 1, Russia 4, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
790 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 182
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 81 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 608
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 466 (2002)
Military Ukraine
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force, Air Defense Forces,
Interior Troops, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 12,236,811 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 9,597,172 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 389,499 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$617.9 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Ukraine
Disputes - international:
1997 boundary treaty with Belarus remains unratified over
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and encouraging
illegal cross-border activities; land delimitation of boundary with
Russia is complete, but maritime regime of the Sea of Azov and Kerch
Strait remains unresolved; difficulties in the Transnistria region
of Moldova complicate border crossing and customs, facilitating
smuggling, arms transfers, and other illegal activities; has not
resolved Romanian claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake)
Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks based
on 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS
consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West;
limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point
for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and
Turkey to Europe and Russia; drug-related money laundering a minor,
but growing, problem; lax anti-money-laundering regime
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@United Arab Emirates
Introduction United Arab Emirates
Background:
The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control
of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In
1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash
Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United
Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah.
The UAE's per capita GDP is not far below those of leading West
European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate
foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in
the affairs of the region.
Geography United Arab Emirates
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf,
between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 867 km border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline:
1,318 km
Maritime claims:
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:
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast
desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.48% permanent crops: 0.49% other: 99.03% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
720 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a
vital transit point for world crude oil
People United Arab Emirates
Population:
2,484,818
note: includes an estimated 1,606,079 non-nationals; the 17 December
1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, and
there are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 338,245; female 324,866)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 1,087,927; female 661,349)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 52,059; female 20,372) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.6 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 21.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.57% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
18.48 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.22 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: 1.65 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.56 male(s)/female
total population: 1.47 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 18.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.75 years
male: 72.28 years
female: 77.35 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.09 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.18% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups:
Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other
expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions:
Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Government United Arab Emirates
Country name:
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
abbreviation: UAE
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
local short form: none
Government type:
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal
government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions:
7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi),
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al
Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Independence:
2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution:
2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Legal system:
federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy
(Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah are not fully integrated into the
federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil,
criminal, and high courts
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2
December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966)
and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October
1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the
seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional
authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions
federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi)
and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum
(since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime
Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group
of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held 2
December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister and deputy
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president;
percent of FSC vote - NA%, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin
Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote - NA%,
but believed to be unanimous
Legislative branch:
unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani
(40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states
to serve two-year terms)
elections: none
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch:
Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI
FAX: (202) 243-2432
telephone: (202) 243-2400
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelle M. WAHBA embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi telephone: (2) 4436691 FAX: (2) 4435441 consulate(s) general: Dubai
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with
a wider vertical red band on the hoist side
Economy United Arab Emirates
Economy - overview:
The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a
sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas
output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate
with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has
undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of
small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard
of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves
should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased
spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening
up its utilities to greater private sector involvement.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $53.97 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $22,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 46%
services: 51% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.6 million (2000 est.)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 2002 est.) (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 78%, industry 15%, agriculture 7% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $20 billion
expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some
boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2000)
Electricity - production:
37.74 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
35.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.566 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
310,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
80.31 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
44.94 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
37.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
7.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.892 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Exports:
$44.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
Exports - partners:
Japan 27.8%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 3.8% (2002)
Imports:
$30.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:
US 8.1%, China 7.8%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 6.5%, India 5.7%, France
5.6%, UK 5.4%, South Korea 5.1%, Iran 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$18.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
$NA
Currency:
Emirati dirham (AED)
Currency code:
AED
Exchange rates:
Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.67 (2002), 3.67 (2001), 3.67
(2000), 3.67 (1999), 3.67 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications United Arab Emirates
Telephones - main lines in use:
915,223 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1 million (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar,
Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 7, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
820,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (1997)
Televisions:
310,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ae
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
900,000 (2002)
Transportation United Arab Emirates
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 1,088 km
paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
condensate 383 km; gas 1,765 km; liquid petroleum gas 186 km; oil
1,266 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali,
Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 815,428 GRT/1,207,346 DWT
ships by type: cargo 12, chemical tanker 4, container 7, liquefied
gas 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 6,
short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 2, Italy 1, Kuwait 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
41 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
under 914 m: 5 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military United Arab Emirates
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force, Air
Defense, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 764,413 note: includes non-nationals (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 416,963 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 26,636 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.6 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.1% (FY00)
Transnational Issues United Arab Emirates
Disputes - international:
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment
of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown and labeled
approximate; boundary agreement signed and ratified with Oman in
2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al
Madhah enclaves; UAE engage direct talks and Arab League support to
resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser and Greater Tunb
islands and Abu Musa island
Illicit drugs:
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its
proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's
position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money
laundering; anti-money-laundering legislation was signed into law by
the president on 25 January 2002
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@United Kingdom
Introduction United Kingdom
Background:
Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the
19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary
democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith,
the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface.
The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously
depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the
dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern
and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of
the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the
Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it
currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental
Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside the European
Monetary Union for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a
significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament, the National
Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were
established in 1999.
Geography United Kingdom
Location:
Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the
island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North
Sea, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
54 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 244,820 sq km
water: 3,230 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
land: 241,590 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Ireland 360 km
Coastline:
12,429 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
accordance with agreed upon boundaries
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North
Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Terrain:
mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in
east and southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Natural resources:
coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay,
chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land
Land use: arable land: 26.41% permanent crops: 0.18% other: 73.41% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,080 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
winter windstorms; floods
Environment - current issues:
continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto
Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to
meet the legally binding target and move towards a domestic goal of
a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government aims to
reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in
landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at
least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between
1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to
10.3%
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France
and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of
heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from
tidal waters
People United Kingdom
Population:
60,094,648 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 5,621,590; female 5,350,319)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 20,067,529; female 19,626,123)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 3,987,457; female 5,441,630) (2003
est.)
Median age: total: 38.4 years male: 37.3 years female: 39.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
10.99 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.2 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.16 years
male: 75.74 years
female: 80.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
34,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
460 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British
Ethnic groups:
English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%,
West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religions:
Anglican and Roman Catholic 40 million, Muslim 1.5 million,
Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 500,000, Hindu
500,000, Jewish 350,000
Languages:
English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish
form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government United Kingdom
Country name:
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
conventional short form: United Kingdom
abbreviation: UK
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
London
Administrative divisions:
England - 47 boroughs, 36 counties*, 29 London boroughs**, 12
cities and boroughs***, 10 districts****, 12 cities*****, 3 royal
boroughs******; Barking and Dagenham**, Barnet**, Barnsley, Bath and
North East Somerset****, Bedfordshire*, Bexley**, Birmingham***,
Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bracknell
Forest, Bradford***, Brent**, Brighton and Hove, City of
Bristol*****, Bromley**, Buckinghamshire*, Bury, Calderdale,
Cambridgeshire*, Camden**, Cheshire*, Cornwall*, Coventry***,
Croydon**, Cumbria*, Darlington, Derby*****, Derbyshire*, Devon*,
Doncaster, Dorset*, Dudley, Durham*, Ealing**, East Riding of
Yorkshire****, East Sussex*, Enfield**, Essex*, Gateshead,
Gloucestershire*, Greenwich**, Hackney**, Halton, Hammersmith and
Fulham**, Hampshire*, Haringey**, Harrow**, Hartlepool, Havering**,
Herefordshire*, Hertfordshire*, Hillingdon**, Hounslow**, Isle of
Wight*, Islington**, Kensington and Chelsea******, Kent*, City of
Kingston upon Hull*****, Kingston upon Thames******, Kirklees,
Knowsley, Lambeth**, Lancashire*, Leeds***, Leicester*****,
Leicestershire*, Lewisham**, Lincolnshire*, Liverpool***, City of
London*****, Luton, Manchester***, Medway, Merton**, Middlesbrough,
Milton Keynes, Newcastle upon Tyne***, Newham**, Norfolk*,
Northamptonshire*, North East Lincolnshire****, North
Lincolnshire****, North Somerset****, North Tyneside,
Northumberland*, North Yorkshire*, Nottingham*****,
Nottinghamshire*, Oldham, Oxfordshire*, Peterborough*****,
Plymouth*****, Poole, Portsmouth*****, Reading, Redbridge**, Redcar
and Cleveland, Richmond upon Thames**, Rochdale, Rotherham,
Rutland****, Salford***, Shropshire*, Sandwell, Sefton,
Sheffield***, Slough, Solihull, Somerset*, Southampton*****,
Southend-on-Sea, South Gloucestershire****, South Tyneside,
Southwark**, Staffordshire*, St. Helens, Stockport,
Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent*****, Suffolk*, Sunderland***,
Surrey*, Sutton**, Swindon, Tameside, Telford and Wrekin****,
Thurrock, Torbay, Tower Hamlets**, Trafford, Wakefield***, Walsall,
Waltham Forest**, Wandsworth**, Warrington, Warwickshire*, West
Berkshire****, Westminster***, West Sussex*, Wigan, Wiltshire*,
Windsor and Maidenhead******, Wirral, Wokingham****, Wolverhampton,
Worcestershire*, York*****; Northern Ireland - 24 districts, 2
cities*, 6 counties**; Antrim, County Antrim**, Ards, Armagh, County
Armagh**, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast*, Carrickfergus,
Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, County Down**,
Dungannon, Fermanagh, County Fermanagh**, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn,
County Londonderry**, Derry*, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne,
Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane, County Tyrone**; Scotland
- 32 council areas; Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and
Bute, The Scottish Borders, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway,
Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East
Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City,
Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire,
Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West
Dunbartonshire, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), West Lothian; Wales -
11 county boroughs, 9 counties*, 2 cities and counties**; Isle of
Anglesey*, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff**,
Ceredigion*, Carmarthenshire*, Conwy, Denbighshire*, Flintshire*,
Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire*, Neath Port Talbot, Newport,
Pembrokeshire*, Powys*, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea**, Torfaen, The
Vale of Glamorgan*, Wrexham
Dependent areas:
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey,
Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena,
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos
Islands
Independence:
England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the
union between England and Wales, begun in 1284 with the Statute of
Rhuddlan, was not formalized until 1536 with an Act of Union; in
another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland agreed to
permanently join as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great
Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of
the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the
Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six
northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as
Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927
National holiday:
Official Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, celebrated on the second
Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental
influences; has judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the
Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir
Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948)
head of government: Prime Minister Anthony (Tony) BLAIR (since 2 May
1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament comprised of House of Lords (consists of
approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers and 26 clergy) and
House of Commons (659 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as
provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House
of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain
there; pending further reforms, elections are held only as vacancies
in the hereditary peerage arise); House of Commons - last held 7
June 2001 (next to be held by NA May 2006)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Labor 42.1%, Conservative and Unionist 32.7%, Liberal Democrats
18.8%, other 6.4%; seats by party - Labor 412, Conservative and
Unionist 166, Liberal Democrat 52, other 29; note - seating as of 15
February 2002: Labor 410, Conservative 164, Liberal Democrats 53,
other 32
note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Parliament
(because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer
of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of
1999 and has been rescinded three times the latest occurring in
October 2002; since October 2002 the Northern Ireland Parliament has
been suspended); in 1999 there were elections for a new Scottish
Parliament and a new Welsh Assembly
Judicial branch:
House of Lords (highest court of appeal; several Lords of Appeal in
Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life); Supreme Courts of
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (comprising the Courts of
Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts);
Scotland's Court of Session and Court of the Justiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative and Unionist Party [Michael HOWARD]; Democratic
Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Rev. Ian PAISLEY]; Labor Party
[Anthony (Tony) BLAIR]; Liberal Democrats [Charles KENNEDY]; Party
of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Ieuan Wyn Jones]; Scottish National Party or
SNP [John SWINNEY]; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS];
Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Mark
DURKAN]; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [David TRIMBLE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation of British
Industry; National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA
(associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC,
UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David G. MANNING chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX: (202) 588-7870 consulate(s): Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Seattle consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco telephone: (202) 588-6500
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William S. FARISH embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A1AE mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 telephone: (0) 7499-9000 FAX: (0) 7629-9124 consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
Flag description:
blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of
Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on
the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland);
properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union
Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been
the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth
countries and their constituent states or provinces, as well as
British overseas territories
Economy United Kingdom
Economy - overview:
The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is one of the
quartet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. Over the
past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership
and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is
intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards,
producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force.
The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy
production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any
industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and
business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP
while industry continues to decline in importance. GDP growth
slipped in 2001-03 as the global downturn, the high value of the
pound, and the bursting of the "new economy" bubble hurt
manufacturing and exports. Still, the economy is one of the
strongest in Europe; inflation, interest rates, and unemployment
remain low. The relatively good economic performance has complicated
the BLAIR government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join
the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out,
however, that the economy is doing well outside of EMU, and they
point to public opinion polls that continue to show a majority of
Britons opposed to the single currency. Meantime, the government has
been speeding up the improvement of education, transport, and health
services, at a cost in higher taxes. The war in March-April 2003
between a US-led coalition and Iraq, together with the subsequent
problems of restoring the economy and the polity, involve a heavy
commitment of British military forces.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.528 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 24.9% services: 73.7% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 17%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.7% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
29.7 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 25%, services 74% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $565 billion
expenditures: $540 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 01)
Industries:
machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment,
railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and
parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals,
coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing,
textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
360.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 73.8% hydro: 0.9% other: 1.6% (2001) nuclear: 23.7%
Electricity - consumption:
346.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
264 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
10.66 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.541 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.71 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
2.205 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.741 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
105.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
92.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
714.9 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Exports:
$286.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:
US 15.5%, Germany 11.2%, France 9.4%, Ireland 8%, Netherlands 7.1%,
Belgium 5.2%, Italy 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$330.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 12.9%, US 11.9%, France 7.8%, Netherlands 6.3%, Belgium 5%,
Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $4.5 billion (2000)
Currency:
British pound (GBP)
Currency code:
GBP
Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66
(2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications United Kingdom
Telephones - main lines in use:
34.878 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43.5 million (yearend 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: technologically advanced domestic and
international system
domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and
fiber-optic systems
international: 40 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations
- 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large
international switching centers
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
84.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
30.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.uk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
more than 400 (2000)
Internet users:
34.3 million (2002)
Transportation United Kingdom
Railways:
total: 16,893 km
standard gauge: 16,536 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified)
broad gauge: 357 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) (2002)
Highways:
total: 371,913 km
paved: 371,913 km (including 3,358 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:
3,200 km
Pipelines:
condensate 370 km; gas 21,263 km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil
6,420 km; oil/gas/water 63 km; refined products 4,474 km; water 650
km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover, Falmouth, Felixstowe,
Glasgow, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, London, Manchester,
Peterhead, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Scapa Flow, Southampton, Sullom
Voe, Teesport, Tyne
Merchant marine:
total: 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,752,179 GRT/6,963,112 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 43, chemical tanker 19, combination
ore/oil 1, container 95, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 1,
passenger 18, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 50, refrigerated
cargo 3, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 8, specialized
tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Bermuda 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 21, Germany 6, Greece 3,
Hong Kong 4, Italy 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Russia 1,
South Africa 2, Sweden 11, Taiwan 2, US 5 (2002 est.)
Airports:
470 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 334 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 83 under 914 m: 59 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 136 2438 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 112 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 22
Heliports: 11 (2002)
Military United Kingdom
Military branches:
Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,877,666 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,353,942 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$31.7 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.32% (2002)
Transnational Issues United Kingdom
Disputes - international:
Gibraltar residents vote overwhelmingly in referendum against
"total shared sovereignty" arrangement worked out between Spain and
UK to change 300-year rule over colony; Mauritius and Seychelles
claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) and
its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001
were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since
eviction in 1965; Argentina claims the Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Rockall
continental shelf dispute involving Denmark and Iceland; territorial
claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine
claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; disputes with Iceland,
Denmark, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf
boundary outside 200 NM
Illicit drugs:
gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European
market; major consumer of synthetic drugs, producer of limited
amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major
consumer of Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@United States
Introduction United States
Background:
Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776
and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of
America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and
20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the
nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a
number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences
in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great
Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II
and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most
powerful nation-state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low
unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Geography United States
Location:
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 9,629,091 sq km
land: 9,158,960 sq km
water: 470,131 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area - comparative:
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of
Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger
than Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and a half times
the size of Western Europe
Land boundaries:
total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),
Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and
thus remains part of Cuba; the base boundary is 29 km
Coastline:
19,924 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in
Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River,
and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter
temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in
January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes
of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain:
vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in
east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged,
volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural resources:
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold,
iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum,
natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 19.32%
other: 80.46% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0.22%
Irrigated land:
214,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin;
hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes
in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires
in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major
impediment to development
Environment - current issues:
air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the
US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning
of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and
fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of
the western part of the country require careful management;
desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note:
world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and
by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point
in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent
People United States
Population:
290,342,554 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 31,098,473; female 29,675,712)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 96,628,469; female 97,061,559)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 14,888,185; female 20,990,156) (2003
est.)
Median age: total: 35.8 years male: 34.5 years female: 37.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.92% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
14.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.52 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: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.14 years
female: 80.05 years (2003 est.)
male: 74.37 years
Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
900,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups:
white 77.1%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native
1.5%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.3%, other 4%
(2000)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US
Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American
descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican
origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group
(white, black, Asian, etc.)
Religions:
Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10%
(1989)
Languages:
English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 97% (1979 est.)
total population: 97%
male: 97%
People - note:
data for the US are based on projections that do not take into
consideration the results of the 2000 census
Government United States
Country name:
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
Government type:
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital:
Washington, DC
Administrative divisions:
50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas:
American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island,
Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island,
Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered
into a new political relationship with all four political units: the
Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with
the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of
Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the
Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association
with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the
Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
(effective 21 October 1986)
Independence:
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001)
and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001)
and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each
state; president and vice president serve four-year terms; election
last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004)
election results: George W. BUSH elected president; percent of
popular vote - George W. BUSH (Republican Party) 48%, Albert A.
GORE, Jr. (Democratic Party) 48%, Ralph NADER (Green Party) 3%,
other 1%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are
renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state by
popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Republican Party 51, Democratic Party 48, independent 1;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Republican Party 226, Democratic Party 204, independent 1,
undecided 4
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA
November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2002
(next to be held NA November 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for life by the
president with confirmation by the Senate); United States Courts of
Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Terence McAULIFFE]; Green Party [leader NA];
Libertarian Party [Steve DASBACH]; Republican Party [Governor Marc
RACICOT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description:
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and
bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent
the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a
number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and
Puerto Rico
Economy United States
Economy - overview:
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in
the world, with a per capita GDP of $37,600. In this market-oriented
economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the
decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods
and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business
firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts
in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant,
lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time,
they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets
than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms
are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially
in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment,
although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II.
The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of
a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the
education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top
and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health
insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all
the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of
households. The years 1994-2000 witnessed solid increases in real
output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%.
The year 2001 saw the end of boom psychology and performance, with
output increasing only 0.3% and unemployment and business failures
rising substantially. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11
September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy.
Moderate recovery took place in 2002, with the GDP growth rate
rising to 2.45%. A major short-term problem in first half 2002 was a
sharp decline in the stock market, fueled in part by the exposure of
dubious accounting practices in some major corporations. The war in
March/April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq shifted
resources to military industries and introduced uncertainties about
investment and employment in other sectors of the economy. Long-term
problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure,
rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population,
sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower
economic groups.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.45 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $36,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 18% services: 80% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.7% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.8 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2002)
Labor force:
141.8 million (includes unemployed) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: managerial and professional 31%, technical, sales and administrative support 28.9%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 24.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.4% note: figures exclude the unemployed (2001)
Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $1.946 trillion
expenditures: $2.052 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2002 est.)
Industries:
leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and
technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles,
aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.719 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 5.6% other: 2.3% (2001) nuclear: 20.7%
Electricity - consumption:
3.602 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
18.17 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
38.48 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
8.054 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
19.65 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
22.45 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
548.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
640.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
11.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
114.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.195 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports:
$687 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials,
consumer goods, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Canada 23.2%, Mexico 14.1%, Japan 7.4%, UK 4.8% (2002)
Imports:
$1.165 trillion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles,
consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages
Imports - partners:
Canada 17.8%, Mexico 11.3%, China 11.1%, Japan 10.4%, Germany 5.3%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$862 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596
(2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), Canadian dollars per US dollar
- 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835
(1998), Japanese yen per US dollar - 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001),
107.77 (2000), 113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998), euros per US dollar -
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863 (1999)
note: financial institutions in France, Italy, and Germany and eight
other European countries started using the euro on 1 January 1999
with the euro replacing the local currency in consenting countries
for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications United States
Telephones - main lines in use:
194 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
69.209 million (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: a very large, technologically advanced,
multipurpose communications system
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of
telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile
telephone traffic throughout the country
international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth
stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and
Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4,762, FM 5,542, shortwave 18 (1998)
Radios:
575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)
Televisions:
219 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.us
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7,000 (2002 est.)
Internet users:
165.75 million (2002)
Transportation United States
Railways:
total: 194,731 km mainline routes
standard gauge: 194,731 km 1.435-m gauge
note: represents the aggregate length of roadway of all line-haul
railroads including an estimate for class II and III railroads;
excludes 135,185 km of yard tracks, sidings, and parallel lines
(2000)
Highways:
total: 6,334,859 km
paved: 3,737,567 km (including 89,426 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,597,292 km (2000)
Waterways: 41,009 km note: navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes
Pipelines:
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth, Hampton
Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Orleans,
New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe
Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine:
total: 348 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 9,414,676 GRT/12,207,346 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 71, cargo 26, chemical tanker
13, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 79,
freighter 15, heavy lift carrier 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 73, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 46, short-sea
passenger 2, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 9
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Canada 4, Denmark 15, France 1, Germany 1,
Netherlands 3, Norway 7, Puerto Rico 4, Singapore 11, Sweden 1,
United Kingdom 3; also, the US owns 549 additional ships (1,000 GRT
or over) totaling 29,616,347 DWT that operate under the registries
of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda,
Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, Hong
Kong (China), Indonesia, Isle of Man, Italy, Liberia, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Norway, Norway (NIS), Panama, Peru,
Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Tonga, UK,
Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna (2002 est.)
Airports:
14,801 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5,131
over 3,047 m: 185
2,438 to 3,047 m: 222
914 to 1,523 m: 2,390
under 914 m: 969 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,365
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9,670
under 914 m: 7,802 (2002)
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1,702
1,524 to 2,437 m: 158
Heliports:
149 (2002)
Military United States
Military branches:
Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard (Coast
Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland
Security but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 73,597,731 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 2,116,002 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$276.7 billion (FY99 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.2% (FY99 est.)
Military - note:
note: 2002 estimates for military manpower are based on projections
that do not take into consideration the results of the 2000 census
Transnational Issues United States
Disputes - international:
prolonged drought in the Mexico border region has strained
water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the
Bering Sea awaits Russian Duma ratification; maritime boundary
disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan
de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock;
The Bahamas have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US
Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease;
Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in
Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not
recognize the claims of any other state; Marshall Islands claims
Wake Island
Illicit drugs:
consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the
Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly
methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast
Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants,
stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering
center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Uruguay
Introduction Uruguay
Background:
A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launched
in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to military
control of his administration in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had
been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold
throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until
1985. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest
on the continent.
Geography Uruguay
Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates:
33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries: total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime claims: 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:
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain:
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 7.21% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 92.52% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional
violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts,
floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather
barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes
from weather fronts
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate
solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of
the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is
grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising
People Uruguay
Population:
3,413,329 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.3% (male 425,642; female 404,987)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,057,187; female 1,079,549)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,696; female 263,268) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.8 years
male: 30.2 years
female: 33.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.79% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
17.19 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.35 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.87 years
male: 72.54 years
female: 79.38 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.35 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups:
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent
Religions:
Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attends
church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other
31%
Languages:
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the
Brazilian frontier)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
Government Uruguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Montevideo
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas,
Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida,
Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera,
Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence:
25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution:
27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973,
new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two
constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7
January 1997
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since 1 March 2000)
and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since 1 March
2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October
1999, with runoff election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA
2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected president; percent of
vote - Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44%
Legislative branch:
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber
of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of
Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next to
be held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October
1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10,
Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro
Progresista 40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/Space
Coalition 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected
for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez]; National Party or Blanco
[Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space Coalition or Nuevo
Espacio [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad Front
Coalition or Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio [Tabare VAZQUEZ]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET,
UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLD
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
FAX: (202) 331-8142
telephone: (202) 331-1313 through 1316
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEIN
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: (2) 418-7777
FAX: (2) 418-8611
Flag description:
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating
with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner
with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and
16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Economy Uruguay
Economy - overview:
Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented
agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of
social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during
1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn,
stemming largely from lower demand in Argentina and Brazil, which
together account for nearly half of Uruguay's exports. Total GDP in
these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year.
Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the
burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF and the US
has limited the damage, which is still extensive. Moves to
reschedule debt and promote economic recovery may help limit a
further decline in output in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $26.82 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-10.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 27% services: 67% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 6% (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.3 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.2 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%
Unemployment rate:
19.4% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $3.7 billion
expenditures: $4.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $500
million (2000)
Industries:
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment,
petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
-12% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.963 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.7% hydro: 99.1% other: 0.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.152 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.377 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
123 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
41,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
40 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
40 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
Exports:
$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
meat, rice, leather products, wool, vehicles, dairy products
Exports - partners:
Brazil 21%, Argentina 15%, US 8.1%, Germany 5.1%, Italy 4% (2002)
Imports:
$1.87 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum
Imports - partners:
Argentina 25.6%, Brazil 22.7%, US 7.7%, Venezuela 6.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$11.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Uruguayan peso (UYU)
Currency code:
UYU
Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 21.26 (2002), 13.32 (2001), 12.1
(2000), 11.34 (1999), 10.47 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Uruguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
929,141 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
350,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)
Radios:
1.97 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
20 (2001)
Televisions:
782,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.uy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
14 (2001)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Uruguay
Railways:
total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in
partial use (2002)
Highways: total: 8,983 km paved: 8,081 km unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,600 km (used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft)
Pipelines:
gas 192 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva
Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/9,775 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Argentina 4, Greece 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1,
roll on/roll off 1
Airports:
64 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Military Uruguay
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air
Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 831,297 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 672,030 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$250 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (2000)
Transnational Issues Uruguay
Disputes - international:
uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the
Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with
Argentina
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Uzbekistan
Introduction Uzbekistan
Background:
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff
resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually
suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the
Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain
led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies,
which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain
rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to
gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its
mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism
by Islamic militants, a nonconvertible currency, and the curtailment
of human rights and democratization.
Geography Uzbekistan
Location:
Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 447,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern
portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims:
none (doubly landlocked)
Climate:
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters;
semiarid grassland in east
Terrain:
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat
intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr
Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded
by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead
and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use: arable land: 10.8% permanent crops: 0.91% other: 88.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
42,810 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of
chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then
blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to
desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the
heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human
health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination
from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including
DDT
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked
countries in the world
People Uzbekistan
Population:
25,981,647 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 4,594,721; female 4,431,653)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 7,781,739; female 7,945,641)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 497,692; female 730,201) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 22.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.63% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
26.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.83 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: 0.98 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: 71.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 75.27 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64 years
male: 60.53 years
female: 67.64 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 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 740 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uzbek(s)
adjective: Uzbek
Ethnic groups:
Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%,
Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages:
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Uzbekistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
Government type:
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power
outside the executive branch
Capital:
Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous
republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati,
Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan
Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi),
Qaraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo
Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent
Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:
evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial
system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when
he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11
December 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote
- Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional
amendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000 (next to be
held NA December 2007); prime minister and deputy ministers
appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - 2002
amendment to the constitution creates a second chamber to be
established via elections in 2004
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NDP 48, Self-Sacrificers Party 34, Fatherland Progress Party 20,
Adolat Social Democratic Party 11, MTP 10, citizens' groups 16,
local government 110, vacant 1
note: not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election were
contested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President
KARIMOV
elections: last held 5 December and 19 December 1999 (next to be
held NA December 2004)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed
by the Supreme Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Anwar JURABAYEV, first
secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or
MTP [Aziz KAYUMOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP
(formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALALOV, first secretary];
Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party
[Ahtam TURSUNOV, first secretary]; note - Fatherland Progress Party
merged with Self-Sacrificers Party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom)
Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December
1992; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman];
Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Abduhoshim GHAFUROV,
chairman]; Ezgulik [Vasilia INOYATOVA]
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV
FAX: (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: (202) 293-6803
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Edward HERBST
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (71) 120-5450
FAX: (71) 120-6335
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green
separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12
white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy Uzbekistan
Economy - overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of
intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its
population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan
is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter, a large producer
of gold and oil, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals
and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the
government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with
subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Uzbekistan
responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian
and Russian financial crises by emphasizing import substitute
industrialization and by tightening export and currency controls
within its already largely closed economy. The government, while
aware of the need to improve the investment climate, sponsors
measures that often increase, not decrease, the government's control
over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of
income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since
independence.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $66.06 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 36%
industry: 21%
services: 43% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
26% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
11.9 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
10% plus another 20% underemployed (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural
gas, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
44.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 88.2% hydro: 11.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
47.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
3.998 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
9.7 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
142,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
142,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
297 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
63.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
45.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
17.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
937.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Exports:
$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers,
ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998 est.)
Exports - partners:
Russia 17.7%, Ukraine 11%, Italy 7.6%, Tajikistan 6.8%, Poland
5.1%, South Korea 5%, Kazakhstan 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Imports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals
(1998 est.)
Imports - partners:
Russia 22.6%, Germany 9.8%, South Korea 9.4%, Kazakhstan 8.1%, US
6.9%, Ukraine 6.8%, China 5.2%, Turkey 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
approximately $150 million from the US (2001)
Currency:
Uzbekistani sum (UZS)
Currency code:
UZS
Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani sums per US dollar - 970 (2002), 325 (2001), 236.61
(2000), 124.63 (1999), 94.49 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Uzbekistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.98 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
130,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of
modernization
domestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded and
technologically improved, particularly in Tashkent (Toshkent) and
Samarqand, under contracts with prominent companies in
industrialized countries; moreover, by 1998, six cellular networks
had been placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global System
for Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type (Digital Advanced Mobile
Phone System), and one AMPS type (Advanced Mobile Phone System)
international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS
member states and to other countries by leased connection via the
Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the
Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable,
Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for
international communications; Inmarsat also provides an
international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earth
stations - NA (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)
Radios:
10.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals (2003)
Televisions:
6.4 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.uz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
42 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Uzbekistan
Railways: total: 3,950 km broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,100 km (1990)
Pipelines:
gas 9,012 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Termiz (Amu Darya)
Airports:
273 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 27 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,523 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 246 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 211 (2002)
Military Uzbekistan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces
(internal security and border troops)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,940,031 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,635,099 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 310,915 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Uzbekistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties for
Amu Darya river states; delimitation with Kazakhstan complete with
demarcation underway; serious disputes with Kyrgyzstan around Uzbek
enclaves mar progress on delimitation efforts; talks have begun with
Tajikistan to determine and delimit border
Illicit drugs:
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a
lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation
of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic
consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop
eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals
bound for Afghanistan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Vanuatu
Introduction Vanuatu
Background:
The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th
century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which
administered the islands until independence in 1980.
Geography Vanuatu
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12,200 sq km
land: 12,200 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use: arable land: 2.46% permanent crops: 7.38% other: 90.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes
minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and
reliable supply of water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands;
several of the islands have active volcanoes
People Vanuatu
Population:
199,414 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.9 years
male: 22 years
female: 21.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.13 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 58.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.71 years
male: 60.28 years
female: 63.21 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.98 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: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups:
indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other
Pacific Islanders
Religions:
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous
beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%,
other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)
Languages:
three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama
or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)
Government Vanuatu
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British
systems
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)
elections: president elected for a four-year term by an electoral
college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25
March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is
usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members;
election for prime minister last held 2 August 2002 (next to be held
NA 2003)
election results: Father John BANI elected president on second vote
(24 March 1999) after the first (17 March 1999) did not have any
candidate with the required two-thirds majority; percent of
electoral college vote - NA%
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Edward Nipake NATAPEI (since 13
April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since NA)