← The 2003 CIA World Factbook, Volume 2
@2001 Gdp (part 9)
Togo
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1 (2002 est.)
Tokelau
none (2002 est.)
Tonga
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 250,020 GRT/350,055 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, chemical tanker 4, container 1,
liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 2, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 1, Australia 4, Austria 1, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 1,
Djibouti 1, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Lebanon 2, Liberia 2, Marshall
Islands 2, Morocco 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, Sao
Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 1, Sweden 1,
Switzerland 3, Syria 5, Ukraine 1, UAE 16, US 4 (2002 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,032
GRT/5,106 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
Tunisia
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 139,990 GRT/148,394 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
(2002 est.)
Turkey
total: 525 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,306,506 GRT/8,424,837
DWT
ships by type: bulk 125, cargo 229, chemical tanker 44, combination
bulk 3, combination ore/oil 3, container 34, liquefied gas 6,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 4, roll
on/roll off 26, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 5
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Belize 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 2, Greece 1, Italy 1,
Thailand 1, UK 11 (2002 est.)
Turkmenistan
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT
ships by type: combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
none (2002 est.)
Tuvalu
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,199 GRT/56,187 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 5 (2002 est.)
Uganda
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT
ships by type: roll on/roll off 3
note: these ships are in cargo and passenger (ferry) service on
Uganda's inland waterways (2002 est.)
Ukraine
total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 633,932 GRT/640,743 DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 89, container 5, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 14, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 10, railcar
carrier 2, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Panama 1, Russia 4, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 1 (2002 est.)
United Arab Emirates
total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 815,428
GRT/1,207,346 DWT
ships by type: cargo 12, chemical tanker 4, container 7, liquefied
gas 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 6,
short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 2, Italy 1, Kuwait 2 (2002 est.)
United Kingdom
total: 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,752,179
GRT/6,963,112 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 43, chemical tanker 19, combination
ore/oil 1, container 95, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 1,
passenger 18, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 50, refrigerated
cargo 3, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 8, specialized
tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Bermuda 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 21, Germany 6, Greece 3,
Hong Kong 4, Italy 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Russia 1,
South Africa 2, Sweden 11, Taiwan 2, US 5 (2002 est.)
United States
total: 348 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 9,414,676
GRT/12,207,346 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 71, cargo 26, chemical tanker
13, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 79,
freighter 15, heavy lift carrier 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 73, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 46, short-sea
passenger 2, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 9
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Canada 4, Denmark 15, France 1, Germany 1,
Netherlands 3, Norway 7, Puerto Rico 4, Singapore 11, Sweden 1,
United Kingdom 3; also, the US owns 549 additional ships (1,000 GRT
or over) totaling 29,616,347 DWT that operate under the registries
of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda,
Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, Hong
Kong (China), Indonesia, Isle of Man, Italy, Liberia, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Norway, Norway (NIS), Panama, Peru,
Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Tonga, UK,
Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna (2002 est.)
Uruguay
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/9,775 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1,
roll on/roll off 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Argentina 4, Greece 1 (2002 est.)
Vanuatu
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,463 GRT/1,552,813
DWT
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 5, combination bulk 3, container 3,
liquefied gas 2, multi-function large-load carrier 1, refrigerated
cargo 7, vehicle carrier 5
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 3, Canada 2, China 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4,
Netherlands 1, NZ 5, Panama 1, Poland 1, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 2,
Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Venezuela
total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 714,073 GRT/1,256,667
DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, roll
on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, UK 1, US 2 (2002 est.)
Vietnam
total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,054,423 GRT/1,588,732
DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 128, chemical tanker 1, combination
bulk 1, container 9, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 21,
refrigerated cargo 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Cambodia 1, Japan 1, Singapore 1, UK 2 (2002 est.)
Virgin Islands
none (2002 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 85,572
GRT/9,004 DWT
ships by type: passenger 4
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 3, US 1 (2002 est.)
Yemen
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,623 GRT/23,752 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Hong Kong 2 (2002 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@2109 National holiday
Afghanistan
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Albania
Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Algeria
Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
American Samoa
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Andorra
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Angola
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Anguilla
Anguilla Day, 30 May
Antigua and Barbuda
Independence Day (National Day), 1 November
(1981)
Argentina
Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Armenia
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Aruba
Flag Day, 18 March
Australia
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Austria
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the
State Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of
occupation and the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
Azerbaijan
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaidzhan, 28
May (1918)
Bahamas, The
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Bahrain
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is
the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date
of independence from British protection
Bangladesh
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971
is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is
Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of
Bangladesh
Barbados
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Belarus
Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the
date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the
date of independence from the Soviet Union
Belgium
21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Belize
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Benin
National Day, 1 August (1960)
Bermuda
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Bhutan
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king),
17 December (1907)
Bolivia
Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Day, 25 November (1943)
Botswana
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Brazil
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
British Virgin Islands
Territory Day, 1 July
Brunei
National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was
the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date
of independence from British protection
Bulgaria
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Burkina Faso
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Burma
Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Burundi
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Cambodia
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Cameroon
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Canada
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Cape Verde
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Cayman Islands
Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Central African Republic
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Chad
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Chile
Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
China
Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China,
1 October (1949)
Christmas Island
NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA
Colombia
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Comoros
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Congo, Republic of the
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Cook Islands
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Costa Rica
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Cote d'Ivoire
Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Croatia
Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Cuba
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)
Cyprus
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot
area celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Czech Republic
Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Denmark
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally
viewed as the National Day
Djibouti
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Dominica
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Dominican Republic
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
East Timor
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Ecuador
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Egypt
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
El Salvador
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Equatorial Guinea
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Eritrea
Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
Estonia
Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February
1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 20 August 1991
was the date of reindependence from the Soviet Union
Ethiopia
National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Faroe Islands
Olaifest, 29 July
Fiji
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Finland
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
France
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
French Guiana
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
French Polynesia
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Gabon
Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March
(1968)
Gambia, The
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Georgia
Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the
date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of
independence from the Soviet Union
Germany
Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Ghana
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Gibraltar
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the
national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go
with Spain
Greece
Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Greenland
June 21 (longest day)
Grenada
Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Guadeloupe
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Guam
Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Guatemala
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Guernsey
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Guinea
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Guinea-Bissau
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Guyana
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Haiti
Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Holy See (Vatican City)
Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22
October (1978)
Honduras
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Hong Kong
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's
Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is
celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment
Day
Hungary
Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August
Iceland
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
India
Republic Day, 26 January (1950)
Indonesia
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Iran
Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
note: additional holidays celebrated widely in Iran include
Revolution Day, 11 February (1979); Noruz (New Year's Day), 21
March; Constitutional Monarchy Day, 5 August (1925)
Iraq
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968)
Ireland
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Israel
Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared
independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and
the holiday may occur in April or May
Italy
Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Jamaica
Independence Day, first Monday in August (1962)
Japan
Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Jersey
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Jordan
Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Kazakhstan
Republic Day, 25 October (1990)
Kenya
Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Kiribati
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Korea, North
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Korea, South
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Kuwait
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Kyrgyzstan
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Laos
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Latvia
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918
is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is
the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Lebanon
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Lesotho
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Liberia
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Libya
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Liechtenstein
Assumption Day, 15 August
Lithuania
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February
1918 is the date of independence from German, Austrian, Prussian,
and Russian occupation, 11 March 1990 is the date of independence
from the Soviet Union
Luxembourg
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Macau
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's
Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is
celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Uprising Day, 2 August
(1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and Ilinden
Madagascar
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Malawi
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Malaysia
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Maldives
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Mali
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Malta
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Man, Isle of
Tynwald Day, 5 July
Marshall Islands
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Martinique
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Mauritania
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Mauritius
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Mayotte
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Mexico
Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Micronesia, Federated States of
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Moldova
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Monaco
National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November
Mongolia
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Montserrat
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June
(1926)
Morocco
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30
July (1999)
Mozambique
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Namibia
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Nauru
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Nepal
Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)
Netherlands
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909
and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980),
30 April
Netherlands Antilles
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA
in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX
in 1980), 30 April
New Caledonia
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
New Zealand
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Nicaragua
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Niger
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Nigeria
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Niue
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Norfolk Island
Pitcairners Arrival Day, 8 June (1856)
Northern Mariana Islands
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Norway
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814); note - on 14 January 1814
Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden; resisting Swedish domination,
Norwegians adopted a new constitution four months later; on 14
August 1814 Norway was proclaimed independent but in union with
Sweden; on 7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden
dissolved
Oman
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Pakistan
Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
Palau
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Panama
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Papua New Guinea
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Paraguay
Independence Day, 14 May (1811)
Peru
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Philippines
Independence Day (from Spain), 12 June (1898); note - 12
June 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 4 July 1946 is the
date of independence from the US
Pitcairn Islands
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in
June (1926)
Poland
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Portugal
Portugal Day, 10 June (1580)
Puerto Rico
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico
Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Qatar
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Reunion
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Romania
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December
(1918)
Russia
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Rwanda
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Saint Helena
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June
(1926)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Saint Lucia
Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Samoa
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January
1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered
UN trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is
celebrated
San Marino
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (301)
Sao Tome and Principe
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Saudi Arabia
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Senegal
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Serbia and Montenegro
National Day, 27 April
Seychelles
Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Sierra Leone
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Singapore
Independence Day, 9 August (1965)
Slovakia
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Slovenia
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Solomon Islands
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Somalia
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26
June (1960) in Somaliland
South Africa
Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Liberation Day, 14 June
(1982)
Spain
Hispanic Day, 12 October
Sri Lanka
Independence Day, 4 February (1948)
Sudan
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Suriname
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Svalbard
NA
Swaziland
Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Sweden
Flag Day, 6 June
Switzerland
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Syria
Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Taiwan
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10
October (1911)
Tajikistan
Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Tanzania
Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
Thailand
Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)
Togo
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Tokelau
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Tonga
Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
Trinidad and Tobago
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Tunisia
Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
Turkey
Independence Day, 29 October (1923)
Turkmenistan
Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Turks and Caicos Islands
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Tuvalu
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Uganda
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Ukraine
Independence Day, 24 August (1991); the date of 22 January
(1918), the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet
Russia), is now celebrated as Unity Day
United Arab Emirates
Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
United Kingdom
Official Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, celebrated
on the second Saturday in June (1926)
United States
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Uruguay
Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Uzbekistan
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Vanuatu
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Venezuela
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Vietnam
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Virgin Islands
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Wallis and Futuna
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Yemen
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Zambia
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Zimbabwe
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@2110 Nationality
Afghanistan
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan
Albania
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian
Algeria
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian
American Samoa
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Andorra
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Angola
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Anguilla
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Antigua and Barbuda
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Argentina
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine
Armenia
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Aruba
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Australia
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
Austria
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Azerbaijan
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Bahamas, The
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
Bahrain
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Bangladesh
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi
Barbados
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Belarus
noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian
Belgium
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Belize
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Benin
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Bermuda
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Bhutan
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Bolivia
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian
Bosnia and Herzegovina
noun: Bosnian(s)
adjective: Bosnian
Botswana
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Brazil
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
British Virgin Islands
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander
Brunei
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Bulgaria
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
Burkina Faso
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Burma
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese
Burundi
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundian
Cambodia
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Cameroon
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian
Canada
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
Cape Verde
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Cayman Islands
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Central African Republic
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Chad
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian
Chile
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean
China
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Christmas Island
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander
Colombia
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian
Comoros
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
noun: Congolese (singular and
plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Congo, Republic of the
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Cook Islands
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Costa Rica
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Cote d'Ivoire
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian
Croatia
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian
Cuba
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Cyprus
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Czech Republic
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech
Denmark
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Djibouti
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Dominica
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Dominican Republic
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
East Timor
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ecuador
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Egypt
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian
El Salvador
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Equatorial Guinea
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Eritrea
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Estonia
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethiopia
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Faroe Islands
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese
Fiji
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Finland
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
France
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
French Guiana
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese
French Polynesia
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian
Gabon
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Gambia, The
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Gaza Strip
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Georgia
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Germany
noun: German(s)
adjective: German
Ghana
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Gibraltar
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Greece
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Greenland
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Grenada
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Guadeloupe
noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe
Guam
noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian
Guatemala
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
Guernsey
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Guinea
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Guinea-Bissau
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Guyana
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese
Haiti
noun: Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian
Holy See (Vatican City)
noun: none
adjective: none
Honduras
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran
Hong Kong
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Hungary
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Iceland
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
India
noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian
Indonesia
noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian
Iran
noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian
Iraq
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi
Ireland
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective
plural)
adjective: Irish
Israel
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli
Italy
noun: Italian(s)
adjective: Italian
Jamaica
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Japan
noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese
Jersey
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Jordan
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Kazakhstan
noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani
Kenya
noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan
Kiribati
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Korea, North
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Korea, South
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Kuwait
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti
Kyrgyzstan
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Laos
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Latvia
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Lebanon
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Lesotho
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Liberia
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Libya
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Liechtenstein
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Lithuania
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Luxembourg
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Macau
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Madagascar
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Malawi
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Malaysia
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Maldives
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Mali
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Malta
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Man, Isle of
noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx
Marshall Islands
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Martinique
noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Mauritania
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Mauritius
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Mayotte
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran
Mexico
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican
Micronesia, Federated States of
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Moldova
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Monaco
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Mongolia
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Montserrat
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Morocco
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan
Mozambique
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Namibia
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian
Nauru
noun: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan
Nepal
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Netherlands
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch
Netherlands Antilles
noun: Dutch Antillean(s)
adjective: Dutch Antillean
New Caledonia
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian
New Zealand
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Nicaragua
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Niger
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Nigeria
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian
Niue
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean
Norfolk Island
noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Northern Mariana Islands
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Norway
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian
Oman
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Pakistan
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Palau
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan
Panama
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
Papua New Guinea
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Paraguay
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Peru
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
Philippines
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Pitcairn Islands
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Poland
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Portugal
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese
Puerto Rico
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Qatar
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Reunion
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese
Romania
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Russia
noun: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian
Rwanda
noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan
Saint Helena
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
Saint Kitts and Nevis
noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Saint Lucia
noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or
Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Samoa
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
San Marino
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Sao Tome and Principe
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Saudi Arabia
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Senegal
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese
Serbia and Montenegro
noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Seychelles
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
Sierra Leone
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean
Singapore
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Slovakia
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Slovenia
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Solomon Islands
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Somalia
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali
South Africa
noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African
Spain
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish
Sri Lanka
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Sudan
noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese
Suriname
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
Swaziland
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Sweden
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Switzerland
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Syria
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Taiwan
noun: Chinese/Taiwanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese/Taiwanese
Tajikistan
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Tanzania
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian
Thailand
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Togo
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Tokelau
noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Tonga
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Trinidad and Tobago
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Tunisia
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Turkey
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish
Turkmenistan
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen
Turks and Caicos Islands
noun: none
adjective: none
Tuvalu
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan
Uganda
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Ukraine
noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective: Ukrainian
United Arab Emirates
noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati
United Kingdom
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British
United States
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Uruguay
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Uzbekistan
noun: Uzbek(s)
adjective: Uzbek
Vanuatu
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Venezuela
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan
Vietnam
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese
Virgin Islands
noun: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander
Wallis and Futuna noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
West Bank
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Western Sahara
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Yemen
noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective: Yemeni
Zambia
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
Zimbabwe
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@2111 Natural resources
Afghanistan
natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc,
barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
semiprecious stones
Albania
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber,
nickel, hydropower
Algeria
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead,
zinc
American Samoa
pumice, pumicite
Andorra
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Angola
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar,
gold, bauxite, uranium
Anguilla
salt, fish, lobster
Antarctica
iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and
other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small
uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish,
and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries
Antigua and Barbuda
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Arctic Ocean
sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals
(seals and whales)
Argentina
fertile plains of the Pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper,
iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Armenia
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Aruba
NEGL; white sandy beaches
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
fish
Atlantic Ocean
oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and
whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic
nodules, precious stones
Australia
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum
Austria
iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite,
copper, hydropower
Azerbaijan
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals,
alumina
Bahamas, The
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Bahrain
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Baker Island
guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and
aquatic wildlife
Bangladesh
natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Barbados
petroleum, fish, natural gas
Bassas da India
none
Belarus
forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural
gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Belgium
coal, natural gas
Belize
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Benin
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Bermuda
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Bhutan
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Bolivia
tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony,
silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
Bosnia and Herzegovina
coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, forests,
copper, chromium, lead, zinc, hydropower
Botswana
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal,
iron ore, silver
Bouvet Island
none
Brazil
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates,
platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
British Indian Ocean Territory
coconuts, fish, sugarcane
British Virgin Islands
NEGL
Brunei
petroleum, natural gas, timber
Bulgaria
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Burkina Faso
manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold,
antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Burma
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten,
lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,
hydropower
Burundi
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper,
platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Cambodia
timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates,
hydropower potential
Cameroon
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Canada
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum,
natural gas, hydropower
Cape Verde
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish
Cayman Islands
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Central African Republic
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil,
hydropower
Chad
petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium,
natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Chile
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals,
molybdenum, hydropower
China
coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin,
tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite,
aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Christmas Island
phosphate, beaches
Clipperton Island
fish
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
fish
Colombia
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold,
copper, emeralds, hydropower
Comoros
NEGL
Congo, Democratic Republic of the cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber
Congo, Republic of the petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas, hydropower
Cook Islands
NEGL
Coral Sea Islands
NEGL
Costa Rica
hydropower
Cote d'Ivoire
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper, hydropower
Croatia
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium,
natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Cuba
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber,
silica, petroleum, arable land
Cyprus
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay
earth pigment
Czech Republic
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Denmark
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel
and sand
Djibouti
geothermal areas
Dominica
timber, hydropower, arable land
Dominican Republic
nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
East Timor
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Ecuador
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Egypt
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese,
limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
El Salvador
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Equatorial Guinea
oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits
of gold, manganese, uranium, titanium, iron ore
Eritrea
gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural
gas, fish
Estonia
oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand,
dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Ethiopia
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural
gas, hydropower
Europa Island
NEGL
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Faroe Islands
fish, whales, hydropower
Fiji
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Finland
timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
France
coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, fish
French Guiana
bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar,
kaolin, fish
French Polynesia
timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
fish, crayfish
Gabon
petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore,
hydropower
Gambia, The
fish
Gaza Strip
arable land, natural gas
Georgia
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper,
minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for
important tea and citrus growth
Germany
iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper,
natural gas, salt, nickel, arable land
Ghana
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish,
rubber, hydropower
Gibraltar
NEGL
Glorioso Islands
guano, coconuts
Greece
bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower
potential
Greenland
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum,
uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Grenada
timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Guadeloupe
cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Guam
fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Guatemala
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Guernsey
cropland
Guinea
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Guinea-Bissau
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited
deposits of petroleum
Guyana
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Haiti
bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
fish
Holy See (Vatican City)
none
Honduras
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore,
antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
Hong Kong
outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Howland Island
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife
Hungary
bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Iceland
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
India
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore,
manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas,
diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land
Indian Ocean
oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel
aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
Indonesia
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite,
copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Iran
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,
manganese, zinc, sulfur
Iraq
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Ireland
zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone,
dolomite, peat, silver
Israel
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock,
magnesium bromide, clays, sand
Italy
mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, coal, arable land
Jamaica
bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Jan Mayen
none
Japan
negligible mineral resources, fish
Jarvis Island
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife
Jersey
arable land
Johnston Atoll
guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890,
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Jordan
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Juan de Nova Island
guano deposits and other fertilizers
Kazakhstan
major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead,
zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Kenya
gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets,
wildlife, hydropower
Kingman Reef
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Kiribati
phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Korea, North
coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron
ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Korea, South
coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower
potential
Kuwait
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Kyrgyzstan
abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and
rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas;
other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Laos
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Latvia
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable
land
Lebanon
limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a
water-deficit region, arable land
Lesotho
water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and
other minerals
Liberia
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Libya
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Liechtenstein
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Lithuania
peat, arable land
Luxembourg
iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Macau
NEGL
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
chromium, lead, zinc,
manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur,
timber, arable land
Madagascar
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar
sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Malawi
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of
uranium, coal, and bauxite
Malaysia
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas,
bauxite
Maldives
fish
Mali
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited
Malta
limestone, salt, arable land
Man, Isle of
none
Marshall Islands coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Martinique
coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Mauritania
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil,
fish
Mauritius
arable land, fish
Mayotte
NEGL
Mexico
petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas,
timber
Micronesia, Federated States of
forests, marine products,
deep-seabed minerals
Midway Islands
wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Moldova
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Monaco
none
Mongolia
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin,
nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron, phosphate
Montserrat
NEGL
Morocco
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Mozambique
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum,
graphite
Namibia
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium,
cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Nauru
phosphates, fish
Navassa Island
guano
Nepal
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small
deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Netherlands
natural gas, petroleum, arable land
Netherlands Antilles
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
New Caledonia
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold,
lead, copper
New Zealand
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower,
gold, limestone
Nicaragua
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Niger
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum
Nigeria
natural gas, petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
limestone, lead, zinc, arable land
Niue
fish, arable land
Norfolk Island
fish
Northern Mariana Islands
arable land, fish
Norway
petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore,
zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
Oman
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,
gypsum, natural gas
Pacific Ocean
oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and
gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Pakistan
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum,
poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Palau
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products,
deep-seabed minerals
Palmyra Atoll
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Panama
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Papua New Guinea
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil,
fisheries
Paracel Islands
none
Paraguay
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Peru
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,
phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Philippines
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt,
copper
Pitcairn Islands
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been
discovered offshore
Poland
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber,
arable land
Portugal
fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore,
marble, arable land, hydropower
Puerto Rico
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and
offshore oil
Qatar
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Reunion
fish, arable land, hydropower
Romania
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal,
iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Russia
wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil,
natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
exploitation of natural resources
Rwanda
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore),
methane, hydropower, arable land
Saint Helena
fish
Saint Kitts and Nevis
arable land
Saint Lucia
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral
springs, geothermal potential
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
fish, deepwater ports
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
hydropower, cropland
Samoa
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
San Marino
building stone
Sao Tome and Principe
fish, hydropower
Saudi Arabia
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Senegal
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Serbia and Montenegro oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome, hydropower, arable land
Seychelles
fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Sierra Leone
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold,
chromite
Singapore
fish, deepwater ports
Slovakia
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper
and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Slovenia
lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver,
hydropower, forests
Solomon Islands
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead,
zinc, nickel
Somalia
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin,
gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
South Africa
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese,
nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper,
vanadium, salt, natural gas
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
fish
Southern Ocean
probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields
on the continental margin, manganese nodules, possible placer
deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales,
and seals - none exploited; krill, fishes
Spain
coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar,
gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower,
arable land
Spratly Islands
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas
potential
Sri Lanka
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates,
clay, hydropower
Sudan
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore,
zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Suriname
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold,
and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Svalbard
coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Swaziland
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests,
small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Sweden
zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium,
hydropower
Switzerland
hydropower potential, timber, salt
Syria
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt,
iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Taiwan
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and
asbestos
Tajikistan
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal,
lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Tanzania
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds,
gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Thailand
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead,
fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Togo
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Tokelau
NEGL
Tonga
fish, fertile soil
Trinidad and Tobago
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Tromelin Island
fish
Tunisia
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Turkey
antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulfur,
iron ore, arable land, hydropower
Turkmenistan
petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Turks and Caicos Islands
spiny lobster, conch
Tuvalu
fish
Uganda
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Ukraine
iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur,
graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber,
arable land
United Arab Emirates
petroleum, natural gas
United Kingdom
coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron
ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land
United States
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium,
bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten,
zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Uruguay
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Uzbekistan
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver,
copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Vanuatu
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Venezuela
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other
minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Vietnam
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil
and gas deposits, forests, hydropower
Virgin Islands
sun, sand, sea, surf
Wake Island
none
Wallis and Futuna
NEGL
West Bank
arable land
Western Sahara
phosphates, iron ore
World
the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the
depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and
plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality
(especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) pose
serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only
beginning to address
Yemen
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal,
gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Zambia
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver,
uranium, hydropower
Zimbabwe
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron
ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@2112 Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
Afghanistan
10.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Albania
-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Algeria
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
American Samoa
3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Andorra
6.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Angola
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Anguilla
12.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
-6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Argentina
0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Armenia
-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Aruba
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Australia
4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Austria
2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Azerbaijan
-5.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bahamas, The
-2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bahrain
1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bangladesh
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Barbados
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Belarus
2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Belgium
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Belize
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Benin
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bermuda
2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bhutan
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bolivia
-1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Botswana
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Brazil
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
British Virgin Islands
10.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Brunei
3.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Bulgaria
-4.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Burkina Faso
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Burma
-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Burundi
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cambodia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cameroon
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Canada
6.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cape Verde
-12.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cayman Islands
19.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2003
est.)
Central African Republic
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Chad
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Chile
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
China
-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Christmas Island
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Colombia
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Comoros
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the -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.)
Congo, Republic of the
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Costa Rica
0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Croatia
1.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cuba
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Cyprus
0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Czech Republic
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Denmark
2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Djibouti
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Dominica
-16.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic
-3.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
East Timor
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Ecuador
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Egypt
-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
El Salvador
-3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Eritrea
-13.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean refugees from
Sudan in 2001 following the restoration of diplomatic relations
between the two countries in 2000 (2003 est.)
Estonia
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Ethiopia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from
war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several
years; some Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from
the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to
their homes (2003 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Faroe Islands
1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Fiji
-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Finland
0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
France
0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
French Guiana
7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
French Polynesia
2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Gabon
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Gambia, The
1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Gaza Strip
1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Georgia
-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Germany
2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Ghana
-0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Gibraltar
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Greece
1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Greenland
-8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Grenada
-14.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Guadeloupe
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Guam
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Guatemala
-1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Guernsey
3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Guinea
-3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is
host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees
(2003 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
-1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Guyana
-4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Haiti
-4.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Honduras
-2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Hong Kong
7.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Hungary
0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Iceland
-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
India
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Indonesia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Iran
-0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Iraq
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Ireland
3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Israel
1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Italy
2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Jamaica
-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Japan
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Jersey
2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Jordan
6.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan
-5.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Kenya
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 2001 Kenya was host to
220,000 refugees from neighboring countries, including: Somalia
145,000 and Sudan 68,000 (2003 est.)
Kiribati
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Korea, North
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Korea, South
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Kuwait
14.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
-2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Laos
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Latvia
-1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Lebanon
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Lesotho
-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Liberia
-10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries though
slowly returning (2003 est.)
Libya
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Liechtenstein
4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Lithuania
0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Luxembourg
9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Macau
8.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Madagascar
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Malawi
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Malaysia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2003 est.)
Maldives
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Mali
-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Malta
2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Man, Isle of
5.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Marshall Islands
-6.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Martinique
-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Mauritania
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Mauritius
-0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Mayotte
7.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Mexico
-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of -20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Moldova
-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Monaco
7.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Mongolia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Montserrat
34.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Morocco
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Mozambique
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Namibia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Nauru
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Nepal
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Netherlands
2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
New Caledonia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
New Zealand
4.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Nicaragua
-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Niger
-0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Nigeria
0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Niue
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Norfolk Island
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Northern Mariana Islands 16.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Norway
2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Oman
0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pakistan
-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Palau
3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Panama
-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Papua New Guinea
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Paraguay
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Peru
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Philippines
-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Poland
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Portugal
0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Puerto Rico
-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Qatar
17.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Reunion
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Romania
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Russia
0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Rwanda
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Saint Helena
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
-8.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Saint Lucia
-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
-4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003
est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
-7.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2003 est.)
Samoa
-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
San Marino
11.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
-2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Saudi Arabia
1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Senegal
0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro
-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Seychelles
-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sierra Leone
6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly
returning (2003 est.)
Singapore
25.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Slovakia
0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Slovenia
2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Solomon Islands
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Somalia
5.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
South Africa
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Spain
0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sri Lanka
-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sudan
0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Suriname
-8.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Svalbard
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Swaziland
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sweden
1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Switzerland
1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Syria
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Taiwan
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Tajikistan
-3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Tanzania
-4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Thailand
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Togo
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Tokelau
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Tonga
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
-10.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Tunisia
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Turkey
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Turkmenistan
-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands 12.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Tuvalu
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Uganda
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to the UNHCR, by the end of 2001, Uganda was host to
178,815 refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including:
Sudan 155,996, Rwanda 14,375, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
7,459 (2003 est.)
Ukraine
-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
United Arab Emirates
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
United Kingdom
2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
United States
3.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Uruguay
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan
-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Vanuatu
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Venezuela
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Vietnam
-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Virgin Islands
0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2003 est.)
West Bank
3.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Yemen
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Zambia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Zimbabwe
NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2003 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@2113 Geography - note
Afghanistan
landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast
to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the
country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan
Corridor)
Albania
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic
Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
Algeria
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
American Samoa
Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater
harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough
seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;
strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
Andorra
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in
the Pyrenees
Angola
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the
rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Anguilla
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser
Antilles
Antarctica
the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest
continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface
at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent
period; mostly uninhabitable
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with
many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western
harbor
Arctic Ocean
major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern
access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic
location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link
between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating
research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover
in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean;
snow cover lasts about 10 months
Argentina
second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);
strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic
and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,
Drake Passage); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain,
while the Valdes Peninsula is the lowest point on the continent
Armenia
landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich
(Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
Aruba
a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches;
its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the
Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27
degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
established in August 1983
Atlantic Ocean
major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of
Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits
include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The
Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the
Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
Australia
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country;
population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts;
regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor"
occurs along the west coast in the summer
Austria
landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central
Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major
river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands
because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
Azerbaijan
both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan
exclave are landlocked
Bahamas, The
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive
island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Bahrain
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic
location in Persian Gulf, which much of Western world's petroleum
must transit to reach open ocean
Baker Island
treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting
of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a
nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife
Bangladesh
most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers
flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main
channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually
empty into the Bay of Bengal
Barbados
easternmost Caribbean island
Bassas da India
the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits
atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano
Belarus
landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of
Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes; the country is
geologically well endowed with extensive deposits of granite,
dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay
Belgium
crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European
capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European
Union and NATO
Belize
only country in Central America without a coastline on the
North Pacific Ocean
Benin
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural
harbors, river mouths, or islands
Bermuda
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample
rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by
US Government from 1941 to 1995
Bhutan
landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Bolivia
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
Bosnia and Herzegovina
within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized
borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat
Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led
Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region
called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Serbia and
Montenegro (Montenegro), and traditionally has been settled by an
ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the
east
Botswana
landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the
country
Bouvet Island
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
Brazil
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries
with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
British Indian Ocean Territory archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
British Virgin Islands
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico
Brunei
close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking
Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by
Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
Bulgaria
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land
routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
Burkina Faso
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of
the Black, Red, and White Voltas
Burma
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
Burundi
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the
Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote
headstream of the White Nile
Cambodia
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River
and Tonle Sap
Cameroon
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout
the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of
current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest
mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
Canada
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic
location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately
85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US border
Cape Verde
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near
major north-south sea routes; important communications station;
important sea and air refueling site
Cayman Islands
important location between Cuba and Central America
Central African Republic
landlocked; almost the precise center of
Africa
Chad
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the
Sahel
Chile
strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);
Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
China
world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US);
Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak;
Christmas Island
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Clipperton Island
reef 12 km in circumference
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
islands are thickly covered with coconut
palms and other vegetation
Colombia
only South American country with coastlines on both North
Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Comoros
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 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
Congo, Republic of the
about 70% of the population lives in
Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
Cook Islands
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
Coral Sea Islands
important nesting area for birds and turtles
Costa Rica
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
Cote d'Ivoire
most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal
region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is
sparsely populated
Croatia
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea
and Turkish Straits
Cuba
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the
Greater Antilles
Cyprus
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after
Sicily and Sardinia)
Czech Republic
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
Denmark
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking
Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in
greater Copenhagen
Djibouti
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
Dominica
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
Dominican Republic
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern
two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
East Timor
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
Ecuador
Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
Egypt
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
El Salvador
smallest Central American country and only one without a
coastline on Caribbean Sea
Equatorial Guinea
insular and continental regions rather widely
separated
Eritrea
strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest
shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia
along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May
1993
Estonia
the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded;
offshore lie more than 1,500 islands
Ethiopia
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost
with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue
Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in
T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are
believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and
castor bean
Europa Island
wildlife sanctuary
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
deeply indented coast provides
good natural harbors; short growing season
Faroe Islands
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one
uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically
located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
Fiji
includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
Finland
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent; population concentrated on small
southwestern coastal plain
France
largest West European nation
French Guiana
mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only
non-independent portion of the South American continent
French Polynesia
includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral);
Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock
islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island)
in Kiribati and Nauru
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
islands component is widely
scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean
Gabon
a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped
Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these
circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its
pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
Gambia, The
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the
continent of Africa
Gaza Strip
there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use
sites in the Gaza Strip (February 2002 est.)
Georgia
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia
controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
Germany
strategic location on North European Plain and along the
entrance to the Baltic Sea
Ghana
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
Gibraltar
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the
North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Glorioso Islands
the islands and rocks are surrounded by an
extensive reef system
Greece
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern
approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an
archipelago of about 2,000 islands
Greenland
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and
Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast,
but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital,
Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap
Grenada
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is
divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
Guadeloupe
a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe
proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the
smaller, eastern Grande-Terre
Guam
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
Guatemala
no natural harbors on west coast
Guernsey
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Guinea
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their
sources in the Guinean highlands
Guinea-Bissau
this small country is swampy along its western coast
and low-lying further inland
Guyana
the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname
and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern
territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively
Haiti
shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western
one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
Holy See (Vatican City)
urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy;
world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in
Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy
extraterritorial rights
Honduras
has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean
shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
Hong Kong
more than 200 islands
Howland Island
almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines,
and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily
a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife
Hungary
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes
between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between
Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna
(Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions
Iceland
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost
European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in
the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental
Europe
India
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian
Ocean trade routes
Indian Ocean
major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of
Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and
the Lombok Strait
Indonesia
archipelago of more than 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited);
straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea
lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Iran
strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz,
which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport
Iraq
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of
the Persian Gulf
Ireland
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North
America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides
within 97 km of Dublin
Israel
there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites
in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25 in
the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (February 2002 est.); Sea
of Galilee is an important freshwater source
Italy
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as
southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
Jamaica
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica
Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
Jan Mayen
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
Japan
strategic location in northeast Asia
Jarvis Island
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing
shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for
seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
Jersey
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of
population concentrated in Saint Helier
Johnston Atoll
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been
expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island
(Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the
egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public; a
former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical
Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
Jordan
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as
the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the
occupied West Bank
Juan de Nova Island
wildlife sanctuary
Kazakhstan
landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of
territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome
Kenya
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful
agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on
Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography
supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic
value
Kingman Reef
barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to
the public
Kiribati
21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island)
in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru
Korea, North
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and
Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
Korea, South
strategic location on Korea Strait
Kuwait
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Kyrgyzstan
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien
Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
Laos
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly
forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with
Thailand
Latvia
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains,
with some hills in the east
Lebanon
Nahr el Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an
international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate,
protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion,
clan, and ethnicity
Lesotho
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa;
mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea
level
Liberia
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
Libya
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
Liechtenstein
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic
variations based on elevation
Lithuania
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that
are ancient glacial deposits
Luxembourg
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
Macau
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the
two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
landlocked; major
transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean
Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Madagascar
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along
Mozambique Channel
Malawi
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's
most prominent physical feature
Malaysia
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern
South China Sea
Maldives
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited
islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with
strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Mali
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
Malta
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three
largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)
being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and
Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration
Man, Isle of
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the
southwest, and is a bird sanctuary
Marshall Islands
two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and
1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US
missile test range
Martinique
the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May
1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre,
killing 30,000 inhabitants
Mauritania
most of the population concentrated in the cities of
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the
southern part of the country
Mauritius
the main island, from which the country derives its name,
is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral
reefs
Mayotte
part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands
Mexico
strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize),
one of the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated
in Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
four major island groups totaling
607 islands
Midway Islands
a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge
and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form
of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling,
and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for
reorganization at present (2003)
Moldova
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and
minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
Monaco
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy
See); almost entirely urban
Mongolia
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
Montserrat
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains
seven active volcanoes
Morocco
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
Mozambique
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most
fertile part of the country
Namibia
first country in the world to incorporate the protection of
the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is
protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
Nauru
Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
Navassa Island
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base
at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland
to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered
cactus
Nepal
landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest
- the world's tallest - on the border with China
Netherlands
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine,
Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
Netherlands Antilles
the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles
are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group
(Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands
(southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao)
New Caledonia
consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of
the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute,
and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
New Zealand
about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington
is the southernmost national capital in the world
Nicaragua
largest country in Central America; contains the largest
freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
Niger
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world:
northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna,
suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
Nigeria
the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows
southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in
the Gulf of Guinea
Niue
one of world's largest coral islands
Norfolk Island
most of the 32-km coastline consists of almost
inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one
small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is
situated
Northern Mariana Islands
strategic location in the North Pacific
Ocean
Norway
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much
indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air
routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines
in world
Oman
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Pacific Ocean
the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama
Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides
the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific
Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in
the southwestern Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion
routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
Palau
westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six
island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II
battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands
Palmyra Atoll
about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut
trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
Panama
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land
bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal
that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific
Ocean
Papua New Guinea
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of
world's largest swamps along southwest coast
Paracel Islands
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs
divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent
Group
Paraguay
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil;
population concentrated in southern part of country
Peru
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable
lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak,
is the ultimate source of the Amazon River
Philippines
favorably located in relation to many of Southeast
Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu
Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait
Pitcairn Islands
Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger
island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural
harbor; supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger
ships stationed offshore
Poland
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and
the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
Portugal
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along
western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
Puerto Rico
important location along the Mona Passage - a key
shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest
and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and
high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast
relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
Qatar
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major
petroleum deposits
Reunion
this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano,
Piton de la Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at
Saint-Denis, which is the monitoring station for the whole of the
Indian Ocean
Romania
controls most easily traversable land route between the
Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
Russia
largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably
located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its
size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either
too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount Elbrus is Europe's
tallest peak
Rwanda
landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the
population predominantly rural
Saint Helena
harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere
else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles
and sooty terns
Saint Kitts and Nevis
with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat
and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a three-km-wide
channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball
bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in
the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape
complements that of its sister island
Saint Lucia
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking
cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural
highlights of the Caribbean
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
vegetation scanty
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
Samoa
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
San Marino
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after
the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
Sao Tome and Principe
the smallest country in Africa; the two main
islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are
fairly mountainous
Saudi Arabia
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
Senegal
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is
almost an enclave of Senegal
Serbia and Montenegro
controls one of the major land routes from
Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along
the Adriatic coast
Seychelles
40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
Sierra Leone
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches)
a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western
Africa
Singapore
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
Slovakia
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous;
the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic
lakes and valleys
Slovenia
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country
controls some of Europe's major transit routes
Solomon Islands
strategic location on sea routes between the South
Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea
Somalia
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern
approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
South Africa
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost
completely surrounds Swaziland
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the north coast of
South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage;
reindeer, introduced early in the 21st century, live on South Georgia
Southern Ocean
the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between
South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic
Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent
of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the very cold polar
surface waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the
Front and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching
south of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south
in the far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum
westerly winds
Spain
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
Spratly Islands
strategically located near several primary shipping
lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small
islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
Sri Lanka
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
Sudan
largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its
tributaries
Suriname
smallest independent country on South American continent;
mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna
that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new
development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast
Svalbard
northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of
nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total
area
Swaziland
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
Sweden
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and
North Seas
Switzerland
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe;
along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern
Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Syria
there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites
in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.)
Taiwan
strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the
Luzon Strait
Tajikistan
landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the
Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast;
highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was
the tallest mountain in the former USSR
Tanzania
Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by three
of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's
second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the
world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest
Thailand
controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
Togo
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct
geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
Tokelau
consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a
number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over
three meters above sea level
Tonga
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
Trinidad and Tobago
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is
the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt
Tromelin Island
climatologically important location for forecasting
cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
Tunisia
strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and
Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration
Turkey
strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus,
Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount
Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the far
eastern portion of the country
Turkmenistan
landlocked; the western and central low-lying, desolate
portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert,
which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau
Turks and Caicos Islands
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
Tuvalu
one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six
of the coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti,
and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao
have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon
Uganda
landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and
rivers
Ukraine
strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and
Asia; second-largest country in Europe
United Arab Emirates
strategic location along southern approaches to
Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
United Kingdom
lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km
from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel;
because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125
km from tidal waters
United States
world's third-largest country by size (after Russia
and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley
is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point
on the continent
Uruguay
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname);
most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is
grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising
Uzbekistan
along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world
Vanuatu
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller
islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
Venezuela
on major sea and air routes linking North and South
America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest
waterfall
Vietnam
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km
across at its narrowest point
Virgin Islands
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key
shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best
natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Wake Island
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency
landing location for transpacific flights
Wallis and Futuna
both island groups have fringing reefs
West Bank
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's
coastal aquifers; there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem (February
2002 est.)
Western Sahara
the waters off the coast are particularly rich
fishing areas
World
the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old,
just about one-third of the 13-billion-year age estimated for the
universe
Yemen
strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the
Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping
lanes
Zambia
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary
with Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary
with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria
Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@2115 Political pressure groups and leaders
Afghanistan
NA; note - ministries formed under the Transitional
Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) include former influential
Afghans, diaspora members, and former political leaders
Albania
Omonia [Vangjel DULES]
Algeria
NA
American Samoa
NA
Andorra
NA
Angola
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC
[N'zita Henriques TIAGO; Antonio Bento BEMBE]
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
Anguilla
NA
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William
ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]
Argentina
Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA);
Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine
Rural Society (large landowners' association); business
organizations; General Confederation of Labor or CGT
(Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Peronist-dominated
labor movement; Roman Catholic Church; students
Armenia
Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
Aruba
NA
Australia
Australian Monarchist League [leader NA]; Australian
Republican Movement [leader NA]
Austria
Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or
OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian
Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief
lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the
Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and
farmers
Azerbaijan
Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Union of
Pro-Azerbaijani Forces (UPAF)
Bahamas, The
NA
Bahrain
Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97,
demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to
unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic
fundamentalist groups are active
Bangladesh
NA
Barbados
Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor
Union [David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric
SEALY]; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
Belarus
NA
Belgium
Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian
Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers,
manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical
professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests
of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi
and groups representing immigrants
Belize
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR
[Adele CATZIM]
Benin
NA
Bermuda
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial
Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association
or BPSA [leader NA]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
Bhutan
Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading
militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United
Front for Democracy (exiled)
Bolivia
Cocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions;
Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [Felipe
QUISPE]
Bosnia and Herzegovina
NA
Botswana
NA
Brazil
left wing of the Catholic Church; Landless Worker's Movement;
labor unions allied to leftist Worker's Party
British Virgin Islands
NA
Brunei
NA
Bulgaria
agrarian movement; Confederation of Independent Trade
Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous
regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
Burkina Faso
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB;
Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February;
National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National
Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action
groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
Burma
All Burma Student Democratic Front or ABSDF; Kachin
Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; National
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB [Dr. SEIN WIN]
consists of individuals legitimately elected to the People's
Assembly but not recognized by the military regime (the group fled
to a border area and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form
a parallel government); several Shan factions; United Wa State Army
or UWSA
Burundi
loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated
with Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government
security forces
Cambodia
NA
Cameroon
Southern Cameroon National Council [Frederick Ebong
ALOBWEDE]; Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
Canada
NA
Cape Verde
NA
Cayman Islands
NA
Central African Republic
NA
Chad
NA
Chile
revitalized university student federations at all major
universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT
includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor
confederations
China
no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the
government has identified the Falungong sect and the China Democracy
Party as potential rivals
Christmas Island
none
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
none
Colombia
two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia -
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National
Liberation Army or ELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is
United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
Comoros
NA
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
NA
Congo, Republic of the
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
Cook Islands
NA
Costa Rica
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]
Cote d'Ivoire
NA
Croatia
NA
Cuba
NA
Cyprus
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)
Czech Republic
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions [Richard
FALBR]
Denmark
NA
Djibouti
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]
Dominica
Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
Dominican Republic
Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
East Timor
NA
Ecuador
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]
Egypt
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
El Salvador
labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El
Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar
Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National
Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of
Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or
SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or
USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of
Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National
Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly
Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or
ASI
Equatorial Guinea
NA
Eritrea
Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also including
Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel
Movement) [leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also
known as the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; Eritrean Liberation Front
or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a
coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions)
[HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]
Estonia
NA
Ethiopia
Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front or ARDUF [leader
NA]; Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in
Ethiopia or CAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People's
Democratic Coalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros]
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
none
Faroe Islands
NA
Fiji
NA
France
historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du
Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed);
left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du
Travail) or CFDT, approximately 865,000 members (claimed, of which
810,000 are actively employed); independent labor union
(Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000
members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation
Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers'
union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000
companies as members (claimed)
French Guiana
NA
French Polynesia
NA
Gabon
NA
Gambia, The
NA
Georgia
Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in
exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA
Germany
employers' organizations; expellee, refugee, trade unions,
and veterans groups
Ghana
NA
Gibraltar
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives
Organization; Women's Association
Greece
NA
Greenland
NA
Grenada
NA
Guadeloupe
Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or
KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General
Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI
Guam
NA
Guatemala
Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity
or AAI; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee
of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations
or CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM
Guernsey
none
Guinea
NA
Guinea-Bissau
NA
Guyana
Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of
Indian Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUC
note: the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well
organized
Haiti
Autonomous Haitian Workers or CATH; Confederation of Haitian
Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; National
Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP; Popular
Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church
Holy See (Vatican City)
none (exclusive of influence exercised by
church officers)
Honduras
Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or
CODEH; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating
Committee of Popular Organizations or CCOP; General Workers
Confederation or CGT; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or
COHEP; National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH;
National Union of Campesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United
Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH
Hong Kong
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade
Unions (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan,
general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation
of Trade Unions (pro-China) [LEE Chark-tim, president]; Hong Kong
Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China
[Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council
(pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong
Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Liberal
Democratic Federation [HU Fa-kuang, chairman]
Hungary
NA
Iceland
NA
India
numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations,
including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups seeking greater
communal and/or regional autonomy, including the All Parties
Hurriyat Conference
Indonesia
NA
Iran
active pro-reform student groups include the "Organization for
Strengthening Unity"; groups that generally support the Islamic
Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Muslim Students Following the
Line of the Imam, Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat),
Islamic Coalition Association, and Islamic Engineers Society;
opposition groups include Freedom Movement of Iran, the National
Front, Marz-e Por Gohar, and various Monarchist organizations; armed
political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the
government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's
Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and Komala
Iraq
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn
regime by US-led coalition
Ireland
NA
Israel
Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West
Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Yesha (settler) Council promotes
settler interests and opposes territorial compromise; B'Tselem
monitors human rights abuses
Italy
Italian manufacturers and merchants associations
(Confindustria, Confcommercio); organized farm groups
(Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura); Roman Catholic Church; three
major trade union confederations (Confederazione Generale Italiana
del Lavoro or CGIL [Sergio COFFERATI] which is left wing,
Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Savino
PEZZOTTA], which is Roman Catholic centrist, and Unione Italiana del
Lavoro or UIL [Pietro LARIZZA] which is lay centrist)
Jamaica
New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black
religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
Japan
NA
Jersey
none
Jordan
Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice
chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president];
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim
Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]
Kazakhstan
Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Alash [Sabet-Kazy AKATAY];
AZAMAT "Citizen" Movement [Petr SVOIK, Murat AUEZOV, and Galym
ABILSEITOV, cochairmen]; Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan [Galymzhan
ZHAKIYANOV, Nurzhan SUBKHANBERDIN, cochairmen]; Labor and Worker's
Movement [Madel ISMAILOV, chairman]; Kazakhstan International Bureau
on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Orleu
"Development" Movement [Seidakhmet KUTTYKADAM]; Pensioners Movement
or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; People's Congress of
Kazakhstan of NKK [Olzhas SULEIMENOV, chairman]; People's
Cooperative Party of Kazakhstan [Umirzak SARSENOV]; Republican
People's Party of Kazakhstan or RNPK [Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN];
Socialist Party [Petr SVOIK]
Kenya
human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations;
National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition
of political parties and nongovernment organizations [Kivutha
KIBWANA]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK
[Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches;
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur
al-BUSAIDY]
Kiribati
NA
Korea, North
NA
Korea, South
Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean
Trade Unions; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National
Council of Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans'
Association; National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic
Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations;
National Federation of Student Associations
Kuwait
several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins,
merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and
nationalists
Kyrgyzstan
Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human
Rights [Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement;
Union of Entrepreneurs
Laos
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition
leaders fled the country in 1975
Latvia
NA
Lebanon
NA
Lesotho
NA
Liberia
NA
Libya
various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible
memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some
Islamic elements
Liechtenstein
NA
Lithuania
NA
Luxembourg
ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector
trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural
producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union
representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of
Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL
(federation of industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union);
OGBL (center-left trade union)
Macau
Catholic Church [Domingos LAM, bishop]; Macau Society of
Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director];
Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
NA
Madagascar
Federalist Movement; National Council of Christian
Churches or FFKM
Malawi
National Democratic Alliance [Brown MPINGANJIRA]
Malaysia
NA
Maldives
none
Mali
Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement
and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
Malta
NA
Man, Isle of
none
Marshall Islands
NA
Martinique
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union
for Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;
League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
Mauritania
Arab nationalists; Ba'athists; General Confederation of
Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary
general]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM
[Samory Ould BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM
[Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
Mauritius
various labor unions
Mayotte
NA
Mexico
Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or
COPARMEX; Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN;
Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of National
Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign Trade
Business Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing
Goods and Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation
Industries or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC;
National Union of Workers or UNT; Regional Confederation of Mexican
Workers or CROM; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants
or CROC; Roman Catholic Church
Moldova
NA
Monaco
NA
Mongolia
NA
Montserrat
NA
Morocco
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI];
General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL];
Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National
Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan
Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
Mozambique
Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e
Democracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO
Issa, chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para
Paz e Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga
Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president];
Human Rights and Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or
DHD [Artemisia FRANCO, secretary general]
Namibia
NA
Nauru
NA
Nepal
Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL also
known as Prahanda, chairman; and chief negotiator, Dr. Baburam
BHATTARAI, from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist]; numerous small,
left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical
Nepalese antimonarchist groups
Netherlands
Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement
(comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant
trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers
Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational
firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
Netherlands Antilles
NA
New Caledonia
NA
New Zealand
NA
Nicaragua
National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella
group of eight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or
ATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs
Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National
Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of
Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,
Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of
Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an
umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -
Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of
Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor
or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of
business groups
Niger
NA
Nigeria
Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC [Adams OSHIOMOLE]
Niue
NA
Norfolk Island
none
Northern Mariana Islands
NA
Norway
NA
Oman
none
Pakistan
military remains most important political force; ulema
(clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also
influential
Palau
NA
Panama
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council
of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Union of Construction and
Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of
the Republic of Panama or CTRP
Papua New Guinea
NA
Paraguay
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Workers Central or
CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church;
Unitary Workers Central or CUT
Peru
leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN
Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; Tupac
Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),
Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]
Philippines
NA
Pitcairn Islands
none
Poland
All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Maciej
MANICKI]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; Solidarity
Trade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]
Portugal
NA
Puerto Rico
Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed
Forces of Popular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as
the Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
Qatar
none
Reunion
NA
Romania
various human rights and professional associations
Russia
NA
Rwanda
IBUKA - association of genocide survivors
Saint Helena
none
Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA
Saint Lucia
NA
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
NA
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NA
Samoa
NA
San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
NA
Saudi Arabia
none
Senegal
labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
Serbia and Montenegro
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK
[Ramush HARADINAJ]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Ibrahim
RUGOVA]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Group of
17 Independent Economists or G-17 [leader NA]; National Movement for
the Liberation of Kosovo or LKCK [Sabit GASHI]; Otpor Student
Resistance Movement [leader NA]; Political Council for Presevo,
Meveda and Bujanovac or PCPMB [leader NA]; The People's Movement for
Kosovo or LPK [Emrush XHEMAJLI]
Seychelles
Roman Catholic Church; trade unions
Sierra Leone
Trade Unions and Student Unions
Singapore
NA
Slovakia
Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns
and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal
Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG
Slovenia
NA
Solomon Islands
NA
Somalia
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for
power
South Africa
Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU
[Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South African Communist Party
or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African National
Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national
president]; note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the
ANC
Spain
business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor
unions (authorized in April 1977); Socialist General Union of
Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or
USO; university students; Workers Confederation or CC.OO; Nunca Mais
(Galician for "Never Again"; formed in response to the oil tanker
Prestige oil spill)
Sri Lanka
Buddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for
a separate state); radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the
National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
Sudan
Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI];
National Congress Party [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR]; National Democratic
Alliance [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI, chairman]; Sudan People's
Liberation Movement/Army [Dr. John GARANG]; Umma [Sadiq al-MAHDI]
Suriname
General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie
BRUNSWIJK]; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS];
Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union for
Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]
Swaziland
NA
Sweden
NA
Switzerland
NA
Syria
conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates
in exile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little
effective political influence
Taiwan
Taiwan independence movement, various business and
environmental groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's
legislature have opened public debate on the island's national
identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwan
currently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimate
outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's
people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan
independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify
with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement
include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the
UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the
World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for
Taiwan Nation Building
Tajikistan
there are two unregistered political parties with 1,000
or more members: Progressive Party [Suton QUVVATOV]; Unity Party
[Hikmatuko SAIDOV]
Tanzania
NA
Thailand
NA
Togo
NA
Tokelau
none
Tonga
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi
POHIVA, president]
Trinidad and Tobago
Jamaat-al Musilmeen [Yasin BAKR]
Tunisia
the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is
outlawed
Turkey
Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami EVREN];
Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Suleyman
CELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
or MUSIAD [Erol YARAR]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim
USLU]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or
TUSIAD [Muharrem KAYHAN]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions
or TISK [Refik BAYDUR]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is
[Bayram MERAL]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or
TESK [Dervis GUNDAY; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and
Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]
Turkmenistan
NA
Turks and Caicos Islands
NA
Tuvalu
none
Uganda
NA
Ukraine
NA
United Arab Emirates
NA
United Kingdom
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation of
British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress
United States
NA
Uruguay
NA
Uzbekistan
Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk
(Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9
December 1992; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV,
chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan
[Abduhoshim GHAFUROV, chairman]; Ezgulik [Vasilia INOYATOVA]
Vanuatu
NA
Venezuela
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS
groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor
organization dominated by the Democratic Action)
Vietnam
none
Virgin Islands
NA
Wallis and Futuna
NA
Western Sahara
none
Yemen
NA
Zambia
NA
Zimbabwe
National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU];
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition [Brian KAGORO]; Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions or ZCTU [Lovemore MATOMBO]
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
@2116 Economy - overview
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country,
highly dependent on foreign aid, farming and livestock raising
(sheep and goats), and trade with neighboring countries. Economic
considerations have played second fiddle to political and military
upheavals during more than two decades of war, including the nearly
10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989).
During that conflict, one-third of the population fled the country,
with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of 4 to 6 million
refugees. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the
past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the
disruption of trade and transport; severe drought added to the
nation's difficulties in 1998-2002. The majority of the population
continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and
medical care, and a dearth of jobs, problems exacerbated by
political uncertainties and the general level of lawlessness.
International efforts to rebuild Afghanistan were addressed at the
Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002,
when $4.5 billion was pledged, $1.7 billion for 2002. Of that
approximately $900 million was directed to humanitarian aid - food,
clothing, and shelter - and another $90 million for the Afghan
Transitional Authority. Further World Bank and other aid came in
2003. Priority areas for reconstruction include upgrading education,
health, and sanitation facilities; providing income generating
opportunities; enhancing administrative and security arrangements,
especially in regional areas; developing the agricultural sector;
rebuilding transportation, energy, and telecommunication
infrastructure; and reabsorbing 2 million returning refugees. The
replacement of the opium trade - which may account for one-third of
GDP - and the search for oil and gas resources in the northern
region are two major long-term issues.
Albania
Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making
the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The
government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur
economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances
from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and
Italy; this helps offset the sizable trade deficit. Agriculture,
which accounts for half of GDP, is held back because of frequent
drought and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate small
plots of land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms out
of business, increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors,
and spurring inflation. The government plans to boost energy imports
to relieve the shortages. In addition, the government is moving to
improve the poor national road network, a long-standing barrier to
sustained economic growth.
Algeria
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,
accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over
95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of
natural gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it
ranks 14th in oil reserves. Algeria's financial and economic
indicators improved during the mid-1990s, in part because of policy
reforms supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris
Club. Algeria's finances in 2000-03 benefited from substantial trade
surpluses, record foreign exchange reserves, and reductions in
foreign debt. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output and
increased government spending. The government's continued efforts to
diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment
outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in
reducing high unemployment and improving living standards.
American Samoa
This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which
more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is
strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts most
of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are
the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary
export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to
American Samoa's economic well-being. Attempts by the government to
develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's
remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating
hurricanes. Tourism, a developing sector, has been held back by the
recurring financial difficulties in East Asia.
Andorra
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy,
accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists
visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its
summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has
recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain
have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and
lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also
contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is
limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be
imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising.
Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and
furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is
treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs)
and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
Angola
Angola has been an economy in disarray because of a quarter
century of nearly continuous warfare. An apparently durable peace
was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI on
February 22, 2002, but consequences from the conflict continue
including the impact of wide-spread land mines. Subsistence
agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population.
Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the
economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and more than half of
exports. Much of the country's food must still be imported. To fully
take advantage of its rich natural resources - gold, diamonds,
extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits -
Angola will need to continue reforming government policies. While
Angola made progress in bringing inflation down further, from 325%
in 2000 to about 106% in 2002, the government has failed to make
sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such as
increasing foreign exchange reserves and promoting greater
transparency in government spending. Increased oil production should
bring about 6% GDP growth in 2003.
Anguilla
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends
heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and
remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism
industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector,
has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put
substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector,
which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the
economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on
revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on
favorable weather conditions.
Antarctica
Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad,
account for the limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in
2000-01 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 112,934 metric tons.
Unregulated fishing, particularly of tooth fish, is a serious
problem. Allegedly illegal fishing in antarctic waters in 1998
resulted in the seizure (by France and Australia) of at least eight
fishing ships. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources determines the recommended catch limits for
marine species. A total of 12,248 tourists visited in the 2000-01
antarctic summer, down from the 14,762 who visited the previous
year. Nearly all of them were passengers on 21 commercial
(nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that made trips during
the summer. Most tourist trips lasted approximately two weeks.
Antigua and Barbuda
Tourism continues to dominate the economy,
accounting for more than half of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers
since early 2000 have slowed the economy, however, and pressed the
government into a tight fiscal corner. The dual-island nation's
agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and
constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming
from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction.
Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major
products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components.
Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to
depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in
the US, which accounts for slightly more than one-third of tourist
arrivals.
Arctic Ocean
Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of
natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
Argentina
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly
literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the
country has suffered recurring economic problems of inflation,
external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000
was a negative 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained
skeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the
peso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic
situation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine
bonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in
consumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a
"zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restore
economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting
economic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in
January 2002, and the peso was floated in February; the exchange
rate plunged and inflation picked up rapidly, but by mid-2002 the
economy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. Strong demand for
the peso compelled the Central Bank to intervene in foreign exchange
markets to curb its appreciation in early 2003. Led by record
exports, the economy began to recover with output up 5.5% in 2003,
unemployment falling, and inflation sliced to 4.2% at year-end.
Armenia
Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had
developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools,
textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in
exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the
USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale
agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the
Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more
investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has
been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the
current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral
deposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict
with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of
Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic
system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic
decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian
Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program
that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2003. Armenia
also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize the local currency
(the dram), and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and
mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its
nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy
exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity
to replace Metsamor, which is under international pressure to close.
The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002.
Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by
international aid, domestic restructuring of the economy, and
foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close,
especially in the energy sector.
Aruba
Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy,
with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important.
The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has
resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities.
Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985
level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in
1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings,
has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and low
unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job
vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
Tourist arrivals have declined in the aftermath of the 11 September
2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now must deal with
a budget deficit and a negative trade balance.
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
no economic activity
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most
heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and
Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the
exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of
aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and
natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
Australia
Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist
economy, with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West
European economies. Rising output in the domestic economy has been
offsetting the global slump, and business and consumer confidence
remains robust. Australia's emphasis on reforms is another key
factor behind the economy's strength. The stagnant economic
conditions in major export partners and the impact of the worst
drought in 100 years cast a shadow over prospects for 2003.
Austria
Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high
standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies,
especially Germany's. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of
foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single
European market and proximity to EU aspirant economies. Slowing
growth in Germany and elsewhere in the world held the economy to
only 1.2% growth in 2001, 0.6% in 2002, and 0.8% in 2003.. To meet
increased competition from both EU and Central European countries,
Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the
economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and lower its
tax burden. A key issue is the encouragement of much greater
participation in the labor market by its ageing population.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil
production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase
every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements
(PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion
to long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed
to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the
first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating
Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the
formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the
transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable
energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only
recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic
ties and structures are slowly being replaced. One obstacle to
economic progress is the need for stepped up foreign investment in
the non-energy sector. A second obstacle is the continuing conflict
with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and
the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while
trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term
prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new
pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil
wealth.
Bahamas, The
The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an
economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism
alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly
employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in
tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts,
and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the
slowdown in the US economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held
back growth in these sectors in 2002. Manufacturing and agriculture
together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little
growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors.
Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the
fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US,
the source of most of the visitors.
Bahrain
In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for
about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of
GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport
facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with
business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil
granted as aid. A large share of exports consists of petroleum
products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on
several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among
the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources
are major long-term economic problems.
Baker Island
no economic activity
Bangladesh
Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to
improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a
poor, overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP
is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of
Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as
the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth
include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned
enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor
force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting
energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and
slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled
in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all
levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition
from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested
interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda
ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms,
but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key
areas.
Barbados
Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on
sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in
recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism.
Offshore finance and information services are important foreign
exchange earners, and there is also a light-manufacturing sector.
The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to
encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining
state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002 mainly due
to a 3% decline in tourism. Growth should be positive in 2003, the
precise level largely dependent on economic conditions in the US and
Europe.
Bassas da India
no economic activity
Belarus
Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when
President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market
socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed
administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and
expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private
enterprise. In addition to the burdens imposed by high inflation and
persistent trade deficits, businesses have been subject to pressure
on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary
changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive
application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive"
businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive
policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder. Close
relations with Russia, possibly leading to reunion, color the
pattern of economic developments. For the time being, Belarus
remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies.
Belgium
This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on
its central geographic location, highly developed transport network,
and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is
concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With
few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of
raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its
economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly
three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt
is about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing
its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began
circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in
2001-03 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown.
Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and
the US.
Belize
In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the
tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed
by cane sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in
September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000,
4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the
sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective
remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international
donors.
Benin
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on
subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Growth in real output has averaged a stable 5% in the past six
years, but rapid population rise has offset much of this increase.
Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to
raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign
investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the
development of new food processing systems and agricultural
products, and encourage new information and communication
technology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in
telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of
initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for
speeded-up structural reforms.
Bermuda
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the
world, with its economy primarily based on providing financial
services for international business and luxury facilities for
tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive
and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a
number of new reinsurance companies have located on the island,
contributing to the expansion of an already robust international
business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry -
which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - has been
severely hit as American tourists have chosen not to travel. Tourism
rebounded somewhat in 2002, but remains below the pre-11 September
level. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's
industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be
important. Agriculture is limited, only 6% of the land being arable.
Bhutan
The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed,
is based on agriculture and forestry, providing the main livelihood
for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of
subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate
the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure
difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's
through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's
financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically
backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most
development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian
migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for
tourists are key resources. The government has made some progress in
expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare.
Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with
support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic
program takes into account the government's desire to protect the
country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed controls and
uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,
and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
Bolivia
Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin
American countries, made considerable progress in the 1990s toward
the development of a market-oriented economy. Successes under
President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-97) included the signing of a free
trade agreement with Mexico and becoming an associate member of the
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), as well as the privatization
of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power
company, and oil company. Growth slowed in 1999, in part due to
tight government budget policies, which limited needed
appropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout from the
Asian financial crisis. In 2000, major civil disturbances held down
growth to 2.5%. Bolivia's GDP failed to grow in 2001 due to the
global slowdown and laggard domestic activity. Growth picked up
slightly in 2002, but the first quarter of 2003 saw extensive civil
riots and looting and loss of confidence in the government. Bolivia
will remain highly dependent on foreign aid unless and until it can
develop its substantial natural resources.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the
old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is almost all in
private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and the republic
traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly
overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economic structure of
Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military industries
in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a number of
Yugoslavia's defense plants. The bitter interethnic warfare in
Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1990 to 1995,
unemployment to soar, and human misery to multiply. With an uneasy
peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates
from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. GDP remains
far below the 1990 level. Economic data are of limited use because,
although both entities issue figures, national-level statistics are
limited. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share of
black market activity. The marka - the national currency introduced
in 1998 - is now pegged to the euro, and the Central Bank of Bosnia
and Herzegovina has dramatically increased its reserve holdings.
Implementation of privatization, however, has been slow, and local
entities only reluctantly support national-level institutions.
Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments
bureaus were shut down. The country receives substantial amounts of
reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the
international community but will have to prepare for an era of
declining assistance.
Botswana
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth
rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and
sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the
poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per
capita GDP of $9,500 in 2002. Two major investment services rank
Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has
fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than
one-third of GDP and for nine-tenths of export earnings. Tourism,
subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On
the downside, the government must deal with high rates of
unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 21%, but
unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection
rates are the highest in the world and threaten Botswana's
impressive economic gains. Long-term prospects are overshadowed by
the prospects of a leveling off in diamond mining production.
Bouvet Island
no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Brazil
Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining,
manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that
of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence
in world markets. The maintenance of large current account deficits
via capital account surpluses became problematic as investors became
more risk averse to emerging markets as a consequence of the Asian
financial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August
1998. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging
progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion
IMF-led international support program in November 1998. In January
1999, the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would no
longer be pegged to the US dollar. The consequent devaluation helped
moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999, and the country
posted moderate GDP growth in 2000. Economic growth slowed
considerably in 2001-03 - to less than 2% - because of a slowdown in
major markets and the hiking of interest rates by the Central Bank
to combat inflationary pressures. New president DA SILVA, who took
office 1 January 2003, has given priority to reforming the complex
tax code, trimming the overblown civil service pension system, and
continuing the fight against inflation.
British Indian Ocean Territory All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
British Virgin Islands
The economy, one of the most stable and
prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism,
generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated
350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998.
Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In
the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration
to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and
incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly
400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The
adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which
provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory
gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make
the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international
business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural
activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic
food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US
Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as
its currency since 1959.
Brunei
This small, wealthy economy encompasses a mixture of foreign
and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare
measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas
production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far
above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from
overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The
government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and
housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased
integration in the world economy will undermine internal social
cohesion, although it became a more prominent player by serving as
chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation)
forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force,
reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist
sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond
oil and gas.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the
European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong
growth since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of
the then socialist government. As a result, the government became
committed to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. A $300
million stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of
2001 has supported government efforts to overcome high rates of
poverty and unemployment.
Burkina Faso
One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked
Burkina Faso has few natural resources, a fragile soil, and a highly
unequal distribution of income. About 90% of the population is
engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is vulnerable to
variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable
government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc
currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its
development program in conjunction with international agencies, and
exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of
macroeconomic progress depends on continued low inflation, reduction
in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private
investment. The internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire
continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the
need for international assistance.
Burma
Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from abject
rural poverty. The military regime took steps in the early 1990s to
liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese
Way to Socialism", but those efforts have since stalled. Burma has
been unable to achieve monetary or fiscal stability, resulting in an
economy that suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances -
including a steep inflation rate and an official exchange rate that
overvalues the Burmese kyat by more than 100 times the market rate.
In addition, most overseas development assistance ceased after the
junta suppressed the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently
ignored the results of the 1990 election. Burma is data poor, and
official statistics are often dated and inaccurate. Published
estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated because
of the size of the black market and border trade - often estimated
to be one to two times the official economy.
Burundi
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an
underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly
agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on
subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea
exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The
ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather
conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi
minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the
coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the
population. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted in
the death of over 200,000 persons, sent 800,000 refugees into
Tanzania, and displaced 525,000 others internally. Doubts about the
prospects for sustainable peace continue to impede development. Only
one in two children go to school, and approximately one in ten
adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short
supply.
Cambodia
Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 due to
the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political
infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the
first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic
reforms and growth resumed at 5.0%. Despite severe flooding, GDP
grew at 5.0% in 2000, 6.3% in 2001, and 5.2% in 2002. Tourism was
Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000
and up another 40% in 2001 before the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks in the US. Even given these stout growth estimates, the
long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a
daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive
skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which
suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of
renewed political instability and corruption within the government
discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. The government
is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and
multilateral donors.
Cameroon
Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural
conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity
economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious
problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy
civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business
enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF
and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment,
increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize
the nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an
IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however,
the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget
transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.
International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on the
economy.
Canada
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today
closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system,
pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War
II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service
sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into
one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in
trade and economic integration with the US. As a result of the close
cross-border relationship, the economic sluggishness in the United
States in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy.
Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in
2001, with moderate recovery in 2002. Unemployment is up, with
contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors.
Nevertheless, given its great natural resources, skilled labor
force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic
prospects. Two shadows loom, the first being the continuing
constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas,
which has been raising the specter of a split in the federation.
Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of
professionals lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense
high-tech infrastructure. A key strength in the economy is the
substantial trade surplus.
Cape Verde
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource
base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of
long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce,
transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 72% of GDP.
Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the
share of agriculture in GDP in 2001 was only 11%, of which fishing
accounts for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing
potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape
Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid
and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more
than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private
sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.
Prospects for 2003 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows,
tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's
development program.
Cayman Islands
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving
offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were
registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600
banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A
stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay,
accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency
earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and
caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals
exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. About 90% of
the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The
Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of
the highest standards of living in the world.
Central African Republic
Subsistence agriculture, together with
forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African
Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in
outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP.
Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the
diamond industry for 54%. Important constraints to economic
development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor
transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy
of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between
the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic
revitalization, with GDP growth likely to be no more than 1.3% in
2003. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from
France and the international community can only partially meet
humanitarian needs.
Chad
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be
boosted by major oilfield and pipeline projects that began in 2000.
Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and
stock raising for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic
provide the bulk of Chad's export earnings, but Chad will begin to
export oil in 2004. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its
landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of
instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital
for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium
led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop
oil reserves estimated at 1 billion barrels in southern Chad. Oil
production is scheduled to come on stream in late 2003.
Chile
Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high
level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation
as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the
democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the
military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the
military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97,
but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary
policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check
and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the
global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession
in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls
and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic
growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects
of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong
financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the
strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of
1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth
rebounded to 4.4% in 2000. Growth fell back to 2.8% in 2001 and 1.8%
in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation
of the Argentine peso. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, putting
pressure on President LAGOS to improve living standards. One bright
spot was the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which
will take effect on 1 January 2004.
China In late 1978 the Chinese leadership began moving the economy from a sluggish, Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented system. Whereas the system operates within a political framework of strict Communist control, the economic influence of non-state organizations and individual citizens has been steadily increasing. The authorities switched to a system of household and village responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprises in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. In 2003, with its 1.3 billion people but a GDP of just $5,000 per capita, China stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US (measured on a purchasing power parity basis). Agriculture and industry have posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment has helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. The leadership, however, often has experienced - as a result of its hybrid system - the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy and lassitude) and of capitalism (windfall gains and growing income disparities). China thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. The government has struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, many of which had been shielded from competition by subsidies and had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 80 to 120 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining long-term growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. Beijing says it will intensify efforts to stimulate growth through spending on infrastructure - such as water control and power grids - and poverty relief and through rural tax reform aimed at eliminating arbitrary local levies on farmers. Accession to the World Trade Organization helps strengthen China's ability to maintain strong growth rates but at the same time puts additional pressure on the hybrid system of strong political controls and growing market influences. China has benefited from a huge expansion in computer internet use. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable economic growth.
Christmas Island
Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of
the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino
closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support
the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island,
slated to begin operation in 2003.
Clipperton Island
Although 115 species of fish have been identified
in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic
activity is tuna fishing.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are
the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to
the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must
be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.
Colombia
Colombia's economy suffers from weak domestic and foreign
demand, austere government budgets, and serious internal armed
conflict. Other economic problems facing the new president URIBE
range from reforming the pension system to reducing high
unemployment. Two of Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee,
face an uncertain future; new exploration is needed to offset
declining oil production, while coffee harvests and prices are
depressed. Colombian business leaders are calling for greater
progress in solving the conflict with insurgent groups. On the
positive side, several international financial institutions have
praised the economic reforms introduced by President URIBE and have
pledged enough funding to cover Colombia's debt servicing costs in
2003.
Comoros
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.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
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.
Congo, Republic of the
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.
Cook Islands
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.
Coral Sea Islands
no economic activity
Costa Rica
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.
Cote d'Ivoire
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.
Croatia
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.
Cuba
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.
Cyprus
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.
Czech Republic
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.
Denmark
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%.
Djibouti
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.
Dominica
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.
Dominican Republic
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.
East Timor
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.
Ecuador
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.
Egypt
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.
El Salvador
In recent years, this Central American economy has been
suffering from a weak tax collection system, factory closings, the
aftermaths of Hurricane Mitch of 1998 and the devastating
earthquakes of early 2001, and weak world coffee prices. On the
bright side, inflation has fallen to single digit levels, and total
exports have grown substantially. The trade deficit has been offset
by annual remittances of almost $2 billion from Salvadorans living
abroad and by external aid. The US dollar is now the legal tender.
Because competitor countries have fluctuating exchange rates, El
Salvador must face the challenge of raising productivity and
lowering costs.
Equatorial Guinea
The discovery and exploitation of large oil
reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent
years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of
GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence
Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency
earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes
has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government
has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into
agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank
and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of corruption and
mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because
of large oil revenues, the government has been unsuccessfully trying
to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank
and IMF. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government
officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources
include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold.
Growth will remain strong in 2003, led by oil.
Eritrea
Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has
faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country.
Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is largely
based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population
involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in
1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero
in 1999 and to -1% in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into
northern Eritrea caused some $600 million in property damage and
loss, including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000
homes. The attack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most
productive region, causing food production to drop by 62%. Even
during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure,
asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and repairing war damaged
roads and bridges. Since the war ended, the government has
maintained a firm grip on the economy, expanding the use of the
military and party-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's
development agenda. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization
of agriculturalists from the military kept cereal production well
below normal, holding down growth in 2002. Eritrea's economic future
depends upon its ability to master social problems such as
illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and to open its economy to
private enterprise so the diaspora's money and expertise can foster
economic growth.
Estonia
Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization, is
steadily moving toward a modern market economy with increasing ties
to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The
economy benefits from strong electronics and telecoms sectors. A
major goal is accession to the EU, possibly by 2004. The economy is
greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany,
three major trading partners. The high current account deficit
remains a concern.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on
agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, 85% of exports, and 80%
of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent
drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the
Ethiopian economy with exports of some $270 million in 2000/01, but
historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to
supplement their income. The war with Eritrea in 1999-2000 and
recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee
production. In November 2001 Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from
the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Under
Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government owns all land and
provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to
hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable
to use land as collateral for loans. Strong growth in 2002 resulted
from good rainfall early in the year, the cessation of hostilities,
and renewed foreign aid and debt relief. But drought struck again
late in 2002, and the World Food Program (WFP) estimates 14 million
Ethiopians need food immediately to survive into 2003. The
government estimates than annual growth of 7% is needed to reduce
poverty, yet the maintenance of 5% in 2003 will be quite difficult
(one estimate is for 1.5% growth).
Europa Island
no economic activity
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.
Faroe Islands
The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since
1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and
stable export prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of
labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic
development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce
increasing budget surpluses, which in turn help to reduce the large
public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total
dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely
vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what
is a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close
to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese
area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified
economy and thus lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance.
Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the
Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other
Scandinavians.
Fiji
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one
of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still
with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist
industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major
sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of
industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment,
uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to
manage its budget.
Finland
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market
economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France,
Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing -
principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and
electronics industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling
almost one-third of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals,
Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some
components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate,
agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency
in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a
secondary occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing
integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 11
countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on
1 January 1999 - will dominate the economic picture over the next
several years. Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown
but will pick up in 2004 provided the world economy suffers no
further blows.
France
France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do
modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and
intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The
Socialist-led government has partially or fully privatized many
large companies, banks, and insurers, but still retains controlling
stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France
Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and remains dominant in some sectors,
particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The
telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition.
France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they
maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social
spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets
on public health and welfare. The current government has lowered
income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment. At the end
of 2002 the government was focusing on the problems of the high cost
of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour
workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The government was also
pushing for pension reforms and simplification of administrative
procedures. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe. The
current economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed
the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit. Business investment
remains listless because of low rates of capital utilization, high
debt, and the steep cost of capital.
French Guiana
The economy is tied closely to the larger French
economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space
center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and
forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and
woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical
hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill
industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is
limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely
concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is
heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a
serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
French Polynesia
Since 1962, when France stationed military
personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a
subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion
of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the
tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996,
the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism
accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard
currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and
deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector
primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits
substantially from development agreements with France aimed
principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social
services.
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economic activity is limited to
servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and
French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles
Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.
Gabon
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most
nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in
extreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large
proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber
and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.
The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face
fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports.
Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management
hobbles the economy. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50%
on 12 January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%;
the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby
arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility
(EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by
credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandate
progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided
additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF
targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized
the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing
from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for
privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices
in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon
from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed
a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt.
A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in
December 2001. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world
economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.
Gambia, The
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural
resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the
population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood.
Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a
major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed
preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi
(currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The
Gambia. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm
Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the
following two marketing seasons have seen substantially lower prices
and sales. A decline in tourism in 2000 has also held back growth.
Unemployment and underemployment rates are extremely high. Shortrun
economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral
and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management
as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice, and on expected
growth in the construction sector.
Gaza Strip
Economic output in the Gaza Strip - under the
responsibility of the Palestinian Authority since the Cairo
Agreement of May 1994 - declined by about one-third between 1992 and
1996. The downturn was largely the result of Israeli closure
policies - the imposition of generalized border closures in response
to security incidents in Israel - which disrupted previously
established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel
and the WBGS (West Bank and Gaza Strip). The most serious negative
social effect of this downturn was the emergence of high
unemployment; unemployment in the WBGS during the 1980s was
generally under 5%; by 1995 it had risen to over 20%. Israel's use
of comprehensive closures decreased during the next few years and,
in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of
closures and other security procedures on the movement of
Palestinian goods and labor. These changes fueled an almost
three-year-long economic recovery in the West Bank and Gaza Strip;
real GDP grew by 5% in 1998 and 6% in 1999. Recovery was upended in
the last quarter of 2000 with the outbreak of violence, triggering
tight Israeli closures of Palestinian self-rule areas and a severe
disruption of trade and labor movements. In 2001, and even more
severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in Palestinian Authority
areas resulted in the destruction of capital plant and
administrative structure, widespread business closures, and a sharp
drop in GDP. Another major loss has been the decline in income
earned by Palestinian workers in Israel. International aid of $2
billion in 2001-02 to the Gaza Strip and West Bank have prevented
the complete collapse of the economy.
Georgia
Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation
of agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and
grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small
industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,
metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk of
its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only
sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe
damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with
the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic
gains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing
inflation. However, the Georgian Government suffers from limited
resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia
also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi
distribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, making
the venture unprofitable. The country is pinning its hopes for
long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and
trade. The start of construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bring
much-needed investment and job opportunities.
Germany
Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy has
turned in a weak performance throughout much of the 1990s and early
2000s. The modernization and integration of the eastern German
economy continues to be a costly long-term problem, with annual
transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $70 billion.
Germany's ageing population, combined with high unemployment, has
pushed social security outlays to a level exceeding contributions
from workers. Structural rigidities in the labor market - including
strict regulations on laying off workers and the setting of wages on
a national basis - have made unemployment a chronic problem. Growth
in 2002 and 2003 fell short of 1%. Corporate restructuring and
growing capital markets are setting the foundations that could allow
Germany to meet the long-term challenges of European economic
integration and globalization, particularly if labor market
rigidities are further addressed. In the short run, however, the
fall in government revenues and the rise in expenditures have raised
the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit.
Ghana
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice
the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even
so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and
technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major
sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to
revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 36% of
GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders.
Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country
(HIPC) program in 2002. Policy priorities include tighter monetary
and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of
social services.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade,
offshore banking, and its position as an international conference
center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and
now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in
1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in
1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also
generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and
tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts
for another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major
structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but
changes in government spending still have a major impact on the
level of employment.
Glorioso Islands
no economic activity
Greece
Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector
accounting for half of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the
leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants
make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs.
Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of GDP.
The economy has improved steadily with economic growth averaging 4%
since 1997, exceeding EU growth by more than 1 percentage point.
Remaining challenges include the reduction of the public debt,
inflation, and unemployment; and further restructuring of the
economy, including privatizing several state enterprises,
undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing bureaucratic
inefficiencies. The Olympic Games will be held in Athens in mid-2004.
Greenland
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of
fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which
supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector,
including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays
the dominant role in the economy. Despite several interesting
hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take
several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only
sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited
due to a short season and high costs.
Grenada
Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign
exchange, especially since the construction of an international
airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and
manufacturing, together with the development of an offshore
financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national
output.
Guadeloupe
The Caribbean economy depends on agriculture, tourism,
light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large
subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists
from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the
islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by
other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export
earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops
are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still
dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry
features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel
are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
Guam
The economy depends on US military spending, tourism, and the
export of fish and handicrafts. Total US grants, wage payments, and
procurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20
years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a
construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones.
More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry has
recently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japanese
slowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists.
Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem
of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of
military downsizing.
Guatemala
The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of
GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee,
sugar, and bananas are the main products. Former President ARZU
(1996-2000) worked to implement a program of economic liberalization
and political modernization. President PORTILLO has continued the
liberalization program but with more sporadic results. The 1996
signing of the peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war,
removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, but numerous
corruption scandals associated with the PORTILLO administration have
dampened investor confidence. The distribution of income remains
highly unequal, with perhaps 75% of the population below the poverty
line. Ongoing challenges include increasing the government revenues,
negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading
both government and private financial operations, and narrowing the
trade deficit. A free trade agreement between the US and Central
American countries promises greater access to US and neighboring
markets.
Guernsey
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance,
etc. - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel
Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly
tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death
duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic
integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game
under which Guernsey operates.
Guinea
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural
resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country
possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the
second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for
about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government
fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if
the country is to move out of poverty. The government made
encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99, and reform
progress was praised in the World Bank/IMF October 2000 assessment.
However, fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders has
caused major economic disruptions. In addition to direct defense
costs, the violence has led to a sharp decline in investor
confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff,
while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local
markets. Multilateral aid - including Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) debt relief - and single digit inflation permitted
moderate 3.7% growth in 2002. Growth should strengthen in 2003
because of a slowly improving security situation and increased
investor confidence.
Guinea-Bissau
One of the 10 poorest countries in the world,
Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops
have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks
sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood
along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice
is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting
between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta
destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread
damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in
GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war,
trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part
of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF
sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development
of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy.
Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and
other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. However,
unexploited offshore oil reserves could provide much-needed revenue
in the long run. The inequality of income distribution is one of the
most extreme in the world. The government and international donors
continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a
lamentably low base. Government drift and indecision, however, have
resulted in low growth in 2002 and dim prospects for 2003.
Guyana
The Guyanese economy has exhibited moderate economic growth
in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining
sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a
more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the
continued support of international organizations. Chronic problems
include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure.
The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the
urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining
sector should benefit in the near term by restructuring and partial
privatization.
Haiti
About 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly
70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists
mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about
two-thirds of the economically active work force. Following
legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities,
international donors - including the US and EU - suspended almost
all aid to Haiti. The economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001 and
an estimated 0.9% in 2002. The contraction will likely intensify in
2003 unless a political agreement with donors is reached on economic
policy. Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500
million at the start of 2003.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
No indigenous economic activity,
but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the
islands.
Holy See (Vatican City)
This unique, noncommercial economy is
supported financially by an annual tax on Roman Catholic dioceses
throughout the world, as well as by special collections (known as
Peter's Pence); the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and
tourist mementos; fees for admission to museums; and the sale of
publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a
sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay
workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city
of Rome.
Honduras
Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western
Hemisphere with an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income,
is banking on expanded trade privileges under the Enhanced Caribbean
Basin Initiative and on debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) initiative. While the country has met most of its
macroeconomic targets, it failed to meet the IMF's goals to
liberalize its energy and telecommunications sectors. Growth remains
dependent on the status of the US economy, its major trading
partner, on commodity prices, particularly coffee, and on reduction
of the high crime rate.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on
international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw
materials must be imported. Imports and exports, including
reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong
reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensive
trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been further
integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness
to the world economy has increased competitive pressure on Hong
Kong's service industries, and Hong Kong's re-export business from
China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP compares with the
level in the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth
averaged a strong 5% in 1989-1997, but Hong Kong suffered two
recessions in the past 6 years because of the Asian financial crisis
in 1998 and the global downturn of 2001-2002. The Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak has also battered Hong Kong's
economy but the resumption of strong growth began in 2003.
Howland Island
no economic activity
Hungary
Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to
a market economy, with a per capita income one-half that of the Big
Four European nations. Hungary continues to demonstrate strong
economic growth and to work toward accession to the European Union
in May 2004. The private sector accounts for over 80% of GDP.
Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms are
widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more
than $23 billion since 1989. Hungarian sovereign debt was upgraded
in 2000 to the second-highest rating among all the Central European
transition economies. Inflation has declined substantially, from 14%
in 1998 to 4.7% in 2003; unemployment has persisted around the 6%
level. Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner.
Short-term issues include the reduction of the public sector deficit
to 3% in 2004 and avoiding unjustified increases in wages.
Iceland
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically
capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including
generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even
distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources
(except for abundant hydrothermal and geothermal power), the economy
depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of
export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. The economy
remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to
fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish
products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include
reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign
borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing
policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned
industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership,
primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over
their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying
into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and
new developments in software production, biotechnology, and
financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also
expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching.
Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could
not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession.
Growth resumed in 2003, and inflation dropped back from 5% to 2%.
India
India's economy encompasses traditional village farming,
modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries,
and a multitude of support services. Overpopulation severely
handicaps the economy and about a quarter of the population is too
poor to be able to afford an adequate diet. Government controls have
been reduced on imports and foreign investment, and privatization of
domestic output has proceeded slowly. The economy has posted an
excellent average growth rate of 6% since 1990, reducing poverty by
about 10 percentage points. India has large numbers of well-educated
people skilled in the English language; India is a major exporter of
software services and software workers; the information technology
sector leads the strong growth pattern. The World Bank and others
worry about the continuing public-sector budget deficit, running at
approximately 10% of GDP in 1997-2002. In 2003 the state-owned
Indian Bank substantially reduced non-performing loans, attracted
new customers, and turned a profit. Deep-rooted problems remain,
notably conflicts among political and cultural groups.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting
the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas.
It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum
products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its
fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries
for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia,
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly
for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped
in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western
Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production
comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and
offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering
countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand.
Indonesia
Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, faces severe economic
development problems stemming from secessionist movements and the
low level of security in the regions; the lack of reliable legal
recourse in contract disputes; corruption; weaknesses in the banking
system; and strained relations with the IMF. Investor confidence
will remain low and few new jobs will be created under these
circumstances. In November 2001, Indonesia agreed with the IMF on a
series of economic reforms in 2002, thus enabling further IMF
disbursements. Negotiations with the IMF and bilateral donors
continued in 2002. Keys to future growth remain internal reform, the
build-up of the confidence of international donors and investors,
and a strong comeback in the global economy.
Iran
Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state
ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture,
and small-scale private trading and service ventures. President
KHATAMI has continued to follow the market reform plans of former
President RAFSANJANI and has indicated that he will pursue
diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy although he has made
little progress toward that goal. Relatively high oil prices in
recent years have enabled Iran to amass some $15 billion in foreign
exchange reserves, but have not solved Iran's structural economic
problems, including high unemployment and inflation.
Iraq
Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has
traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In
the 1980s financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the
eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran
led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily,
and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic
losses from the war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities
ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction
of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's
seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic
sanctions, and damage from military action by an international
coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic
activity. Although government policies supporting large military and
internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters
of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's
oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve
conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export
limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some
infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999 the UN Security Council
authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required
to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports have recently been more than
three-quarters prewar level. However, 28% of Iraq's export revenues
under the program have been deducted to meet UN Compensation Fund
and UN administrative expenses. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was
largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil
prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while
medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per
capita output and living standards were still well below the prewar
level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military
victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the
shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure
and the loss of a comparatively small amount of capital plant.
Ireland
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with
growth averaging a robust 8% in 1995-2002. The global slowdown,
especially in the information technology sector, pressed growth down
to 2.7% in 2003. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now
dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP
and about 80% of exports and employs 28% of the labor force.
Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the
economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending,
construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above
that of the four big European economies. Over the past decade, the
Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic
programs designed to curb inflation, reduce government spending,
increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland
joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along
with 10 other EU nations.
Israel
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with
substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude
oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited
natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural
and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel imports
significant quantities of grain but is largely self-sufficient in
other agricultural products. Cut diamonds, high-technology
equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the
leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account
deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad
and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt
is owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and
military aid. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR
during the period 1989-99, coupled with the opening of new markets
at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew
rapidly in the early 1990s; growth began moderating in 1996 when the
government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the
immigration bonus petered out. Growth was a strong 7.2% in 2000, but
the bitter Israeli-Palestinian conflict, difficulties in the
high-technology, construction, and tourist sectors, and fiscal
austerity in the face of growing inflation led to small declines in
GDP in 2001 and 2002.
Italy
Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the
same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This
capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial
north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed,
welfare-dependent agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most
raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy
requirements are imported. Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a
tight fiscal policy in order to meet the requirements of the
Economic and Monetary Unions and has benefited from lower interest
and inflation rates. The current government has enacted numerous
short-term reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and long-term
growth. Italy has moved slowly, however, on implementing needed
structural reforms, such as lightening the high tax burden and
overhauling Italy's rigid labor market and over-generous pension
system, because of the current economic slowdown and opposition from
labor unions.
Jamaica
The economy, which depends heavily on tourism and bauxite,
has been stagnant since 1995. After five years of recession, the
economy inched ahead, by 0.8% in 2000, 1.7% in 2001, and 0.8% in
2002; the global economic slowdown, particularly in the United
States after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, has stunted
the economic recovery. Serious problems include: high interest
rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes
sliding, exchange rate; a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a
growing internal debt, the result of government bailouts to various
ailing sectors of the economy, particularly the financial sector.
Depressed economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest,
including serious violent crime. Jamaica's medium-term prospects
will depend upon encouraging investment and tourism, maintaining a
competitive exchange rate, selling off reacquired firms, and
implementing proper fiscal and monetary policies.
Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural
resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for
employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on
the island.
Japan
Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery
of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1%
of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank
of second-most-technologically-powerful economy in the world after
the US and third-largest economy after the US and China. One notable
characteristic of the economy is the working together of
manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groups
called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of
lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor
force. Both features are now eroding. Industry, the most important
sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw
materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly
subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the
world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50%
of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains
one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly
15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economic
growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5%
average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed
markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the
aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and
contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative
excesses from the stock and real estate markets. Government efforts
to revive economic growth have met with little success and were
further hampered in 2000-2003 by the slowing of the US, European,
and Asian economies. Japan's huge government debt, which is
approaching 150% of GDP, and the ageing of the population are two
major long-run problems. Robotics constitutes a key long-term
economic strength with Japan possessing 410,000 of the world's
720,000 "working robots." Internal conflict over the proper way to
reform the ailing banking system continues.
Jarvis Island
no economic activity
Jersey
The economy is based largely on international financial
services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes,
and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to
the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and
represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to
the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted
for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of
the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the
government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with
the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the
traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy
requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food
needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax
haven.
Johnston Atoll
Economic activity is limited to providing services to
US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All
food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Jordan
Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of
water and other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty, and
unemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH since
assuming the throne in 1999 has undertaken some broad economic
reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Amman in
the past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practiced
careful monetary policy, and made significant headway with
privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regime
sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTrO (2000), a
free trade accord with US (2000), and an association agreement with
the EU (2001). These measures have helped improve productivity and
have put Jordan on the foreign investment map. The US-led war in
Iraq in 2003 dealt an economic blow to Jordan, which was dependent
on Iraq for discounted oil. It remains unclear how Jordan will
finance energy imports in the absence of such a deal. Other ongoing
challenges include fiscal adjustment to reduce the budget deficit
and broader investment incentives to promote job-creating ventures.
Juan de Nova Island
Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in
territory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves
as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also
is a large agricultural - livestock and grain - producer.
Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and
processing of these natural resources and also on a growing
machine-building sector specializing in construction equipment,
tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The
breakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand for
Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in a
short-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annual
decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the government
program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in
a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstan
enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - and a solid 9.5% in 2002 -
thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to economic
reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. The opening of the
Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western Kazakhstan's
Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised export
capacity. The country has embarked upon an industrial policy
designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the
oil sector, by developing light industry. Additionally, the policy
aims to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreign
personnel; the government has engaged in several disputes with
foreign oil companies over the terms of production agreements, and
tensions continue.
Kenya
Kenya, the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa,
is hampered by corruption and reliance upon several primary goods
whose prices remain low. Following strong economic growth in 1995
and 1996, Kenya's economy has stagnated, with GDP growth failing to
keep up with the rate of population growth. In 1997, the IMF
suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the
government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A
severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems,
causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output.
As a result, GDP contracted by 0.3% in 2000. The IMF, which had
resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again
halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute
several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains
in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low
investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1%. Growth fell below
1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager
donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the
key December 27, 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign
ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable
economic problems facing the nation. Substantial donor support and
rooting out corruption are essential to making Kenya realize its
substantial economic potential.
Kingman Reef
no economic activity
Kiribati
A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has
few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were
exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and
fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy
has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is
constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure,
and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more
than one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is at an early stage of
development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives.
Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and
China is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in
recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than
$5 million each year.
Korea, North
North Korea, one of the world's most centrally planned
and isolated economies, faces desperate economic conditions.
Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of
years of underinvestment and spare parts shortages. Industrial and
power output have declined in parallel. The nation has suffered its
tenth year of food shortages because of a lack of arable land;
collective farming; weather-related problems, including major
drought in 2000; and chronic shortages of fertilizer and fuel.
Massive international food aid deliveries have allowed the regime to
escape mass starvation since 1995-96, but the population remains the
victim of prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living
conditions. Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed
for investment and civilian consumption. Recently, the regime has
placed emphasis on earning hard currency, developing information
technology, addressing power shortages, and attracting foreign aid,
but in no way at the expense of relinquishing central control over
key national assets or undergoing widespread market-oriented
reforms. In 2003, heightened political tensions with key donor
countries and general donor fatigue have held down the flow of
desperately needed food aid and have threatened fuel aid as well.
Korea, South
As one of the Four Tigers of East Asia, South Korea has
achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the
high-tech modern world economy. Three decades ago GDP per capita was
comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia.
Today its GDP per capita is 18 times North Korea's and equal to the
lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the
late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business
ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of
specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government
promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense
of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over
consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-99 exposed
longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model,
including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an
undisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged to a negative 6.6% in
1998, then strongly recovered to 10.8% in 1999 and 9.2% in 2000.
Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global
economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed
corporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumer
spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 6.2%, despite
anemic global growth, followed by moderate 2.8% growth in 2003. In
2003 the six-day work week was reduced to five days.
Kuwait
Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved
crude oil reserves of about 98 billion barrels - 10% of world
reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export
revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits
agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish,
it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water
must be distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with
foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the
country. Oil production declined by an estimated 8% in 2002 but is
expected to return to the 2001 level in 2003.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a
predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat
are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton
are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold,
mercury, uranium, and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has
been fairly progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an
improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first
CIS country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. With
fits and starts, inflation has been lowered to an estimated 7% in
2001, 2.1% in 2002, and 4.0% in 2003. Much of the government's stock
in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe
after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by
mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase.
Growth was held down to 2.1% in 1998 largely because of the
spillover from Russia's economic difficulties, but moved ahead to
3.6% in 1999, 5% in 2000, and 5% again in 2001. The drop in output
at the Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and
again in 2003. On the positive side, the government and the
international financial institutions have been engaged in a
comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth
strategy. Further restructuring of domestic industry and success in
attracting foreign investment are keys to future growth.
Laos
The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official
Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging
private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely
low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 except
during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis
beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a
country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a
rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal
telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban
areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides
80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from
aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new
foreign investment in food processing and mining.
Latvia
Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian
financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget
stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU
countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The
majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized,
although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large
enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization
in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top
foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government
deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to
increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget
deficit.
Lebanon
The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic
infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended
Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub.
Peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut,
begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government
facilities. Economic recovery was helped by a financially sound
banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers.
Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports,
and international aid provided the main sources of foreign exchange.
Lebanon's economy made impressive gains since the launch in 1993 of
"Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program.
Real GDP grew 8% in 1994, 7% in 1995, 4% in 1996 and in 1997, but
slowed to 1.2% in 1998, -1.6% in 1999, -0.6% in 2000, 0.8% in 2001,
and 1.5% in 2002. During the 1990s annual inflation fell to almost
0% from more than 100%. Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn
physical and financial infrastructure. The government nonetheless
faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has funded
reconstruction by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In
order to reduce the ballooning national debt, the re-installed
HARIRI government began an economic austerity program to rein in
government expenditures, increase revenue collection, and privatize
state enterprises. The HARIRI government met with international
donors at the Paris II conference in November 2002 to seek bilateral
assistance restructuring its domestic debt at lower rates of
interest. While privatization of state-owned enterprises had not
occurred by the end of 2002, the government had successfully avoided
a currency devaluation and debt default in 2002.
Lesotho
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on
remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties
from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of
government revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax
system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major
hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to
South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. As the number
of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a
small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that
support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries and a
rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The economy is still
primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock,
although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme
inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback.
Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility
with the IMF.
Liberia
Civil war and misgovernment have destroyed much of Liberia's
economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many
businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with
them. Some have returned; many will not. Richly endowed with water,
mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture,
Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products -
primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign
owned, had been small in scope. The restoration of the
infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy
depend on the settlement of civil warfare, the implementation of
sound macro- and micro-economic policies, including the
encouragement of foreign investment, and generous support from donor
countries.