← The 2003 CIA World Factbook, Volume 1
Z (part 4)
Electricity - production:
42.99 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 26% hydro: 72.7% other: 1.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
39.81 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
210 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
40 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
614,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
252,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.8 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
132 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Exports:
$12.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:
US 44.8%, Venezuela 9.4%, Ecuador 6.8% (2002)
Imports:
$12.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 32.6%, Venezuela 7%, Mexico 5.3%, Japan 5.3%, Brazil 5.2%,
Germany 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$38.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Colombian peso (COP)
Currency code:
COP
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001),
2,087.9 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,433,565 (December 1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,800,229 (December 1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking
50 cities
international: satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3
fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Radios:
21 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions:
4.59 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.co
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
18 (2000)
Internet users:
1.15 million (2002)
Transportation Colombia
Railways:
total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 110,000 km
paved: 26,000 km
unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)
Waterways:
18,140 km (navigable by river boats) (April 1996)
Pipelines:
gas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia,
Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 51,445 GRT/55,930 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 6, container 1, petroleum tanker 3
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
1,050 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 96 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 11 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 954 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 under 914 m: 587 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 315
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Colombia
Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines
and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National
Police (Policia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 11,101,719 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,403,433 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 392,468 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.3 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Colombia
Disputes - international:
Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against
Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary
involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;
maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;
Colombian drug activities penetrate Peruvian border area
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's
leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2002 was 144,450
hectares, a 15% decline since 2001); potential production of opium
between 2001 and 2002 declined by 25% to 91 metric tons; potential
production of heroin declined to 11.3 metric tons; the world's
largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of
about 90% of the cocaine to the US market and the great majority of
cocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier of
heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program; a
significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either
laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso
exchange
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Comoros
Introduction Comoros
Background:
Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since
gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of
Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In
1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve
the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the
2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new
constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of
2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a
new union president was sworn in on May 26, 2002.
Geography Comoros
Location:
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the
Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern
Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
340 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 34.98%
permanent crops: 17.94%
other: 47.08% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le
Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on
slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People Comoros
Population:
632,948 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 136,060; female 135,277)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 169,121; female 173,822)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,863; female 9,805) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.96% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
38.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
8.86 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 88.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.18 years
male: 58.92 years
female: 63.5 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili
and Arabic)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Government Comoros
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local short form: Comores
local long form: Union des Comores
Government type:
independent republic
Capital:
Moroni
Administrative divisions:
3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli
(Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni,
Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
23 December 2001
note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on
20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; the
GUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002
Legal system:
French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note
- following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January
2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002
presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was
appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May
2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and
Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and
the head of government
election results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with
75% of the vote
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency
rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three
main islands in the Union; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to
be held NA April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president;
note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworn
into office in May 2002
head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002);
note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in
January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002
presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was
appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May
2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and
Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and
the head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Union (30 seats; half the deputies are
selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the other
half by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years) note -
elections for the former legislature, the Federal Assembly,
dissolved in 1999, where held on 1 and 8 December 1996; the next
elections for the Assembly of the Union were scheduled to be held in
April 2003 but have yet to occur
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the
president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected
by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of
the republic)
Political parties and leaders:
Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. Abdourazak
ABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of
12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; Front
National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed
RACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [Mahamoud
MRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatist
movement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress
or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et la
Democratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; Parti
Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE];
Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the
government) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO,
IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US
and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Union of
the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York,
NY 10022
telephone: (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711
FAX: (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to
Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue
with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within
the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the
hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line
between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the
four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -
Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of
France, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color
green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Comoros
Economy - overview:
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three
islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and
rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low
educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence
level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy
dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture,
including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP,
employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.
The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the
main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government -
which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to
upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial
and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify
exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population
growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of
4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans
abroad help supplement GDP.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $441 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80%
Unemployment rate:
20% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:
tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
21.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
19.78 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports:
$16.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Exports - partners:
France 32.4%, Germany 19.4%, US 17.6%, Singapore 11.5%, Netherlands
6.5% (2002)
Imports:
$39.8 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
France 34.3%, South Africa 12%, Japan 6.1%, Kenya 5.9%, UAE 5.8%,
Mauritius 4.9%, Thailand 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:
$232 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$10 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
Comoran franc (KMF)
Currency code:
KMF
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001),
533.98 (2000), 461.78 (1999), 442.46 (1998)
note: prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the
French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January
1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677
Comoran francs per euro
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Comoros
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and
Reunion
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
90,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.km
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
2,500 (2002)
Transportation Comoros
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1999 est)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Merchant marine:
total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 432,132 GRT/796,734 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker
5, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Malta 1, Pakistan 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Comoros
Military branches:
Comoran Security Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 150,079 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 89,090 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Comoros
Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Background:
Since 1997, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly
called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched
off by a massive inflow in 1994 of refugees from the fighting in
Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU Sese
Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997;
his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- and
Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe,
Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa
regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999 by the DROC,
Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel
groups, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated on
16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state
ten days later. In October 2002, the new president was successful in
getting occupying Rwandan forces to withdraw from eastern Congo; two
months later, an agreement was signed by all remaining warring
parties to end the fighting and set up a government of national
unity.
Geography Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Location:
Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic coordinates:
0 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 2,345,410 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 10,730 km
border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary
of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central
African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda
217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline:
37 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier
in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north
of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to
February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry
season April to October
Terrain:
vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110
m
Natural resources:
cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds,
gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium,
bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber
Land use:
arable land: 2.96%
permanent crops: 0.52%
other: 96.52% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
110 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the
east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;
deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation,
soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a
mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing
environmental damage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
straddles equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls the
lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense
tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
People Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Population:
56,625,039
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: 48.3% (male 13,734,706; female 13,624,579)
15-64 years: 49.2% (male 13,648,155; female 14,203,077)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 583,366; female 831,156) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.8 years
female: 16.1 years (2002)
male: 15.4 years
Population growth rate:
2.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
45.12 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and
Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in
August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese internally displaced
and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding
countries (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 96.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 105.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.93 years
male: 46.83 years
female: 51.09 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.69 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.3 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
120,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:
over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the
four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the
Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
Religions:
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%,
other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:
French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language),
Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala,
Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local short form: none
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville,
Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
abbreviation: DROC
Government type:
dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative
government
Capital:
Kinshasa
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city*
(ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental,
Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale,
Sud-Kivu
Independence:
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Constitution:
24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978,
amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April
1994; in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by former
President Laurent KABILA but it was not ratified by a national
referendum; one outcome of the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue is
to be a new constitution
Legal system:
based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
elections: prior to the overthrow of MOBUTU Sese Seko, the president
was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last
held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997);
formerly, there was also a prime minister who was elected by the
High Council of the Republic; note - a Transitional Government is
drafting a new constitution with free elections scheduled to be held
in NA 2005
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA,
following the latter's assassination in January 2001, negotiations
with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a Transitional
Government in July 2003 with free elections scheduled to be held in
NA 2005
election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese
Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without
opposition
Legislative branch:
a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in
August 2000
elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were
appointed by former President Laurent Desire KABILA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forces
for Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph
OLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois
LUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions:
MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [Felix
VUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified Lumumbast
Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of
Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions:
UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA])
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU FAX: (202) 234-2609 telephone: (202) 234-7690, 7691 chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone: (88) 43608 FAX: (88) 43467
Flag description:
light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and
a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along
the hoist side
Economy Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation
endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since
the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, has dramatically
reduced national output and government revenue, has increased
external debt, and has resulted in the deaths from war, famine, and
disease of perhaps 3.5 million people. Foreign businesses have
curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the
conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating
environment. The war has intensified the impact of such basic
problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, inflation, and
lack of openness in government economic policy and financial
operations. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of
a large portion of the invading foreign troops. A number of IMF and
World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop
a coherent economic plan, and President KABILA has begun
implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP
data.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $34 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
14.51 million (1993 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)
Industries:
mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer
products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods
and beverages), cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
5.243 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.8% hydro: 98.2% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
3.839 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.097 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
60 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.538 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
104.8 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Exports:
$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt
Exports - partners:
Belgium 64.4%, US 13.4%, Zimbabwe 6.7%, Finland 4.9% (2002)
Imports:
$890 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Belgium 14.6%, South Africa 14.2%, Nigeria 10.3%, France 9.5%,
Germany 7.3%, Netherlands 5.3%, Kenya 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$12.9 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$195.3 million (1995)
Currency:
Congolese franc (CDF)
Currency code:
CDF
Exchange rates:
Congolese francs per US dollar - 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001),
21.82 (2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
20,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in
and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
18.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2001)
Televisions:
6.478 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
6,000 (2002)
Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Railways:
total: 4,772 km
narrow gauge: 3,621 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km
1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected
lakes)
Pipelines:
gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
229 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 205 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 95 under 914 m: 91 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Security Battalion
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 12,292,933 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,267,752 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$250 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.6% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Disputes - international:
Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that
has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda
and Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of the
eastern portion of the state - Tutsi, Hutu, Lendu, Hema and other
conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government
forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the
boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and
Uganda - heads of the Great Lakes states pledge to end conflict, but
localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; most
of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is
indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the
river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption;
while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the
banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Congo, Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Republic of the
Background:
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo
became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of
experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a
democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but
ushered in a period of ethnically based unrest. Southern-based rebel
groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of
Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with
significant potential for offshore development.
Geography Congo, Republic of the
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola
and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 342,000 sq km
water: 500 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African
Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon
1,903 km
Coastline:
169 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to
October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain:
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates,
natural gas, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 0.5% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 99.37% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the
dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or
along the railroad between them
People Congo, Republic of the
Population:
2,954,258
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: 38.4% (male 570,491; female 563,079)
15-64 years: 58% (male 844,655; female 868,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 44,166; female 63,016) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.2 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.53% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
29.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
14.2 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 95.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 101.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.02 years
male: 49.04 years
female: 51.02 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
7.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997
civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread
destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Religions:
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade
languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo has
the most users)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Republic of the
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
local long form: Republique du Congo
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Brazzaville
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux,
Pool, Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution:
constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October
1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president
Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October
1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president
Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held 10 March
2002 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
2.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National
Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held NA July
2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next
to be held by NA May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and
Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative
Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party,
National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the
National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and
Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union
for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy
and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,
president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond
Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leader
NA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese
Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women
or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
FAX: (202) 726-1860
telephone: (202) 726-5500
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310
Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the
upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Congo, Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an
industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a
government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil
has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a
major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s,
rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance
large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5%
annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has
mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to
a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc
Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but
inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with
the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank
and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when
civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when
the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving
forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing
cooperation with international financial institutions. However,
economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the
resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the
republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over
an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems of
stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 48%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $870 million
expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries:
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,
soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
358.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.3% hydro: 99.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
633 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
300 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
93.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
495.5 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
Exports:
$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners:
Taiwan 28.1%, South Korea 20.4%, China 9.3%, US 8.4%, Germany 6.6%,
France 5.2% (2002)
Imports:
$730 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 22.1%, Italy 8.5%, Belgium 6%, US 5.2%, India 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$5 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$159.1 million (1995)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 697
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Congo, Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
22,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,300 (1998)
Telephone system:
general assessment: services barely adequate for government use;
key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:
341,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
500 (2001)
Transportation Congo, Republic of the
Railways: total: 894 km narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 12,800 km paved: 1,242 km unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
1,120 km
note: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km of
commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for
local traffic only
Pipelines:
gas 53 km; oil 673 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Airports:
31 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Military Congo, Republic of the
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 754,814 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 381,556 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 31,644 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$84 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.8% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Congo, Republic of the
Disputes - international:
most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic of
the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the
division of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley
Pool/Pool Malebo area)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Cook Islands
Introduction Cook Islands
Background:
Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands
became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative
control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose
self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration
of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are
continuing problems.
Geography Cook Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 240 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 17.39%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 69.57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated,
coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated,
fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives
People Cook Islands
Population: 21,008 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
NA% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/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: NA years
female: NA 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: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%,
Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Religions:
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands
Christian Church)
Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Cook Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands
Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands
is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation
with the Cook Islands
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Avarua
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on
4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full
independence by unilateral action)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Constitution:
4 August 1965
Legal system:
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since NA); New Zealand High
Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealand
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is
appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12
February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5
November 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and
maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic
Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP
[Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS
(associate), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island)
centered in the outer half of the flag
Economy Cook Islands
Economy - overview:
Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands'
economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country
from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of
natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and
inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base
with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing
activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and
handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants
and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s
and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated
public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent
reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of
economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt
restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
8,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
Unemployment rate:
13% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3
million (FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002)
Electricity - production:
27.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
25.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
450 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Exports:
$9.1 million (2000)
Exports - commodities:
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls
and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners:
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)
Imports:
$50.7 million (2000)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners:
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)
Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater
part (1995)
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776
(2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
14,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ck
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Cook Islands
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Avarua, Avatiu
Airports:
7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Cook Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with
the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues Cook Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Coral Sea Islands
Introduction Coral Sea Islands
Background:
Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral
Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are
uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis
Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy
many other islands and reefs.
Geography Coral Sea Islands
Location:
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: less than 3 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most
important
water: 0 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,095 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note:
important nesting area for birds and turtles
People Coral Sea Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological
station (July 2003 est.)
Government Coral Sea Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the
Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Legal system:
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment,
Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
the flag of Australia is used
Economy Coral Sea Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Coral Sea Islands
Communications - note:
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs
relaying data to the mainland
Transportation Coral Sea Islands
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Coral Sea Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by
the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities
of visitors
Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Costa Rica
Introduction Costa Rica
Background:
Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th
century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its
democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural
country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology
and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land
ownership is widespread.
Geography Costa Rica
Location:
Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 51,100 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
land: 50,660 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy
season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain:
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100
volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources:
hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4.41% permanent crops: 5.48% other: 90.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,260 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent
flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active
volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing
of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal
marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air
pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note:
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San
Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu,
erupted destructively in 1963-65
People Costa Rica
Population:
3,896,092 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 600,812; female 573,375)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 1,269,667; female 1,241,097)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 98,156; female 112,985) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.4 years
male: 24.9 years
female: 25.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
19.4 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.51 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 11.49 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.43 years
male: 73.87 years
female: 79.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
890 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%,
other 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%,
other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Government Costa Rica
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
Government type:
democratic republic
Capital:
San Jose
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago,
Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
7 November 1949
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First
Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice
President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First
Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice
President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 February
2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held NA
February 2006)
election results: Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote -
Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for
eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Agricultural Labor Action or PALA [Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco];
Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation
Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M.
NUNEZ]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth];
National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL];
National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; National
Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National
Liberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social Christian Unity Party
or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON]
note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN - until the 3
February 2002 election in which the PAC captured a significant
percentage, forcing a run-off in April 2002
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist
Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of
Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican
Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party
affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National
Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association
of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert
Brown]
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM Rosenstein
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Durham (North
Carolina), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa
consulate(s): Austin
FAX: (202) 265-4795
telephone: (202) 234-2945
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John J. DANILOVICH embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: 220-3939 FAX: 220-2305
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width),
white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on
the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue
ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near
the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words,
REPUBLICA COSTA RICA
Economy Costa Rica
Economy - overview:
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism,
agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially
reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has
been put into place. At the same time, distribution of income
remains severely unequal. Foreign investors remain attracted by the
country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism
continues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional export
sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance
of bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government
continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal
debt, with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity and
telecommunications sector, and with the problem of bringing down
inflation.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $32 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 30% services: 61% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 34.6% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.9 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.91 billion
expenditures: $2.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing,
construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.839 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.5% hydro: 81.9% other: 16.6% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
6.109 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
379 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
128 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Exports: $5.1 billion (2002)
Exports - commodities: coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
US 31.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, UK 4.5% (2002)
Imports:
$6.4 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
Imports - partners:
US 36.7%, Japan 4.4%, Mexico 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.8 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Currency code:
CRC
Exchange rates:
Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001),
308.19 (2000), 285.69 (1999), 257.23 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Costa Rica
Telephones - main lines in use:
450,000 (1998)
note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use
in 1998
Telephones - mobile cellular:
143,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: very good domestic telephone service
domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave,
fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is
available
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two
submarine cables (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)
Radios:
980,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
525,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)
Internet users:
384,000 (2002)
Transportation Costa Rica
Railways: total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 35,892 km paved: 7,896 km unpaved: 27,996 km (2000)
Waterways:
730 km (seasonally navigable)
Pipelines:
refined products 421 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWT
ships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
151 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 121 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 93 (2002)
Military Costa Rica
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry of
Public Forces (Fuerza Publica)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,080,254 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 722,043 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 41,453 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$69 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Costa Rica
Disputes - international: legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaragua
Illicit drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America;
illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic
cocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Cote d'Ivoire
Introduction Cote d'Ivoire
Background:
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of
cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote
d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states,
but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999,
a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -
overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta
leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded
prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the
polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced
GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power.
GBAGBO spent his first two years in office trying to consolidate
power to strengthen his weak mandate, but he was unable to appease
his opponents, who launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002.
Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January
2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government.
However, the central government has yet to exert control over the
northern regions and tension remains high between GBAGBO and rebel
leaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in
Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and help implement the peace accords.
Geography Cote d'Ivoire
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana
and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 322,460 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km
land: 318,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline:
515 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm
and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet
(June to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt,
bauxite, copper, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 9.28% permanent crops: 13.84% other: 76.88% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy
season torrential flooding is possible
Environment - current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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:
most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart
from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated
People Cote d'Ivoire
Population:
16,962,491
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: 45.4% (male 3,796,393; female 3,902,210)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 4,541,997; female 4,347,531)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 179,323; female 195,037) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 17 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.15% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
18.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 98.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 115.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.65 years
male: 40.34 years
female: 45.04 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
9.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
770,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
75,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian
Ethnic groups:
Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous
11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and
20,000 French) (1998)
Religions:
Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001)
note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim
(70%) and Christian (20%)
Languages:
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely
spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 est.)
Government Cote d'Ivoire
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
former: Ivory Coast
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
Capital:
Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official
capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and
administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its
Embassy in Abidjan
Administrative divisions:
58 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou,
Abidjan, Aboisso, Adiake, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Alepe,
Bocanda, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle,
Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Dabou, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro,
Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Bassam,
Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Jacqueville, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota,
Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro,
Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tiebissou,
Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toulepleu, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro,
Zuenoula
Independence:
7 August (1960) (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Constitution:
3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July
1998
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000);
note - took power following a popular overthrow of the interim
leader Gen. Robert GUEI who had claimed a dubious victory in
presidential elections; Gen. GUEI himself had assumed power on 25
December 1999, following a military coup against the government of
former President Henri Konan BEDIE
head of government: Prime Minister Seydou DIARRA (since 25 January
2003); note - appointed as transitional Prime Minister by President
GBAGBO as part of a French brokered peace plan
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote
- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other
2.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats;
members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on
14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election
in 2005
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial
Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases,
Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative
Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of
members
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or
PDCI-RDA [Aime Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI
[Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE];
Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for
Democracy and Peace or UDPCI [leader NA]; over 20 smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pascal Dago KOKORA chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 FAX: (202) 462-9444 telephone: (202) 797-0300
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: 20 21 09 79
FAX: 20 22 32 59
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and
green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Cote d'Ivoire
Economy - overview:
Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters
of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is
highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these
products and to weather conditions. Despite government attempts to
diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture
and related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population.
After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy
began a comeback in 1994, due to the 50% devaluation of the CFA
franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in
nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber,
limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas
discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling
by multilateral lenders and France. Moreover, government adherence
to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annually
during 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000-02 because of the
difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors,
continued low prices of key exports, and severe civil war fighting.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $24.03 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 22% services: 49% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 37% (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
68% agricultural (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% in urban areas (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.72 billion
expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $420
million (2001 est.)
Industries:
foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus
assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity
Industrial production growth rate:
15% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.605 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
2.983 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
32,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
14.87 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
Exports:
$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm
oil, fish
Exports - partners:
France 14.5%, Netherlands 12.9%, US 7.6%, Germany 5.4%, Mali 4.6%,
Belgium 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Imports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 22.7%, Nigeria 16.6%, China 7.9%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$10.3 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $1 billion (1996 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 Cote d'Ivoire
Telephones - main lines in use:
263,700 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
450,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: well developed by African standards but
operating well below capacity
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables (June 1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
2.26 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
14 (1999)
Televisions:
1.09 million (2000)
Internet country code:
.ci
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
70,000 (2002)
Transportation Cote d'Ivoire
Railways:
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina
Faso (2002)
Highways: total: 50,400 km paved: 4,889 km unpaved: 45,511 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)
Pipelines:
condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Airports:
36 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Military Cote d'Ivoire
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard
(includes Presidential Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,035,462 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,110,276 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 198,115 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$143.5 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Cote d'Ivoire
Disputes - international:
rebel fighting extended to neighboring states and has driven out
nationals and foreign workers to nearby countries; the Ivorian
Government accuses Burkina Faso and Liberia of supporting Ivorian
rebels
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption;
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to
Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine
destined for Europe and South Africa; while rampant corruption and
inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money
laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the
country's utility as a major money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Croatia
Introduction Croatia
Background:
In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known
after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became
a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of
Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from
Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often
bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared
from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held
enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.
Geography Croatia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:
45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 56,542 sq km
water: 128 sq km
land: 56,414 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 2,197 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south)
25 km, Slovenia 670 km
Coastline:
5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with
hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain:
geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low
mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m
Natural resources:
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural
asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 23.55% permanent crops: 2.24% other: 74.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and
Turkish Straits
People Croatia
Population:
4,422,248 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 415,873; female 394,414)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,465,488; female 1,454,778)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 258,943; female 432,752) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.9 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 40.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.31% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
11.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.37 years
male: 70.76 years
female: 78.2 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups:
Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, Bosniak 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Slovene 0.3%,
Czech 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Albanian 0.1%, Montenegrin 0.1%, others 4.1%
(2001)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%,
others and unknown 6.2% (2001)
Languages:
Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech,
Slovak, and German)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.4%
female: 97.8% (2003 est.)
Government Croatia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local short form: Hrvatska
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
Government type:
presidential/parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Zagreb
Administrative divisions:
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad -
singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska
Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija,
Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija,
Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska
Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija,
Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija,
Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija,
Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*,
Zagrebacka Zupanija
Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution:
adopted on 22 December 1990
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February
2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January
2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since 27 January 2000),
Ante SIMONIC (since 30 July 2002), Zeljka ANTUNOVI (since 27 January
2000), Slavko LINIC (since 27 January 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister nominated by the president in line with the balance of
power in the Assembly
note: government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS; a sixth party,
the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), withdrew in June 2001
election results: Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote -
Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added
in the November Parliamentary elections; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms); note - House of Counties was
abolished in March 2001
election results: Assembly (then referred to as the House of
Representatives) - percent of vote by party - HDZ 43.4%, SDP 23%,
HNS 7.4%, HSS 6.57%, HSP 6%; seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HNS
10, HSS 9, HSP 7; note - these are preliminary results
elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in
2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts
appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the
Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives
Political parties and leaders:
Croatian Bloc or HB [Ivic PASALIC]; Croatian Christian Democratic
Union or HKDU [Anto KOVACEVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ
[Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto DJAPIC];
Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People's
Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS
[Drazen BUDISA]; Croatian True Revival Party or HIP [Miroslav
TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC [Mate GRANIC]; Istrian Democratic
Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Liberal Party or LS [Ivo BANAC];
Party of Liberal Democrats or LIBRA [Goran GRANIC]; Social
Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]
note: the Social Democratic Party or SDP and the Croatian Social
Liberal Party or HSLS formed a coalition as did the HSS, HNS, LP,
and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union or
HDZ in the 2000 lower house parliamentary election; the IDS
subsequently left the governing coalition in June 2001 over its
inability to win greater autonomy for Istria
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan GRDESIC
FAX: (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
telephone: (202) 588-5899
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: (1) 661-2200
FAX: (1) 661-2373
Flag description:
red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms
(red and white checkered)
Economy Croatia
Economy - overview:
Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia,
after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area,
with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav
average. The economy emerged from its mild recession in 2000 with
tourism the main factor, but massive structural unemployment remains
a key negative element. The government's failure to press the
economic reforms needed to spur growth is largely the result of
coalition politics and public resistance, particularly from the
trade unions. Opponents fear reforms would cut jobs, wages, and
social benefits. The government has a heavy backload of civil cases,
many involving tenure land. The country is likely to experience only
moderate growth without disciplined fiscal and structural reform.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $43.12 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 33%
services: 58% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 23.3% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.7 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 13.2% NA, industry 25.4% NA, services 46.4% NA (2002)
Unemployment rate:
21.7% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.6 billion
expenditures: $9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,
electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper,
wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding,
petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
12.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 33.6% hydro: 66% other: 0.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
14.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
386 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
3.386 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
93.6 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
34.36 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports:
$4.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 22.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.4%, Germany 12.5%, Slovenia
8%, Austria 7.3% (2002)
Imports:
$10.7 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and
lubricants, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Italy 16.8%, Germany 16.4%, Slovenia 7.8%, Russia 6.8%, Austria
6.7%, France 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$16.5 billion (yearend 2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $66 million (2000)
Currency:
kuna (HRK)
Currency code:
HRK
Exchange rates:
kuna per US dollar - 7.87 (2002), 8.34 (2001), 8.28 (2000), 7.11
(1999), 6.36 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Croatia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,721,139 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.3 million (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog
circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be
included in the plan for the main trunk
international: digital international service is provided through the
main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe
(TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of two fiber-optic trunk
connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka
to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a
joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)
Radios:
1.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.hr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
480,000 (2001)
Transportation Croatia
Railways: total: 2,296 km standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (983 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
total: 28,123 km
paved: 23,792 km (including 410 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,331 km (2000)
Waterways:
785 km
note: (perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by
downed bridges, silt, and debris)
Pipelines:
gas 1,374 km; oil 583 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split,
Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar
Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 765,830 GRT/1,188,948 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Hong Kong 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 16, chemical tanker 4, combination
bulk 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 6,
short-sea passenger 3
Airports:
59 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 9 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Croatia
Military branches:
Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HV), Naval Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces
Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,081,135 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 856,946 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 30,096 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$520 million (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.39% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Croatia
Disputes - international:
discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina on sections of the
Una River and villages at the base of Mount Pljesevica;
parliamentarians are far from ratifying the Croatia-Slovenia land
and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of
Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to
Croatia; in late 2002, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro adopted an
interim agreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka Peninsula,
allowing the withdrawal of the UN monitoring mission (UNMOP), but
discussions could be complicated by the inability of Serbia and
Montenegro to come to an agreement on the economic aspects of the
new federal union; Croatia and Italy continue to debate bilateral
property and ethnic minority rights issues stemming from border
changes after the Second World War
Illicit drugs:
transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to
Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime
shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Cuba
Introduction Cuba
Background:
Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has
held the country together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution,
with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and
Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly
recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the
withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6
billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of
the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US -
using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a
continuing problem. Some 2,500 Cubans attempted the crossing of the
Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard apprehended about 60%
of the individuals.
Geography Cuba
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba
Coastline:
3,735 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April);
rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in
the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.04%
other: 59.35% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 7.61%
Irrigated land:
870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in
general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year);
droughts are common
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater
Antilles
People Cuba
Population:
11,263,429 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 1,164,376; female 1,103,061)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 3,932,604; female 3,909,523)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 531,608; female 622,257) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.8 years
male: 74.38 years
female: 79.36 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
120 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups:
mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions:
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)
male: 97.2%
total population: 97%
People - note:
illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart
the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers,
direct flights, or falsified visas; some 2,500 Cubans took to the
Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 60%
of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the
US; some 1,500 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border and
direct flights to Miami in 2002
Government Cuba
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Havana
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special
municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,
Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla
de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,
Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence:
20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US
from 1898 to 1902)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 is
the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of
independence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)
Constitution:
24 February 1976, amended July 1992 and June 2002
Legal system:
based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist
legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - 100%
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there
is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National
Assembly
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved
by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice
president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first
secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS
(excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera (since August 2001); address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: (202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: (7) 33-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: (7) 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating
with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears
a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the
US flag
Economy Cuba
Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken
limited reforms in recent years to increase enterprise efficiency
and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and
services but is unlikely to implement extensive changes. A major
feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient
export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average
Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the
severe economic depression of the early 1990s, which was caused by
the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. High oil import
prices, recessions in key export markets, damage from Hurricanes
Isidore and Lili, and the tourist slump after 11 September 2001
hampered growth in 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30.69 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 34.5%
services: 57.9% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 4.3 million note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $14.9 billion
expenditures: $15.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Industries:
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction, services,
nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.9% hydro: 0.6% other: 5.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
13.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
532 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
42.62 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Exports:
$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 19.1%, Russia 18.1%, Canada 14.3%, Spain 9.5%, China
7.3% (2002)
Imports:
$4.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Spain 17.2%, China 12%, Italy 9.1%, France 7.6%, Mexico 7.3%,
Canada 6.2%, US 5.6%, Brazil 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:
$12.3 billion (convertible currency); another $15 billion -$20
billion owed to Russia (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$68.2 million (1997 est.)
Currency:
Cuban peso (CUP)
Currency code:
CUP
Exchange rates:
Cuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate,
for international transactions, pegged to the US dollar);
convertible peso sold for domestic use at a rate of 1.00 US dollar
per 27 pesos by the Government of Cuba (2002)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cuba
Telephones - main lines in use:
473,031 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,994 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial
cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la
Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old,
US-built; the other newer, built during the period of Soviet
support); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
3.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
58 (1997)
Televisions:
2.64 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
120,000 (2002)
Transportation Cuba
Railways:
total: 3,442 km
standard gauge: 3,442 km 1.435-m gauge (142 km electrified)
note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations;
about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge
(2002)
Highways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
240 km
Pipelines:
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas,
Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 59,257 GRT/90,295 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
161 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 63 (2002)
Military Cuba
Military branches:
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) including Revolutionary Army (ER),
Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); note -
the Border Guard Troops (TGF) are controlled by the Interior Ministry
Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,120,702 note: both sexes are liable for military service (2003 est.) females age 15-49: 3,049,927
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,923,967
females age 15-49: 1,875,412 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 81,095
females: 87,780 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
roughly 4% (FY95 est.)
Military - note:
Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of
Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
Transnational Issues Cuba
Disputes - international:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease
Illicit drugs:
territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for
cocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the
death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Cyprus
Introduction Cyprus
Background:
Independence from the UK was approved in 1960, with constitutional
guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot
minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government
was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled
almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared
itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is
recognized only by Turkey. UN-led direct talks between the two sides
to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the island
began in January 2002.
Geography Cyprus
Location:
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot
area)
water: 10 sq km
land: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
648 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain:
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but
significant plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources:
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth
pigment
Land use: arable land: 10.61% permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.74% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Environment - current issues:
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal
disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest
aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from
sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife
habitats from urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and
Sardinia)
People Cyprus
Population:
771,657 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 86,446; female 82,769)
15-64 years: 67% (male 261,404; female 255,409)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 37,345; female 48,284) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.2 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 35.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
12.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.43 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.27 years
male: 74.94 years
female: 79.71 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups:
Greek 85.2%, Turkish 11.6%, other 3.2% (2000)
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and
other 4%
Languages:
Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)
Government Cyprus
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Government type:
republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in
July 1974 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt gave the Turkish
Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the
only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983
Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and
the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC),
recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement
based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation
(Turkish Cypriot position)
Capital:
Nicosia
Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,
Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions
include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts
of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence:
16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area
celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Constitution:
16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or
revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in
1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing
bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was
renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new
constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5
May 1985
Legal system:
based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March
2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held NA February
2008)
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for
a five-year term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be
held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president
after the other contender withdrew; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime
minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is
a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of
vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos
MARKIDIS 6.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives or Vouli
Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to
Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are
filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet
Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS
6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19,
DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP
15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP
24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be
held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998
(next to be held NA December 2003)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area
Political parties and leaders:
Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS];
Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic
Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George
PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the
Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS];
Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union
of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or
EDE [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation
Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder
DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity
Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU];
Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Izzet IZCAN]; Republican Turkish
Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation
of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish
Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or
PEO (Communist controlled)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate),
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: (202) 483-6710
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Osman
ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone
(202) 887-6198
consulate(s): New York
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: (202) 462-5772
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: (22) 776400
FAX: (22) 780944
Flag description:
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name
Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green
crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek
and Turkish communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the
top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a
white field
Economy Cyprus
Economy - overview:
The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to
external shocks. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect
the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by
political instability in the region and fluctuations in economic
conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting
the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector,
water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants
are now online. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of
the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by
Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing and
investment. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and
government service, which together employ about half of the work
force. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides
grants and loans to support economic development. Ankara provided
$200 million in 2002 and pledged $450 million for the 2003-05
period. Future events throughout the island will be highly
influenced by the outcome of negotiations on the UN-sponsored
agreement to unite the Greek and Turkish areas and by the
arrangements under which the island joins the EU.
GDP:
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (2001
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $787 million
(2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Greek Cypriot area: 1.7% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2.6%
(2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.6%; industry 19.9%; services 19.9%
Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 75.5%; industry 20.7%; services
71% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Greek Cypriot area: 2.8% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 24.5%
(2002 est.)
Labor force:
Greek Cypriot area: 291,000; Turkish Cypriot area: 86,300 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Greek Cypriot area: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5%
(2000); Turkish Cypriot area: services 56.4%, industry 22.8%,
agriculture 20.8% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
Greek Cypriot area: 3.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $4.4 billion, Turkish Cypriot area -
$231.3 million (2002 est.)
expenditures: $3.7 billion, Greek Cypriot area - $539 million,
including capital expenditures of $539 million, Turkish Cypriot area
- $432.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood
products
Industrial production growth rate:
Greek Cypriot area: -1.4% (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (2002)
Electricity - production:
3.401 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% other: 0% (2001) hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: Greek Cypriot area: 3.163 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables
Exports:
Greek Cypriot area: $1.03 billion f.o.b. Turkish Cypriot area: $46
million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,
clothing and cigarettes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,
textiles
Exports - partners:
UK 28.2%, Greece 7%, UAE 5.3%, France 5.2% (2002)
Imports:
Greek Cypriot area: $3.9 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $301
million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,
intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; Turkish Cypriot
area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
Imports - partners:
Russia 17.9%, Greece 7.4%, Germany 6.7%, France 6.6%, UK 6.6%,
Italy 6.6%, South Korea 5.7%, Japan 5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:
Greek Cypriot area: $8 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area -
$700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97), which are
usually forgiven (1998)
Currency:
Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkish lira (TRL)
Currency code:
CYP; TRL
Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.61 (2002), 0.64 (2001), 0.62
(2000), 0.54 (1999), 0.52 (1998), Turkish lira per US dollar NA
(2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724
(1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:
Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area: 83,162
(1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000
(1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish
Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450
(1994)
Television broadcast stations:
Greek Cypriot area: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September
1995);; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300
(1994)
Internet country code:
.cy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
150,000 (2002)
Transportation Cyprus
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total: 13,491 km
note: Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km
unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km
(2000/1996)
paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos
Merchant marine:
total: 1,180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 23,106,229 GRT/37,032,163 DWT
ships by type: bulk 421, cargo 325, chemical tanker 25, combination
bulk 24, combination ore/oil 2, container 151, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 124, refrigerated
cargo 45, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 9, specialized
tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Austria 12, Belgium 2, Bulgaria 2, Canada 3, Chile 2,
China 16, Croatia 2, Cuba 11, Finland 1, Germany 229, Greece 607,
Guam 1, Hong Kong 6, India 6, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 1,
Japan 26, Latvia 14, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10,
Netherlands 30, Norway 23, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 19,
Portugal 2, Russia 57, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, South Korea 4, Spain
7, Sudan 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United
Arab Emirates 13, United Kingdom 6, United States 4, Vietnam 1 (2002
est.)
Airports:
16 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:
10 (2002)
Military Cyprus
Military branches:
Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including
air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 201,606 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 138,336 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,638 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$384 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Cyprus
Disputes - international:
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous
areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally
recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot area, separated
by a UN buffer zone; UN deadline on sides accepting a federation
plan for reunification have expired, diminishing chances of
Turkish-Cypriot participation in EU membership in 2004
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;
some cocaine transits as well; anti-money-laundering laws
strengthened but few convictions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Czech Republic
Introduction Czech Republic
Background:
Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and
Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form
Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders
were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic
minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and
the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated
Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968,
an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's
leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism
with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year
ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet
authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a
peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country
underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the
Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now a member of NATO, the Czech
Republic has moved toward integration in world markets, a
development that poses both opportunities and risks. In December
2002, the Czech Republic was invited to join the European Union
(EU). It is expected that the Czech Republic will accede to the EU
in 2004.
Geography Czech Republic
Location:
Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 78,866 sq km
water: 1,590 sq km
land: 77,276 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,881 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
Slovakia 215 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus
surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very
hilly country
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Land use: arable land: 40% permanent crops: 3.04% other: 56.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
240 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most
significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional
military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in
central Europe
People Czech Republic
Population:
10,249,216 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 809,697; female 768,747)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 3,617,214; female 3,614,060)
65 years and over: 14% (male 554,922; female 884,576) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 36.6 years
female: 40.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.08% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
9.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.18 years
male: 71.69 years
female: 78.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.18 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech
Ethnic groups:
Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,
Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%,
atheist 39.8%
Languages:
Czech
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Czech Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local short form: Ceska Republika
local long form: Ceska Republika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Prague
Administrative divisions:
13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni
mesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj,
Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj,
Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha*, Stredocesky
Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)
National holiday:
Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Constitution:
ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line
with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
note: the Czech Republic's first president Vaclav HAVEL stepped down
from office on 2 February 2003 having served exactly 10 years;
parliament finally elected a successor on 28 February 2003 after two
inconclusive elections in January 2003
head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir SPIDLA (since 12 July
2002), Deputy Prime Ministers Bohuslav SOBOTKA (since 20 August
2003), Cyril SVOBODA (since July 2002), Stanislav GROSS (since July
2002), Petr MARES (since July 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
election results: Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February
2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round;
combined votes of both chambers of parliament)
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
last successful election held 28 February 2003 (after earlier
elections held 15 and 24 January 2003 were inconclusive); prime
minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of
Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - ODS 26, KDU-CSL 14, CSSD 11, US 9, KSCM 3, independents 18;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 30.2%, ODS
24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%, other minor
12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 58, KSCM 41, KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU
10
elections: Senate - last held in two rounds 25-26 October and 1-2
November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); Chamber of
Deputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by NA June
2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen
are appointed by the president for a 10-year term
Political parties and leaders:
Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or
KDU-CSL [Miroslav KALOUSEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or
ODA [Michael ZANTOVSKY, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS
[Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
or KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party of
Czechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech National
Social Party of CSNS [Jan SULA, chairman]; Czech Social Democratic
Party or CSSD [Vladimir SPIDLA, chairman]; Freedom Union-Democratic
Union or US-DEU [Petr MARES, chairman]; Quad Coalition [Karel KUHNL,
chairman] (includes KDU-CSL, US, ODA, DEU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions [Richard FALBR]
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin PALOUS
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: (202) 966-8540
telephone: (202) 274-9100
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (2) 5753-0663
FAX: (2) 5753-0583
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue
isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag of
the former Czechoslovakia)
Economy Czech Republic
Economy - overview:
One of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states,
the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession since
mid-1999. Growth in 2000-03 was supported by exports to the EU,
primarily to Germany, and a near doubling of foreign direct
investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role
in underpinning growth as interest rates drop and the availability
of credit cards and mortgages increases. High current account
deficits - averaging around 5% of GDP in the last several years -
could be a persistent problem. Inflation is under control. The EU
put the Czech Republic just behind Poland and Hungary in
preparations for accession, which will give further impetus and
direction to structural reform. Moves to complete banking,
telecommunications, and energy privatization will encourage
additional foreign investment, while intensified restructuring among
large enterprises and banks and improvements in the financial sector
should strengthen output growth. But revival in the European
economies remains essential to stepped-up growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $157.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 41%
services: 55.2% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5.203 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 5%, industry 35%, services 60% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $16.7 billion
expenditures: $18 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)
Industries:
metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass,
armaments
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2002)
Electricity - production:
70.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.1% hydro: 2.9% other: 1% (2001) nuclear: 20%
Electricity - consumption:
55.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
18.92 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
9.38 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
7,419 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
175,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
26,670 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
192,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
17.25 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.892 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
1 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
9.521 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.057 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry
Exports:
$40.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 44%, intermediate manufactures
25%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (2000)
Exports - partners:
Germany 40.2%, Slovakia 7.1%, Austria 5.8%, UK 5.1%, Poland 5%,
France 4% (2002)
Imports:
$43.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 40%, intermediate manufactures
21%, raw materials and fuels 13%, chemicals 11% (2000)
Imports - partners:
Germany 39.1%, Slovakia 6%, Austria 5.6%, Italy 5.4%, France 5.3%,
Poland 4.1%, UK 4.1%, Russia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$23.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$108 million; EU structural adjustment funds (2002)
Currency:
Czech koruna (CZK)
Currency code:
CZK
Exchange rates:
koruny per US dollar - 32.74 (2002), 38.04 (2001), 38.6 (2000),
34.57 (1999), 32.28 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Czech Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.869 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.346 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech
telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;
growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularly
vigorous
domestic: 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber
systems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
(ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals;
trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic
and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1
Globalstar
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)
Radios:
3,159,134 (December 2000)
Television broadcast stations:
150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:
3,405,834 (December 2000)
Internet country code:
.cz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
more than 300 (2000)
Internet users:
2.69 million (2001)
Transportation Czech Republic
Railways:
total: 9,462 km
standard gauge: 9,363 km 1.435-m gauge (1,745 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 99 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
Highways:
total: 55,408 km
paved: 55,408 km (including 499 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways: 303 km note: the Labe (Elbe) is the principal river (2000)
Pipelines:
gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Airports:
144 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 under 914 m: 19 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 100 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 62 (2002)
Heliports: 2 (2002)
Military Czech Republic
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense Force
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,622,192 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,002,202 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 67,777 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1,190.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Czech Republic
Disputes - international:
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of
land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918; individual Sudeten
German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection
with their expulsion after World War II; Austria has minor dispute
with Czech Republic over the Temelin nuclear power plant and
post-World War II treatment of German-speaking minorities
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit
point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of
synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money
laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Denmark
Introduction Denmark
Background:
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European
power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is
participating in the general political and economic integration of
Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973.
However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the
European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic
and Monetary Union (EMU) and issues concerning certain justice and
home affairs.
Geography Denmark
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a
peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major
islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 43,094 sq km
water: 700 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major
islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and
Greenland
land: 42,394 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline:
7,314 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and
sand
Land use: arable land: 55.74% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 44.07% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
4,760 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of
Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are
protected from the sea by a system of dikes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions;
nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and
surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, 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: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of
the Sea
Geography - note:
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and
North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater
Copenhagen
People Denmark
Population:
5,384,384 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 516,872; female 490,543)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,809,138; female 1,762,577)
65 years and over: 15% (male 338,141; female 467,113) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.1 years
male: 38.1 years
female: 40.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
0.28% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
11.52 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 74.48 years
female: 79.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%,
Muslim 2%
Languages:
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small
minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Denmark
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local short form: Danmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Copenhagen
Administrative divisions:
metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2
boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskomunes); Arhus, Bornholm,
Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*,
Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom,
Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg
note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,
which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing
overseas administrative divisions
Independence:
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became
a constitutional monarchy
National holiday:
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed as
the National Day
Constitution:
1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5
June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief
of state
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26
May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27
November 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by
Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 from
Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 2001 (next to be held by November
2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Liberal Party 56, Social Democrats 52, Danish People's Party 22,
Conservative Party 16, Socialist People's Party 12, Social Liberal
Party 9, Christian People's Party 4, Unity List 4; note - does not
include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe
Islands
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian People's Party
[Marianne KARLSMOSE]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as
Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party
[Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Social
Democratic Party [Mogens LYKKETOFT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes
called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Johannes LEBECH,
chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Holger K. NIELSEN]; Red-Green
Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of
Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ulrik Andreas FEDERSPIEL
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: (202) 328-1470
telephone: (202) 234-4300
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart A. BERNSTEIN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: 35 55 31 44
FAX: 35 43 02 23
Flag description:
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that
design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently
adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway,
and Sweden
Economy Denmark
Economy - overview:
This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech
agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry,
extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards,
a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is
a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance
of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the
bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The
government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the
economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase
(a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join the 12 other EU
members in the euro; even so, the Danish Krone remains pegged to the
euro. Given the sluggish state of the European economy, growth in
2003 was a mere 1.1%.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $155.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $28,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
24.7 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.856 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
services 79%, industry 17%, agriculture 4% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $52.9 billion
expenditures: $51.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $500
million (2001 est.)
Industries:
food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing,
chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture and other
wood products, shipbuilding, windmills
Industrial production growth rate:
1.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
35.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 82.7% hydro: 0.1% other: 17.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
32.41 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
8.775 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
8.199 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
346,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
218,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
332,100 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
195,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.23 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
8.38 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
3.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
81.98 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
Exports:
$56.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products,
fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills
Exports - partners:
Germany 17.1%, Sweden 11.6%, UK 7.8%, US 6.8%, France 5.8%, Norway
5.7%, Japan 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$47.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for
industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Germany 22.9%, Sweden 10.7%, UK 8.7%, Netherlands 7.8%, France 6%,
Norway 4.9%, Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$21.7 billion (2000)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.63 billion (1999)
Currency:
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:
DKK
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.89 (2002), 8.32 (2001), 8.08
(2000), 6.98 (1999), 6.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Denmark
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.785 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,444,016 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems
international: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with
Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Faroe
Islands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat,
10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note -
the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for
worldwide Inmarsat access (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
6.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
3.121 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.dk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2000)
Internet users:
3.37 million (2002)
Transportation Denmark
Railways:
total: 3,164 km
standard gauge: 2,324 km 1.435-m gauge (595 km electrified)
note:: total includes 840 km of suburban track (2002)
Highways:
total: 71,591 km
paved: 71,591 km (including 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
417 km
Pipelines:
condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km;
unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia,
Frederikshavn, Hirtshals, Kolding, Odense, Roenne (Bornholm), Vejle
Merchant marine:
total: 282 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,714,557 GRT/8,715,716 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1, Greenland 1, Indonesia 1, Netherlands 1,
Norway 9, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 85, chemical tanker 29, container 77,
liquefied gas 19, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 28, railcar
carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 11, short-sea
passenger 6, specialized tanker 4
Airports:
104 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 76 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 71 (2002)
Military Denmark
Military branches:
Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home
Guard
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,282,315 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,094,611 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 28,198 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.47 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues Denmark
Disputes - international:
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and
the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the
Rockall area); dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands'
fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM; disputes with Iceland,
the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf
boundary outside 200 NM; Faroese are considering proposals for full
independence; uncontested dispute with Canada over Hans Island
sovereignty in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and
Greenland
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Djibouti
Introduction Djibouti
Background:
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in
1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party
state and proceeded to serve three consecutive six-year terms as
president. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990's led to
multi-party elections resulting in President Ismail Omar GUELLEH
attaining office in May 1999. A peace accord in 2001 ended the final
phases of a ten-year uprising by Afar rebels. Djibouti occupies a
very strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and
serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and
leaving the east African highlands. GUELLEH favors close ties to
France, which maintains a significant military presence in the
country.
Geography Djibouti
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between
Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 23,000 sq km
water: 20 sq km
land: 22,980 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the
Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to
Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly
wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa
People Djibouti
Population:
457,130 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 98,796; female 98,202)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 129,492; female 116,953)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,933; female 6,754) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
40.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
19.45 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: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 106.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 98.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 114.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.13 years
male: 41.82 years
female: 44.48 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.56 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.75% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
37,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religions:
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
Government Djibouti
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Djibouti
Administrative divisions:
5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil,
Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:
27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:
multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and
Islamic law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister DILEITA Mohamed Dileita (since 4
March 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 9 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH elected president; percent of
vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 74.4%, IDRIS Moussa Ahmed 25.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats;
members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held NA January
2008)
election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats -
RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic
Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development
Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de
l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress
Assembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; Peoples
Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican
Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union for
Democracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD,
PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (opposition
coalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED]
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye
FAX: (202) 331-0302
telephone: (202) 331-0270
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald YAMAMOTO embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: 35 39 95 FAX: 35 39 40
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with
a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red
five-pointed star in the center
Economy Djibouti
Economy - overview:
The economy is based on service activities connected with the
country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in
northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital
city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall
limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must
be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for
the region and an international transshipment and refueling center.
It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is,
therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support
its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An
unemployment rate of 50% continues to be a major problem. Inflation
is not a concern, however, because of the fixed tie of the franc to
the US dollar. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over
the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high
population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced
with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen
in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to
meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors. Another factor limiting
growth is the negative impact on port activity now that Ethiopia has
more trade route options.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $619 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 15.8% services: 80.7% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
282,000
Labor force - by occupation:
NA%
Unemployment rate:
50% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $135 million
expenditures: $182 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries:
construction, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
180 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
167.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports:
$70 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:
Somalia 56.7%, Yemen 24.4%, Pakistan 4.8%, Ethiopia 4.4%, UAE 4.1%
(2002)
Imports:
$255 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 18.2%, Ethiopia 10.5%, US 9.2%, France 8.6%, China
8.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$366 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$36 million (2001)
Currency:
Djiboutian franc (DJF)
Currency code:
DJF
Exchange rates:
Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.72 (2002), 177.72 (2001),
177.72 (2000), 177.72 (1999), 177.72 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti
are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to
outlying areas of the country
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles,
Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio
relay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
52,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
28,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.dj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
3,300 (2002)
Transportation Djibouti
Railways:
total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2002)
Highways:
total: 2,890 km
paved: 364 km
unpaved: 2,526 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Djibouti
Airports:
13 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Djibouti
Military branches:
Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 107,050 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 63,459 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$26.53 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Djibouti
Disputes - international:
Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with
"Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to
various factions in Somalia including the Somali Transitional
National Government in Mogadishu
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Dominica
Introduction Dominica
Background:
Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by
Europeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native
Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made
the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence,
Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical
administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the
first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office
for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are
the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
Geography Dominica
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and
Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 754 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 754 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
148 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:
rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 16% other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be
expected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its
spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected
by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the
Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and
include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in
the world
People Dominica
Population:
69,655 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 9,807; female 9,571)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 23,024; female 21,768)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,226; female 3,259) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.4 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 28.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.63% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
16.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-16.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 20.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.12 years
male: 71.23 years
female: 77.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.99 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: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:
black, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6%
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)
Government Dominica
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
Government type:
parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth
Capital:
Roseau
Administrative divisions:
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John,
Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul,
Saint Peter
Independence:
3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:
3 November 1978
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicholas LIVERPOOL (since 10 November
2003)
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held
NA October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of
legislative vote - NA%
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES (since 1 October
2000); note - assumed post after death of Prime Minister Roosevelt
DOUGLAS
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21
elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 31 January 2000 (next to be held by 17 July
2005) note - tradition dictates that the election will be held
within five years of the last election, but technically it is five
years from the first seating of parliament (17 April 2000) plus a 90
day grace period
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
-DLP 10, UWP 9, DFP 2
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal
and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges
must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary
Jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:
Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor
Party or DLP [Pierre CHARLES]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison
JAMES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Swinburne LESTRADE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 364-6781 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: (202) 364-6791
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados
Flag description:
green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical
part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal
part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center
of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10
green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent
the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy Dominica
Economy - overview:
The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas,
and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and
international economic developments. Hurricane Luis devastated the
country's banana crop in 1995 after tropical storms wiped out a
quarter of the 1994 crop. The economy subsequently has been fueled
by increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals.
Development of the tourism industry remains difficult however,
because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of
an international airport. Economic growth is sluggish, and
unemployment is greater than 20%. The government has been attempting
to develop an offshore financial sector in order to diversify the
island's production base.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $380 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
25,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%
Unemployment rate:
23% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $73.9 million
expenditures: $84.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001)
Industries:
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate:
-10% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
72.41 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.1% hydro: 52.9% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
67.35 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Exports:
$50 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners:
UK 36.1%, Jamaica 18%, US 7.5%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.4%, Guyana
5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4% (2002)
Imports:
$135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
China 23.9%, US 23.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.9%, South Korea 7.6%,
UK 7.3%, Japan 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:
$161.5 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$24.4 million (1995)
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7
(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Dominica
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
461 (1996)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fully automatic network
international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to
Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint
Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
46,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (however, there is one cable television company) (1997)
Televisions:
6,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.dm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Dominica
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Military Dominica
Military branches:
Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (including Special Service
Unit, Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues Dominica
Disputes - international:
protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,
which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a
large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe;
minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak,
making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Dominican Republic
Introduction Dominican Republic
Background:
Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the
island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of
the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized
French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804
became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo
Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was
conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally
attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. A legacy of
unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its
subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin
BALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for
most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed
elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then,
regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition
candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had
one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past
decade.
Geography Dominican Republic
Location:
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between
the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:
19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 48,730 sq km
land: 48,380 sq km
water: 350 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Haiti 360 km
Coastline:
1,288 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 6 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal
variation in rainfall
Terrain:
rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use: arable land: 21.08% permanent crops: 9.92% other: 69% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
2,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;
deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the
Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
People Dominican Republic
Population:
8,715,602 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,497,777; female 1,431,104)
15-64 years: 61.2% (male 2,719,505; female 2,614,495)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 212,045; female 240,676) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.5 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 23.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.36% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
23.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.43 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 34.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.96 years
male: 66.41 years
female: 69.58 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,800 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:
white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 84.6%
female: 84.8% (2003 est.)
Government Dominican Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: none
Government type:
representative democracy
Capital:
Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions:
29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*
(distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,
Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia,
La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor
Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata,
Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro
de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence:
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution:
28 November 1966
Legal system:
based on French civil codes
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons
regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16
August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since
16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16
August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2000
(next to be held NA May 2004)
election results: Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez elected
president; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD)
49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de
Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held NA May
2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held
NA May 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council
made up of members of the legislative and executive branches with
the president presiding)
Political parties and leaders:
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna];
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hatuey DE CAMPS]; Social
Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Eduardo ESTRELLA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
International organization participation:
ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA
(observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo GUILIANI Cury consulate(s): Mobile and Ponce (Puerto Rico) consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) FAX: (202) 265-8057 telephone: (202) 332-6280 chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: (809) 221-2171 FAX: (809) 686-7437
Flag description:
a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag
into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red,
and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of
arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a
palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield
a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God,
Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA
appears on a red ribbon
Economy Dominican Republic
Economy - overview:
The Dominican Republic's economy experienced dramatic growth over
the last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by Hurricane
Georges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarily
as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the
service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest
employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country
suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the
population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest
10% enjoy nearly 40% of national income. Growth probably will slow
in 2003 with reduced tourism and expected low growth in the US
economy, the source of 87% of export revenues.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $53.78 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 34% services: 55% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.3 million - 2.6 million
Labor force - by occupation: services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.9 billion
expenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1
billion (2001 est.)
Industries:
tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles,
cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
9.186 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 7.6% other: 0.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
8.543 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Exports: $5.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods
Exports - partners:
US 85%, Canada 1.6%, UK 1.6% (2002)
Imports:
$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and
pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
US 51.5%, Venezuela 9.6%, Mexico 5.1%, Spain 4% (2002)
Debt - external:
$4.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$239.6 million (1995)
Currency:
Dominican peso (DOP)
Currency code:
DOP
Exchange rates:
Dominican pesos per US dollar - 18.61 (2002), 16.95 (2001), 16.42
(2000), 16.03 (1999), 15.27 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Dominican Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
709,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
130,149 (1997)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave
radio relay network
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
1.44 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
25 (1997)
Televisions:
770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.do
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
24 (2000)
Internet users:
186,000 (2002)
Transportation Dominican Republic
Railways:
total: 1,503 km
standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge
note:: 986 km also operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m, 0.889-m,
and 0.762-m gauges (2002)
narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge
Highways: total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)
Waterways:
none
Pipelines:
crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports and harbors:
Barahona, La Romana, Manzanillo, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de
Macoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Dominican Republic
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,319,419 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,453,705 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 89,073 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$180 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Dominican Republic
Disputes - international: despite efforts to control illegal migration, destitute Haitians continue to cross into the Dominican Republic
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the
Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial
money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the
Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@East Timor
Introduction East Timor
Background:
The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent from
Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by
Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into
Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. A campaign of
pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an
estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30
August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people of
East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. During 1999-2001,
pro-integrationist militias - supported by Indonesia - conducted
indiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was
internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's
newest democracy.
Geography East Timor
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -
East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the
Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of
Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline: 706 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: NA NM extended fishing zone: NA NM territorial sea: NA NM exclusive fishing zone: NA NM continental shelf: NA NM exclusive economic zone: NA NM
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:
mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use: arable land: NA% other: NA% permanent crops: NA%
Irrigated land:
1,065 sq km (est.)
Natural hazards:
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical
cyclones
Environment - current issues:
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
NA
Geography - note:
Timor comes from the Malay word for "Orient;" the island of Timor
is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost
of the Lesser Sunda Islands
People East Timor
Population:
997,853
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003
est.)
Age structure:
NA (2003 est.)
Median age: total: 19.7 years female: 19.6 years (2002) male: 19.8 years
Population growth rate:
2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
27.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 50.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 57.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.2 years
female: 67.55 years (2003 est.)
male: 62.97 years
Total fertility rate:
3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist,
Animist (1992 est.)
Languages:
Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English
note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole,
Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48% (2001)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government East Timor
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form: East Timor
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: Portuguese Timor
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum];
Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Dili
Administrative divisions:
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro
(Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos),
Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence:
28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from
Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international
recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May
2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is
able to veto some legislation; he often is referred to as Xanana
GUSMAO
head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20
May 2002)
cabinet: Council of State
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007);
after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a
precedent for the future
election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent
of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL
17.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum
requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of
office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an
exceptional basis
elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD
8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT
2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by
party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT
2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National
Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the
Judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do
AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio
XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da
Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];
Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM
[leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO];
Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];
Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of the Mountain
Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA
[Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao
CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA];
Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular
Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IMF, Interpol, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES
consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York)
(2003)
FAX: 202 965-1517
telephone: 202 965-1515
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy: Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili
mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington,
DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472
FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag description:
red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to
the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of the
black triangle
Economy East Timor
Economy - overview:
In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East
Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence
militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next three
years, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000
peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to
substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By
mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The
country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of
infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil
administration. One promising long-term project is the planned
development of oil resources in nearby waters.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
18% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25.4% industry: 17.2% services: 57.4% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
42% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38 (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
50% (including underemployment)
Budget:
revenues: $36 million
expenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2003 est.)
Industries:
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:
8.5%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Exports: $8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners:
NA
Imports:
$237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mainly food (2001)
Imports - partners:
NA
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
IDR
Exchange rates:
see US dollar
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications East Timor
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.tp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation East Timor
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,800 km paved: 428 km unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Waterways:
NA
Pipelines:
NA
Ports and harbors:
NA
Merchant marine: total: NA ships by type: NA
Airports:
8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,427 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:
1 (2002)
Military East Timor
Military branches:
The East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a
light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to
develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve
personnel over the next five years
Military manpower - military age:
18-21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
NA
Military manpower - fit for military service:
NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%
Transnational Issues East Timor
Disputes - international:
East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets regularly to survey
and delimit the land boundary; some East Timor refugees delay return
from camps in Indonesia; maritime delimitation and resource-sharing
agreements signed with Australia resolved dispute over "Timor Gap"
hydrocarbon reserves, but maritime agreement with Indonesia awaits
further discussions
Illicit drugs:
NA
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Ecuador
Introduction Ecuador
Background:
The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that
emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being
Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost
territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border
war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999.
Geography Ecuador
Location:
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator,
between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 283,560 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
water: 6,720 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,237 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and
Galapagos Islands
territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations;
tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain:
coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and
flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.69% permanent crops: 5.15% other: 89.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
8,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, 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:
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
People Ecuador
Population:
13,710,234 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.9% (male 2,430,303; female 2,351,166)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 4,116,289; female 4,198,667)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 284,082; female 329,727) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22 years
female: 23 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.52 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 37.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.89 years
male: 69.06 years
female: 74.86 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,700 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish
and others 7%, black 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 est.)
Government Ecuador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Quito
Administrative divisions:
22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,
Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,
Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,
Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:
24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:
10 August 1998
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages
18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January 2003);
Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection); election
last held 20 October 2002; runoff election held 24 November 2002
(next to be held NA October 2006)
head of government: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January
2003); Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
election results: results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election -
Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ
54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats;
members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held NA October
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD
5, DP 4, PS 3, independents 7; note - defections by members of
National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in
the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (new justices are elected by the
full Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM];
Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos]; National Action
Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [leader NA]; Pachakutik
Movement [Miguel LLUCO]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [leader NA];
Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular
Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista
Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE
[Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC
[Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE
[Leonidas IZA, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS
[F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of
Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of
Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA
CRUZ, president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]
International organization participation:
CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul GANGOTENA Rivadeneira
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
FAX: (202) 667-3482
telephone: (202) 234-7200
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEY
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
telephone: (2) 256-2890
FAX: (2) 250-2052
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red
with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag;
similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear
a coat of arms
Economy Ecuador
Economy - overview:
Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas.
Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas,
and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a
substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade
Organization (WTrO) in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of
its accession commitments. The aftermath of El Nino and depressed
oil market of 1997-98 drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in
1999. The beginning of 1999 saw the banking sector collapse, which
helped precipitate an unprecedented default on external loans later
that year. Continued economic instability drove a 70% depreciation
of the currency throughout 1999, which forced a desperate government
to "dollarize" the currency regime in 2000. The move stabilized the
currency, but did not stave off the ouster of the government.
Gustavo NOBOA, who assumed the presidency in January 2000, has
managed to pass substantial economic reforms and mend relations with
international financial institutions. Ecuador completed its first
standby agreement since 1986 when the IMF Board approved a 10
December 2001 disbursement of $96 million, the final installment of
a $300 million standby credit agreement. In February 2003, newly
installed president Lucio GUTIERREZ faced a budget gap and massive
foreign debt. He has pledged to use oil revenues to pay off debt and
is seeking additional IMF support.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $42.65 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 33% services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 33.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
3.7 million (urban)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.7%; note - widespread underemployment (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.6 billion
expenditures: planned $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products,
wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
421,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.358 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
106.5 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca),
plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy
products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports:
$4.9 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish
Exports - partners:
US 39%, Colombia 5.6%, South Korea 5.1%, Germany 5%, Italy 4.4%
(2002)
Imports:
$6 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, fuels; consumer
goods
Imports - partners:
US 28.6%, Colombia 14.4%, Japan 6%, Chile 4.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
$14.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$120 million (2001)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
sucres per US dollar - 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001), 24,988.4
(2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.57 (1998)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,115,272 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
384,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Radios:
5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
2.5 million (2001)
Internet country code:
.ec
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
31 (2001)
Internet users:
328,000 (2002)
Transportation Ecuador
Railways: total: 966 km narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 43,197 km paved: 8,164 km unpaved: 35,033 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,500 km
Pipelines:
gas 71 km; oil 1,575 km; refined products 1,185 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San
Lorenzo
Merchant marine:
total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 239,276 GRT/392,048 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Chile 1, Greece 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,
passenger 3, petroleum tanker 23, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
205 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 61 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 18 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 144 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 113 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Ecuador
Military branches:
Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,555,068 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,395,178 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 137,433 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$720 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Ecuador
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and
Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit
narcotics; dollarization may raise the volume of money-laundering
activity, especially along the border with Colombia; increased
activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and
Colombian insurgents
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@Egypt
Introduction Egypt
Background:
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled
with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west,
allowed for the development of one of the world's great
civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C. and a series
of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last
native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were
replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who
introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who
ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the
Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the
conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the
completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important
world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.
Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of
Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman
Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in
1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The
completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake
Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the
agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the
largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on
the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The
government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium
through economic reform and massive investment in communications and
physical infrastructure.
Geography Egypt
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and
the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the
Asian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:
27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,001,450 sq km
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,665 km
border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km,
Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline:
2,450 km
Maritime claims: 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:
desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain:
vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone,
gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.68% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
33,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides;
hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms,
sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands;
increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification;
oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;
other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and
industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources
away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid
growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and
remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link
between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition
to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics;
dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues;
prone to influxes of refugees
People Egypt
Population:
74,718,797 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.9% (male 12,964,852; female 12,346,808)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 23,375,037; female 22,865,190)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 1,359,685; female 1,807,225) (2003
est.)
Median age: total: 23.1 years male: 22.8 years female: 23.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
1.88% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
24.36 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.23 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 35.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 36.02 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.41 years
male: 67.94 years
female: 73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups:
Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%,
Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and
French) 1%
Religions:
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated
classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Egypt
Country name:
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Cairo
Administrative divisions:
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah,
Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al
Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al
Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways,
Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash
Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence:
28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:
11 September 1971
Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;
judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees
validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Atef Mohammed ABEID (since 5
October 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a
six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,
popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999
(next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's
nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term
Legislative branch:
bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis
al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by
the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory
Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative
role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the
president; members serve NA-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19
October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November
2005); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP
88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP
7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2;
Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents
1%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK] - governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA] note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government
Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACC, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU,
EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC,
OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: (202) 244-4319
telephone: (202) 895-5400
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCH
embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900
telephone: (2) 797-3300
FAX: (2) 797-3200
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing
the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in
Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen,
which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two green stars, and to the flag of Iraq, which has three
green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line
centered in the white band
Economy Egypt
Economy - overview:
Egypt improved its macroeconomic performance throughout most of the
last decade by following IMF advice on fiscal, monetary, and
structural reform policies. As a result, Egypt managed to tame
inflation, slash budget deficits, and attract more foreign
investment. In the past four years, however, the pace of reform has
slackened, and excessive spending on national infrastructure
projects has widened budget deficits again. Lower foreign exchange
earnings since 1998 resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and
periodic dollar shortages. Monetary pressures have increased since
11 September 2001 because of declines in tourism and Suez Canal
tolls, and Egypt has devalued the pound several times in the past
year. The development of a gas export market is a major bright spot
for future growth prospects. In the short term, regional tensions
will continue to affect tourism and hold back prospects for economic
expansion.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $289.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 34% services: 49% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 22.9% (FY 95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.9 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
20.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 29%, industry 22%, services 49% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $21.5 billion
expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9
billion (2001)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons,
construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.308 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.264 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
Exports:
$7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,
chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 18.3%, Italy 13.7%, UK 8.4% (2002)
Imports:
$15.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 16.9%, Germany 7.9%, Italy 6.7%, France 6.5%, China 5%, UK 4.1%
(2002)
Debt - external:
$30.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)
Currency:
Egyptian pound (EGP)
Currency code:
EGP
Exchange rates:
Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 4.5 (2002), 3.97 (2001), 3.47
(2000), 3.4 (1999), 3.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,971,500 (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
380,000 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading
during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular
service are available
domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,
Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine
cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to
Israel; a participant in Medarabtel and a signatory to Project
Oxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cable system)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:
20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
98 (September 1995)
Televisions:
7.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.eg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
600,000 (2002)
Transportation Egypt
Railways: total: 5,105 km standard gauge: 5,105 km 1.435-m gauge (42 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
3,500 km
note: includes the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and
numerous smaller canals in the delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including
approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Pipelines:
condensate 327 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,145 km; liquid
petroleum gas 382 km; oil 5,726 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; water 62 km
(2003)
Ports and harbors:
Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta,
Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine:
total: 170 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,284,197 GRT/1,907,734 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 3, Monaco 1,
Ukraine 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 20, cargo 50, container 5, liquefied gas 1,
passenger 63, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea
passenger 3
Airports:
89 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
Heliports:
2 (2002)
Military Egypt
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 19,895,370 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,867,160 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 743,305 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.04 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Egypt
Disputes - international:
Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the triangular areas
that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the
22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence - Egypt is
economically developing the "Hala'ib triangle" north of the Treaty
line
Illicit drugs:
transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and
opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for
Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax
banking regulations
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@El Salvador
Introduction El Salvador
Background:
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the
Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost
about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the
government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for
military and political reforms.
Geography El Salvador
Location:
Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 21,040 sq km
water: 320 sq km
land: 20,720 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 NM