← The 2004 CIA World Factbook, Volume 1
Chapter 10
Z (part 8)
Railways: total: 13,601 km broad gauge: 13,601 km 1.520-m gauge (3,661 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 81,331 km paved: 77,020 km unpaved: 4,311 km (2000)
Waterways:
4,000 km
note: on the Syr Darya (Syrdariya) and Ertis (Irtysh) rivers (2004)
Pipelines:
condensate 18 km; gas 10,370 km; oil 10,158 km; refined products
1,187 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk),
Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,064 GRT/646 DWT
by type: roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 26 Netherlands 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:
392 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 328
under 914 m: 217 (2003 est.)
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 71
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)
Military Kazakhstan
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Force, Republican
Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,233,623 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,381,606 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 169,004 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$221.8 million (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)
Transnational Issues Kazakhstan
Disputes - international:
Kazakhstan and China have resolved their border dispute and are
working to demarcate their borders to control population migration,
illegal activities, and trade; delimitation of boundary with Russia
is almost complete - delimitations with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
are complete with demarcations underway - delimitation with
Kyrgyzstan is largely complete; creation of a seabed boundary with
Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea is under discussion; equidistant
seabed treaties have been signed with Azerbaijan and Russia in the
Caspian Sea, but no resolution has been made on dividing the water
column among any of the littoral states
Illicit drugs:
significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as
well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug
ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit
point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of
Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Kenya
Introduction Kenya
Background:
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led
Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when President
Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession.
The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when
the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole
legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure
for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured
opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992
and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed as
having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President
MOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful
elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic,
united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated
KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a
campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.
Geography Kenya
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and
Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 582,650 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline:
536 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain:
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley;
fertile plateau in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resources:
gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets,
wildlife, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 8.08% permanent crops: 0.98% other: 90.94% (2001)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
Environment - current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
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
People Kenya
Population:
32,021,856
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.6% (male 6,575,409; female 6,430,218)
15-64 years: 56.5% (male 9,126,847; female 8,962,905)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 399,050; female 527,427) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.6 years
female: 18.7 years (2004 est.)
male: 18.5 years
Population growth rate:
1.14% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
27.82 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
16.31 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.1 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 (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 62.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 65.55 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 44.94 years
male: 44.79 years
female: 45.1 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.2 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
150,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups:
Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%,
Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab)
1%
Religions:
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim
10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for
the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous
beliefs vary widely
Languages:
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)
Government Kenya
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Nairobi
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*,
North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
Independence:
12 December 1963 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution:
12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with
amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001
Legal system:
based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law,
tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional
amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in
1991
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002) and
Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002)
and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
in addition to receiving the largest number of votes in absolute
terms, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the
vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to
avoid a runoff; election last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held
NA December 2007); vice president appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI elected; percent of vote -
Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called
"nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected
by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2
ex-officio members)
elections: last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held by early 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7; ex-officio 2; seats appointed
by the president - NARC 7, KANU 4, FORD-P 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High
Court
Political parties and leaders:
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People
[Kimaniwa NYOIKE, chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU
[Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Mwai KIBAKI] -
the governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, ONUB,
OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK,
UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard NGAITHE
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: (202) 462-3829
telephone: (202) 387-6101
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William M. BELLAMY embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiti; P. O. Box 606 Village Market Nairobi mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831 telephone: (2) 537-800 FAX: (2) 537-810
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the
red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering
crossed spears is superimposed at the center
Economy Kenya
Economy - overview:
The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has
been hampered by corruption, notably in the judicial system, and by
reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low.
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 0.2% 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 1.2%. Growth
lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor
confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the
elections. In the key 27 December 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. In 2003, progress
was made in rooting out corruption, and encouraging donor support,
with GDP growth edging up to 1.7%.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $33.03 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19.7% industry: 18.6% services: 61.8% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.3% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.9 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
11.45 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 75% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.761 billion
expenditures: $3.406 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Public debt:
62.9% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy
products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Industries:
small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries,
textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products
processing; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.033 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
3.981 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
230 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
57,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Current account balance:
$-306 million (2003)
Exports:
$2.514 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish,
cement
Exports - partners:
Uganda 12.7%, UK 12.5%, US 9.4%, Netherlands 8.5%, Pakistan 5%,
Egypt 4.6%, Tanzania 4.3% (2003)
Imports:
$3.705 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor
vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics
Imports - partners:
UAE 13.2%, Saudi Arabia 9.6%, South Africa 8.6%, UK 7.4%, China
6.3%, US 5.1%, India 5.1%, Japan 4.9%, Germany 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$1.455 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$5.916 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$453 million (1997)
Currency:
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Currency code:
KES
Exchange rates:
Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 75.9356 (2003), 78.7491 (2002),
78.5632 (2001), 76.1755 (2000), 70.3262 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Kenya
Telephones - main lines in use:
328,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,590,800 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: unreliable; little attempt to modernize except
for service to business
domestic: trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data
commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system
international: country code - 254; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:
3.07 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
8 (2002)
Televisions:
730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ke
Internet hosts:
8,325 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
65 (2001)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Kenya
Railways: total: 2,778 km narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 63,942 km paved: 7,737 km unpaved: 56,205 km (2000)
Waterways:
part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya (2004)
Pipelines:
refined products 752 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,049 GRT/7,082 DWT
registered in other countries: 9 (2004 est.)
by type: petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
Airports:
221 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 206 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 110 under 914 m: 84 (2004 est.)
Military Kenya
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 8,313,051 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,150,405 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$231 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (2003)
Transnational Issues Kenya
Disputes - international:
Kenya's administrative boundary still extends into the Sudan,
creating the "Ilemi Triangle"; Kenya has acted as an important
mediator in Sudan's north-south civil war; Kenya and Uganda are
working together to stem cattle rustling and violence by Lord's
Resistance Army along the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 154,272 (Somalia), 11,139 (Ethiopia),
63,197 (Sudan)
IDPs: 350,000 (KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s)
(2004)
Illicit drugs:
widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country
for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian
methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant
potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status
as a regional financial center, massive corruption, and relatively
high levels of narcotics-associated activities
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Kingman Reef
Introduction Kingman Reef
Background:
The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a
way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights
during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef,
which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse
marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out
to 12 nm around the reef were designated a US National Wildlife
Refuge.
Geography Kingman Reef
Location:
Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates:
6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain:
low and nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter
makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
none
Geography - note:
barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
People Kingman Reef
Population: uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
Government Kingman Reef
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,
DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the
Interior
note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted
restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef
from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18
January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be
administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this
refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of
Kingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy Kingman Reef
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Kingman Reef
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American
Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
(2003 est.)
Military Kingman Reef
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Kingman Reef
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Kiribati
Introduction Kiribati
Background:
The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and
complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US
relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line
Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.
Geography Kiribati
Location:
Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling
the equator; the capital Tarawa is about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed
that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert
Islands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line
Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the
International Date Line
Geographic coordinates:
1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 811 sq km
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 811 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,143 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use: arable land: 2.74% permanent crops: 50.68% other: 46.58% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
very sensitive to changes in sea level
Environment - current issues:
heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy
migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines
and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
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
People Kiribati
Population:
100,798 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.3% (male 20,087; female 19,566)
15-64 years: 57.3% (male 28,523; female 29,280)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,434; female 1,908) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.4 years
female: 20.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.25% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
30.99 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 49.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 55.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.32 years
male: 58.34 years
female: 64.44 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.24 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups:
predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, some
Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church
of God (1999)
Languages:
I-Kiribati, English (official)
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Kiribati
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
former: Gilbert Islands
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Tarawa
Administrative divisions:
3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - in
addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line
Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island
councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama,
Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati,
Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea,
Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence:
12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:
12 July 1979
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential
candidates from among their members and then those candidates
compete in a general election; president is elected by popular vote
for a four-year term; election last held 4 July 2003 (next to be
held not later than July 2007); vice president appointed by the
president
election results: Anote TONG 47.4%, Harry TONG 43.5%, Banuera BERINA
9.1%
cabinet: 12-member Cabinet appointed by the president from among the
members of the House of Parliament
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (42 seats;
39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member - the attorney
general, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: first round elections last held 29 November 2002; second
round elections held 6 December 2002 (next to be held by November
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
BTK 17, MTM 16, independents 7, other 2 (includes attorney general)
note: new legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first
round on 9 May 2003 and the second round on 14 May 2003
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all
levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te
Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP
[leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG]
note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties
in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups
because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party
structures
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary
consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji
is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description:
the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a
yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal
wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
Economy Kiribati
Economy - overview:
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 equals 25%-50% of GDP. Remittances from workers abroad account
for more than $5 million each year.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $79 million - supplemented by a nearly
equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 7%
services: 63% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001
est.)
Unemployment rate:
2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $28.4 million
expenditures: $37.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Industries:
fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
0.7% (1991 est.)
Electricity - production:
7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Exports:
$35 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners:
Japan 75%, Australia 8.3%, US 8.3%, Philippines 4.2%, Thailand 4.2%
(2003)
Imports:
$83 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured
goods, fuel
Imports - partners:
Australia 41.7%, Fiji 26.7%, New Zealand 8.9%, Japan 5.9%, US 4%
(2003)
Debt - external:
$10 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$15.5 million largely from UK and Japan (2001 est.)
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002),
1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000), 1.55 (1999)
Fiscal year:
NA
Communications Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
500 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
note: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific
Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve
telephone service
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)
Radios:
17,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ki
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2002)
Transportation Kiribati
Highways: total: 670 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT
by type: passenger 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:
20 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Military Kiribati
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law
enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts
are on all islands)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is
provided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues Kiribati
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Korea, North
Introduction Korea, North
Background:
An independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the
past millennium, Korea was occupied by Japan in 1905 following the
Russo-Japanese War; five years later, Japan formally annexed the
entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split, with the
northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist domination.
After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed
republic in the southern portion by force, North Korea under its
founder President KIM Il Sung adopted a policy of ostensible
diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against excessive
Soviet or Communist Chinese influence and molded political,
economic, and military policies around the core ideological
objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's
control. KIM's son, the current ruler KIM Jong Il, was officially
designated as KIM's future successor in 1980 and assumed a growing
political and managerial role until his father's death in 1994, when
he assumed full power without opposition. After decades of economic
mismanagement and resource misallocation, the North since the
mid-1990s has relied heavily on international food aid to feed its
population while continuing to expend resources to maintain an army
of about 1 million. North Korea's long-range missile development and
research into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massive
conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international
community. In December 2002, following revelations it was pursuing a
nuclear weapons program based on enriched uranium in violation of a
1994 agreement with the United States to freeze and ultimately
dismantle its existing plutonium-based program, North Korea expelled
monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and in
January 2003 declared its withdrawal from the international
Non-Proliferation Treaty. In mid-2003 Pyongyang announced it had
completed the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods (to extract
weapons-grade plutonium) and was developing a "nuclear deterrent."
Since August 2003 North Korea has participated in six-party talks
with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia to
resolve the stalemate over its nuclear programs.
Geography Korea, North
Location:
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the
Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 120,540 sq km
water: 130 sq km
land: 120,410 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries: total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline:
2,495 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the
exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign
vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate:
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain:
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys;
coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources:
coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper,
gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 20.76% permanent crops: 2.49% other: 76.75% (2001)
Irrigated land:
14,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional
typhoons during the early fall
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne
disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia;
mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
People Korea, North
Population:
22,697,553 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.6% (male 2,836,991; female 2,755,127)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 7,575,590; female 7,812,878)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 583,463; female 1,133,504) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.4 years
male: 30.2 years
female: 32.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.98% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
16.77 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 26.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.08 years
male: 68.38 years
female: 73.92 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.2 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few
ethnic Japanese
Religions:
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and
syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
religious freedom
Languages:
Korean
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
Government Korea, North
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local short form: none
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to
their country
abbreviation: DPRK
Government type:
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Capital:
Pyongyang
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities (si,
singular and plural)
: provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong),
Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae),
Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan),
Yanggang-do (Yanggang)
: municipalites: Kaesong-si (Kaesong), Najin Sonbong-si (Najin),
Namp'o-si (Namp'o), P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang)
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9
September (1948)
Constitution:
adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in
April 1992 and September 1998
Legal system:
based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and
Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 3
September 2003, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA)
reelected KIM Jong Il Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a
position accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA
reelected KIM Yong Nam President of its Presidium also with
responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic
credentials; SPA appointed PAK Pong Ju Premier
election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees
for positions and ran unopposed
head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 3 September 2003);
Vice Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun
(since 3 September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of
People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the SPA
elections: election last held in September 2003 (next to be held in
September 2008)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA; the KWP approves a list of candidates who are elected without
opposition; some seats are held by minor parties
elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)
Judicial branch:
Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Il, general secretary]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong, chairwoman] (under KWP control); Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae, chairman] (under KWP control)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular
protecting power)
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;
the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is
a white disk with a red five-pointed star
Economy Korea, North
Economy - overview:
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, 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. In
2003, heightened political tensions with key donor countries and
general donor fatigue threatened the flow of desperately needed food
aid and fuel aid as well. Black market prices continued to rise
following the increase in official prices and wages in the summer of
2002, leaving some vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and
unemployed, less able to buy goods. The regime, however, relaxed
restrictions on farmers' market activities in spring 2003, leading
to an expansion of market activity.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $29.58 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.2%
industry: 33.8%
services: 36% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA (2003 est.)
Labor force:
9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation:
agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate:
NA (2003)
Budget: revenues: NA expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Industries:
military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals;
mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and
precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
30.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
27.91 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
85,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Exports:
$1.044 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including
armaments); textiles and fishery products
Exports - partners:
South Korea 28.5%, China 28.4%, Japan 24.7% (2002)
Imports:
$2.042 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain
Imports - partners:
China 39.7%, Thailand 14.6%, Japan 11.2%, Germany 7.6%, South Korea
6.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
$12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - over $133 million in food aid through the World Food
Program in 2003 plus additional aid from bilateral donors and
non-governmental organizations
Currency:
North Korean won (KPW)
Currency code:
KPW
Exchange rates:
official: North Korean won per US dollar - 150 (December 2002),
2.15 (December 2001), 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14
(September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990); market: North Korean won per
US dollar - 300-600 (December 2002), 200 (December 2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.1 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean region); other
international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)
Radios:
3.36 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
38 (1999)
Televisions:
1.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.kp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Korea, North
Railways: total: 5,214 km standard gauge: 5,214 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 2,250 km note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)
Pipelines:
oil 154 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,
Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine:
total: 203 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 921,577 GRT/1,339,929 DWT
by type: bulk 6, cargo 166, combination bulk 2, container 3,
liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large load
carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated
cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea/passenger 1
registered in other countries: 4 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Albania 1, Belize 1, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 3, Cyprus 1,
Egypt 3, Germany 1, Greece 4, Italy 1, Lebanon 2, Marshall Islands
1, Pakistan 1, Portugal 1, Romania 8, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Syria
9, Tanzania 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 5, Ukraine 2, United States 3
Airports:
78 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 35 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2003 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
under 914 m: 8 (2003 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 14
Heliports:
19 (2003 est.)
Military Korea, North
Military branches:
Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil
Security Forces
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,181,038 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,694,855 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 189,014 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$5,217.4 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
22.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Korea, North
Disputes - international:
with China, certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers are in
uncontested dispute; a section of boundary around Paektu-san
(mountain) is indefinite; China has been attempting to stop mass
illegal migration of North Koreans escaping famine, economic
privation, and oppression into northern China; Military Demarcation
Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North
from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime disputes with South
Korea
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 50,000-250,000 (government repression and famine) (2004)
Illicit drugs:
for years, from the 1970's into the 2000's, citizens of the
Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them
diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad
while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December
2004; in recent years, police investigations in Taiwan and Japan
have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and
methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant
ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003;
all indications point to North Korea emerging as an important
regional source of illicit drugs targeting markets in Japan, Taiwan,
the Russian Far East, and China
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Korea, South
Introduction Korea, South
Background:
Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most
of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese
War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally
annexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, a republic was set
up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a
Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the
Korean War (1950-1953), US and other UN forces intervened to defend
South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An
armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a
demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South
Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising
to roughly 18 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Korean
voters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years of
military dictatorships. South Korea today is a fully functioning
modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit
took place between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and the
North's leader KIM Jong Il.
Geography Korea, South
Location:
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the
Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates:
37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline:
2,413 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
continental shelf: not specified
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain:
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 17.18% permanent crops: 1.95% other: 80.87% (2001)
Irrigated land:
11,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic
activity common in southwest
Environment - current issues:
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the
discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on Korea Strait
People Korea, South
Population:
48,598,175 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 5,223,344; female 4,681,594)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 17,625,302; female 17,072,029)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 1,597,085; female 2,398,821) (2004
est.)
Median age: total: 33.7 years male: 32.8 years female: 34.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.62% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
12.33 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 7.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.58 years
male: 71.96 years
female: 79.54 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.56 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions:
no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%,
other 1%
Languages:
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)
Government Korea, South
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
abbreviation: ROK
note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer to
their country
local short form: none
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Seoul
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities
(gwangyoksi, singular and plural)
: provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo
(South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong),
Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do,
Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang)
: metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi (Inchon),
Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan),
Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi
(Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution:
17 July 1948
Legal system:
combines elements of continental European civil law systems,
Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hae-chan (since 25 May 2004);
Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Jin-pyo (since 28 January 2005), LEE
Hun-jai (since 10 February 2004), and OH Myung (since 18 October
2004)
elections: president elected by popular vote for single five-year
term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held in
December 2007); prime minister appointed by president with consent
of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
on prime minister's recommendation
election results: results of the 19 December 2002 election - ROH
Moo-hyun elected president; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP)
48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats — members
elected for four-year terms; 243 in single-seat constituencies, 56
by proportional representation
election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP
3%, MDP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 152, GNP 121, DLP 10,
MDP 9, others 7 (2004)
elections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008;
by-elections scheduled for April 2005))
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by president with consent of
National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by
president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief
Justice of the court)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KIM Hye-kyung, chairwoman]; Grand
National Party or GNP [PARK Geun-hye, chairwoman]; Millennium
Democratic Party or MDP [HAHN Hwa-kap, chairman]; United Liberal
Democrats or ULD [KIM Hak-won, chairman]; Uri Party [LIM Chae-jung,
interim chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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
International organization participation:
AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LAIA, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador HONG Seok-hyun chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): New York, Tamuning (Guam) FAX: (202) 387-0205 telephone: (202) 939-5600
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: (2) 397-4114 FAX: (2) 738-8845
Flag description:
white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center;
there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of
Changes) in each corner of the white field
Economy Korea, South
Economy - overview:
Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible
record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world
economy. Four 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 National Assembly approved
legislation reducing the six-day work week to five days.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $857.8 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $17,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 36.4% services: 60% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
29.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 22.5% (1999 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.6 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
22.92 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 8.8%, industry 19.1%, services 72.1% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
3.4% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $135.5 billion
expenditures: $128.7 billion, including capital expenditures of
$23.5 billion (2003)
Public debt:
13.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs,
chickens, milk, eggs; fish
Industries:
electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
290.7 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
270.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.14 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
804,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
2.965 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
20.92 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
21.11 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$12.32 billion (2003)
Exports:
$201.3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor
vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Exports - partners:
China 18.2%, US 17.8%, Japan 9%, Hong Kong 7.6% (2003)
Imports:
$175.6 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,
transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:
Japan 20.3%, US 13.9%, China 12.3%, Saudi Arabia 5.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$155.4 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$130.3 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA $200 million
Currency:
South Korean won (KRW)
Currency code:
KRW
Exchange rates:
South Korean won per US dollar - 1,191.61 (2003), 1,251.09 (2002),
1,290.99 (2001), 1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:
22.877 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
33,591,800 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 82; fiber-optic submarine cable to
China; the Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1
Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 58, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2004)
Radios:
47.5 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations: 64 (additionally 119 Cable Operators; 239 Relay Cable Operators) (2004)
Televisions:
15.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.kr
Internet hosts:
694,206 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)
Internet users:
29.22 million (2003)
Transportation Korea, South
Railways: total: 3,125 km standard gauge: 3,125 km 1.435-m gauge (661 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:
total: 86,990 km
paved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,182 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 1,608 km note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan,
Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine:
total: 535 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,978,949 GRT/9,761,699 DWT
registered in other countries: 442 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Bahrain 1, China 1, Gibraltar 1, Honduras 1,
Indonesia 1, Japan 3, Malaysia 1, Panama 1, Philippines 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 1, United Kingdom 1, United States 1
by type: bulk 97, cargo 174, chemical tanker 61, combination bulk
10, container 60, liquefied gas 19, passenger 3, petroleum tanker
73, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea/passenger
2, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 3
Airports:
102 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 88 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 88 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 206 (2003 est.)
Military Korea, South
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police
(Coast Guard)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 20-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,233,895 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,966,241 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 341,697 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$14.522 billion (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (FY03)
Transnational Issues Korea, South
Disputes - international:
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone
has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime
disputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; unresolved
dispute with Japan over Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima) and
occasional protests over fishing rights in grounds also claimed by
Japan
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Kuwait
Introduction Kuwait
Background:
Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling
Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961.
Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following
several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a
ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four
days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure
damaged during 1990-91.
Geography Kuwait
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi
Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:
499 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.73% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 99.16% (2001)
Irrigated land:
60 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy
rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms
occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and
August
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People Kuwait
Population: 2,257,549 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.5% (male 316,237; female 304,671)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 1,007,298; female 569,128)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 38,408; female 21,807) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 22 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.36%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
21.85 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
2.44 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
14.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.84 years
male: 75.86 years
female: 77.86 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.03 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups:
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and
other 15%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 85.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Government Kuwait
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local short form: Al Kuwayt
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Government type:
nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Kuwait
Administrative divisions:
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al
Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence:
19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:
approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have
resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at
age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but
have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the
first time
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
December 1977); Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdullah al-Salim Al Sabah
head of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah
(since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
the Interior NAWWAF al-Ahmad Al Sabah (since 2003); Deputy Prime
Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad Al Sabah (since 2001) and Muhammad
Dayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Islamists 21,
government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note -
all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National
Assembly
Judicial branch:
High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders:
several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins,
merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and
nationalists
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah Jabir Al Sabah
FAX: (202) 364-2868
telephone: (202) 966-0702
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARON
embassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan
palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE
09880-9000
telephone: 539-5307, 5308
FAX: 538-0282
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to
1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I
Economy Kuwait
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $41.46 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.4% industry: 59.5% services: 40% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
1.38 million
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force. (2003
est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:
2.1% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $29.41 billion
expenditures: $17.57 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)
Public debt:
29.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
practically no crops; fish
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
31.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
29.29 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2.27 million bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
293,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.97 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:
NA (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:
97.68 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.548 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$8.652 billion (2003)
Exports:
$22.29 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:
Japan 21.3%, South Korea 14.9%, US 11.5%, Singapore 9.8%, Taiwan
9.3% (2003)
Imports:
$9.606 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:
US 14.7%, Japan 10.3%, Germany 9.6%, China 6.6%, UK 6.1%, Saudi
Arabia 5.5%, Italy 5%, France 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$7.685 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$12.18 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA (2001)
Currency:
Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
Currency code:
KWD
Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002), 0.3067
(2001), 0.3068 (2000), 0.3044 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:
486,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.42 million (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular
telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well
supplied with pay telephones
international: country code - 965; coaxial cable and microwave radio
relay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the
Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat
(1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and
2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.175 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions:
875,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kw
Internet hosts:
3,437 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
567,000 (2003)
Transportation Kuwait
Highways: total: 4,450 km paved: 3,587 km unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:
gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al
Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine:
total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,319,082 GRT/3,768,828 DWT
registered in other countries: 5 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: India 1, Saudi Arabia 1
by type: bulk 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 4,
petroleum tanker 21, roll on/roll off 1
Airports:
7 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Heliports:
3 (2003 est.)
Military Kuwait
Military branches:
Land Forces, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force),
National Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 880,461 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 531,556 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 18,849 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2,500.4 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.8% (2003)
Transnational Issues Kuwait
Disputes - international:
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime
boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the
Persian Gulf
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Kyrgyzstan
Introduction Kyrgyzstan
Background:
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; it
achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Current
concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises,
expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnic
relations, and combating terrorism.
Geography Kyrgyzstan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in
southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass
entire nation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:
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
Land use:
arable land: 7.3%
permanent crops: 0.35%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut
forest (2001)
other: 92.35%
Irrigated land:
10,740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; many people get their water directly from
contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases
are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation
practices
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range;
many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
People Kyrgyzstan
Population:
5,081,429 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.3% (male 835,599; female 804,384)
15-64 years: 61.6% (male 1,535,447; female 1,594,972)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 120,555; female 190,472) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.1 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 24 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.25% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
22.13 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 36.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 42.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.84 years
male: 63.84 years
female: 72.05 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.71 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian
1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)
Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:
Kyrgyz - official language, Russian - official language
note: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an
official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government Kyrgyzstan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Bishkek
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar);
Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad
Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty
(Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV
and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly
expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikolay TANAYEV (since 22 May
2002); note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV resigned on 22 May
2002 when five demonstrators were killed in a clash with police in
March of 2002; First Deputy Prime Minister Kubanychbek JUMALIYEV
(since 19 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote
- Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%;
note - election marred by serious irregularities
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
elections last held 29 October 2000 (next to be 30 October 2005);
prime minister appointed by the president; note - President AKAYEV
has publicly stated that he will not seek reelection when his
current term expires in 2005
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kenesh consists of the
Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative
Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms); note - in accordance with a 2003 referendum, the
Parliament is slated to become unicameral with 75 deputies after the
27 February 2005 elections
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; and Legislative Assembly -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - total
seats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows: Union of
Democratic Forces 12, Communists 6, My Country Party of Action 4,
independents 73, other 10
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly of
People's Representatives and the Legislative Assembly
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20
February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005);
Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000;
elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Kenesh are to be
held 27 February 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the
Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president);
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders:
Adilet (Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian Labor Party of
Kyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [Erkin
ALIYEV]; Alga, Kyrgyzstan (Forward, Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV];
Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National
Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek
TEKEBAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA];
Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Erkin
Kyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [Bektur ASANOV];
Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Future of
Kyrgyzstan [Balbak TULEBAYEV]; Jany Kyrgyzstan (New Kyrgyzstan)
[Dosbol NUR UULU]; Kairan El [Dooronbek SADYKOV]; Kyrgyz National
Party [Bakyt BESHIMOV]; Kyrgyzstan Kelechegi [Ruslan CHYNYBAYEV];
Manas El (Party of Spiritual Restoration) [Chingiz AITMATOV]; Moya
Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Joomart OTORBAYEV]; Party of
Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Bakytbek BEKBOYEV]; Party of
Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants
[Esengul ISAKOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights
[Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of
Entrepreneurs
International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,
UNMIL, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
FAX: (202) 338-5139
consulate(s): New York
telephone: (202) 338-5141
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: (312) 551-264
Flag description:
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays
representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a 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.
Kyrgyzstan has distinguished itself by adopting relatively liberal
economic policies. The drop in output at the Kumtor gold mine
sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bounced back
to 6% in 2003. The government has made steady strides in controlling
its substantial fiscal deficit and aims to reduce the deficit to 4.4
percent of GDP in 2004. 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.808 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38.7% industry: 22.9% services: 38.4% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 27.7% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.2% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $371.5 million
expenditures: $387.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries;
sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn
logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth
metals
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
13.45 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
10.46 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
2.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
16 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.016 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$-108 million (2003)
Exports:
$548 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,
hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:
UAE 24.7%, Switzerland 20.3%, Russia 16.7%, Kazakhstan 9.8%, Canada
5.3%, China 4% (2003)
Imports:
$601 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 24.7%, Kazakhstan 24%, China 10.3%, US 6.7%, Uzbekistan
5.5%, Germany 5.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$399.3 million (2003)
Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$50 million from the US (2001)
Currency:
Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
Currency code:
KGS
Exchange rates:
soms per US dollar - 43.6484 (2003), 46.9371 (2002), 48.378 (2001),
47.7038 (2000), 39.0077 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
394,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
53,100 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
applications for household telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider,
probably limited to Bishkek region
international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS
countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other
countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway
switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik
and 1 Intelsat; connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe
(TAE) fiber-optic line
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
520,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay programs from
Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions:
210,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kg
Internet hosts:
12,299 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
152,000 (2002)
Transportation Kyrgyzstan
Railways: total: 470 km broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2003)
Highways:
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
600 km (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports:
61 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 37 (2003 est.)
Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,347,312 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,091,548 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 59,759 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:
boundary with China is fully demarcated; delimitation with
Kazakhstan is largely complete with only minor disputed areas;
disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with
Tajikistan; delimitation is underway with Uzbekistan but serious
disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar progress for
some 130 km of border
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS
markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit
point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of
Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Laos
Introduction Laos
Background:
Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th
century until the late 19th century when it became part of French
Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao
border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control
of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer
ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual
return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment
laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Geography Laos
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season
(December to April)
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
arable land: 3.8%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 95.85% (2001)
Irrigated land:
1,640 sq km
note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation -
750 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
floods, droughts
Environment - current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly
forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western
boundary with Thailand
People Laos
Population:
6,068,117 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,277,152; female 1,265,761)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 1,642,895; female 1,688,175)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,995; female 106,139) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.44% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
36.47 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
12.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 87.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 97.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.69 years
male: 52.71 years
female: 56.75 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.86 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,700 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:
Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung
(highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic
Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions:
Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian
denominations 1.5%)
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.4%
male: 77.4%
female: 55.5% (2002)
Government Laos
Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local short form: none
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Vientiane
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality*
(kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone**
(khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai,
Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan,
Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Constitution:
promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system:
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures,
and socialist practice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphadon (since 26 February
1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27
March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27
March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Bouasone BOUPHAVANH (since
3 October 2003) Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since
May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March
2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26
February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held
in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with the
approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats
increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)
elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court
is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the
People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National
Assembly Standing Committee)
Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party
president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders
fled the country in 1975
International organization participation:
ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay
FAX: (202) 332-4923
telephone: (202) 332-6416
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: (21) 212584
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red
with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy Laos
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.32 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49.4% industry: 24.5% services: 26.1% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
2.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $298.5 million
expenditures: $429.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,
cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:
tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural
processing, construction, garments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
9.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Current account balance:
$-58 million (2003)
Exports:
$332 million (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners:
Thailand 20.7%, Vietnam 15.9%, France 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Belgium
4% (2003)
Imports:
$492 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Thailand 59.4%, China 12.8%, Vietnam 10.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$201 million (2003)
Debt - external:
$2.49 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$243 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
kip (LAK)
Currency code:
LAK
Exchange rates:
kips per US dollar - 10,443 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.58
(2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.02 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:
61,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55,200 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving
with over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional
48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone
network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1999)
Televisions:
52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.la
Internet hosts:
937 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
15,000 (2002)
Transportation Laos
Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,664 km
unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
4,600 km
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are
intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)
Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
none
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:
46 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Military Laos
Military branches:
Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,456,500 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 783,800 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 68,563 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$10.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.5% (2003)
Transnational Issues Laos
Disputes - international:
demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is
largely complete, but with Thailand several areas including Mekong
River islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and
Vietnam over squatters; concern among Mekong Commission members that
China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water
levels
Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation
in 2003 - 18,900 hectares, a 19% decrease over 2002; estimated
potential production in 2003 - 200 metric tons, a 11% increase from
2002); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and
methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis;
growing methamphetamine abuse problem
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Latvia
Introduction Latvia
Background:
After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars,
Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its
independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the
Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to
Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Geography Latvia
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and
Lithuania
Geographic coordinates:
57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 64,589 sq km
water: 1,000 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
low plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Land use: arable land: 29.67% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 69.86% (2001)
Irrigated land:
200 sq km
note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not
irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land
has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service
industries after the country regained independence; the main
environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality
and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and
reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession
negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of
EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with
some hills in the east
People Latvia
Population:
2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 177,223; female 169,241)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 772,496; female 823,410)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 118,035; female 245,901) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.8 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 41.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.71% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
8.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
13.73 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.86 years
male: 65.91 years
female: 76.09 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups:
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%,
Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)
Religions:
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages:
Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Government Latvia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Latvijas Republika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Riga
Administrative divisions:
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles
Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons,
Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons,
Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas
Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,
Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons,
Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu
Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*,
Ventspils Rajons
Independence:
21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is
the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4
May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August
1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human
Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented
the constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president;
parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL
18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%;
seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12,
First Party 10, LNNK 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS
(Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; First Party of
Latvia [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or
PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For Our Latvia or ML [Rihards Jablokovs];
Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [Jevgenijs Osiopovs];
Latvian National Front [Aivars GARDA]; Latvian Social-Democratic
Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Alfred RUBIKS]; Latvia's
Way Union or LC; Light of Latgale or LG; New Era Party or JL [Einars
REPSE]; New Politics Party or JP [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; People's
Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; People's Party or TP [Atis
SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Union
for the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME];
United Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS];
United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)
[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member),
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NIB, NSG,
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO,
WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS
FAX: (202) 726-6785
telephone: (202) 726-8213, 8214
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine Todd-Bailey
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
telephone: 703-6200
FAX: 782-0047
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and
maroon
Economy Latvia
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.4% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.5% industry: 24.5% services: 70.9% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
27.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
1.18 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.691 billion
expenditures: $3.871 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Public debt:
14.4% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs;
fish
Industries:
buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers,
agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note -
dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$-955.9 million (2003)
Exports:
$3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
UK 15.6%, Germany 14.8%, Sweden 10.5%, Lithuania 8.2%, Estonia
6.6%, Denmark 6%, Russia 5.4% (2003)
Imports:
$4.921 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.1%, Lithuania 9.7%, Russia 8.7%, Finland 7.4%, Estonia
6.4%, Sweden 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, Italy 4.4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$1.535 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$6.793 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$96.2 million (1995)
Currency:
Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code:
LVL
Exchange rates:
lati per US dollar - 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001),
0.6065 (2000), 0.5852 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use:
653,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,219,600 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an international capability independent of the Moscow international
switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,
rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied
subscriber applications
international: country code - 371; international connections are now
available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling
direct connections for most calls (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lv
Internet hosts:
51,758 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
41 (2001)
Internet users:
936,000 (2003)
Transportation Latvia
Railways:
total: 2,303 km
broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2003)
Highways:
total: 73,202 km
paved: 28,256 km
unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Waterways:
300 km (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT
foreign-owned: Germany 1, Greece 1, Ukraine 1
registered in other countries: 96 (2004 est.)
by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1
Airports:
51 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 20 (2003 est.)
Military Latvia
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard
(Zemessardze)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 594,596 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 466,659 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 19,209 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Latvia
Disputes - international:
the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty
with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998
maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns
over oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and
Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American
cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; vulnerable
to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent
enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of
offshore companies, exchange firms, and the gaming industry;
organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion,
stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Lebanon
Introduction Lebanon
Background:
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-year civil
war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national
reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable
political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in
the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions
in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have
conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have
extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the
country. Hizballah, a radical Shia organization, retains its
weapons. Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based
mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop
deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil
war and in the Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued
military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the
failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from
southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanese
groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. The passage
of UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a resolution calling for Syria
to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese
affairs - further emboldened Lebanese groups opposed to Syria's
presence in Lebanon.
Geography Lebanon
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and
Syria
Geographic coordinates:
33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 10,400 sq km
water: 170 sq km
land: 10,230 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers;
Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and
Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
Natural resources:
limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit
region, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 16.62%
permanent crops: 13.98%
other: 69.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in
Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes;
pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note:
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
People Lebanon
Population:
3,777,218 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.9% (male 517,356; female 496,888)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,197,430; female 1,305,339)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 117,930; female 142,275) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.9 years
male: 25.9 years
female: 27.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.3% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
19.31 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
6.28 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 28.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.35 years
male: 69.91 years
female: 74.91 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,800 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups:
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri),
Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Melkite Catholic, Armenian
Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Roman Catholic,
Protestant), other 1.3%
note: seventeen religious sects recognized
Languages:
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)
Government Lebanon
Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local short form: Lubnan
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Beirut
Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa,
Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
Independence:
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution:
23 May 1926, amended a number of times, most recently Charter of
Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989
Legal system:
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law;
no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at
age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Omar KARAMI (since 21 October
2004); Deputy Prime Minister Issam FARES (since 23 October 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next election date NA);
note - on 3 September 2004 the National Assembly voted 96 to 29 to
extend Emile LAHUD's six-year term by three years; the prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in
consultation with the National Assembly; by agreement, the president
is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and
the speaker of the legislature is a Shia Muslim
election results: For 15 October 1998 election: Emile LAHUD elected
president; National Assembly vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against,
10 abstentions
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or
Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular
vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 August and 3 September 2000 (next to be held
spring 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by sect -
Muslim 64 ( of which Sunnis 27, Shia 27, Druze 8, Alawite 2),
Christian 64 (of which Maronite 34)
Judicial branch:
four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial
cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council
(called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws);
Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime
minister as needed)
Political parties and leaders: political activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, ethnic, clan, and economic considerations
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
FAX: (202) 939-6324
telephone: (202) 939-6300
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey D. FELTMAN embassy: Awkar, Lebanon mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002 telephone: (4) 542600, 543600 FAX: (4) 544136
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red
with a green cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy Lebanon
Economy - overview:
The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic
infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended
Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub.
Peace 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,
1.5% in 2002, and 3% in 2003. 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 2003, massive receipts from donor
nations stabilized government finances in 2002-04.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $17.82 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 21% services: 67% (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
28% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
1.5 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:
18% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.414 billion
expenditures: $7.026 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Public debt:
185.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives,
tobacco; sheep, goats
Industries:
banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and
chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal
fabricating
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
6.728 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
7.44 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
107,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Current account balance:
$-2.865 billion (2003)
Exports:
$1.359 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer
goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power
machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 10.8%, UAE 10%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, US 7.3%, Turkey
5.5%, Jordan 4.4% (2003)
Imports:
$6.073 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and
live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco
Imports - partners:
France 13.4%, Germany 11.7%, Italy 10.7%, Syria 5.3%, China 5.2%,
UK 4.9%, US 4.5% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$16.35 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$20.79 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001); $4.2 billion in soft loan pledges
November 2002 Paris II Aid Conference (2002)
Currency:
Lebanese pound (LBP)
Currency code:
LBP
Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2003), 1,507.5 (2002),
1,507.5 (2001), 1,507.5 (2000), 1,507.84 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Lebanon
Telephones - main lines in use:
678,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
775,100 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system severely damaged by
civil war; rebuilding well underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: country code - 961; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations);
coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but
inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:
2.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.18 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lb
Internet hosts:
6,998 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2000)
Internet users:
400,000 (2002)
Transportation Lebanon
Railways:
total: 401 km
standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m
note: rail system was unusable because of damage during the civil
war in the 1980s; short sections are operable (2003)
narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m
Highways: total: 7,300 km paved: 6,198 km unpaved: 1,102 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:
oil 209 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Antilyas, Batroun, Beirut, Chekka, El Mina, Ez Zahrani, Jbail,
Jounie, Naqoura, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:
total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 198,602 GRT/248,313 DWT
registered in other countries: 52 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Greece 7, India 1, Netherlands 4, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 1, Spain 1, Syria 2
by type: bulk 5, cargo 23, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1,
container 2, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 8, refrigerated
cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 3
Airports:
8 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Lebanon
Military branches:
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,049,097 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 643,050 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$541 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.8% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Lebanon
Disputes - international:
Syrian troops in central and eastern Lebanon since October 1976;
Lebanese Government claims Shab'a Farms area of Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 394,532 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 300,000 (1975-1990 civil war, Israeli invasions) (2004)
Illicit drugs:
cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in
2002; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way
to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Lesotho
Introduction Lesotho
Background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence
from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990.
Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of
military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny
following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South
African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since
restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were
held in 2002.
Geography Lesotho
Location:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 30,355 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources:
water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other
minerals
Land use: arable land: 10.87% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 89% (2001)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in
overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion;
desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and
redirects water to South Africa
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous,
more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
People Lesotho
Population:
1,865,040
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 350,288; female 345,815)
15-64 years: 57.2% (male 521,434; female 545,183)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,903; female 60,417) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 20 years
male: 19.5 years
female: 20.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.14% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
26.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
24.79 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 90.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.81 years
male: 36.81 years
female: 36.81 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.44 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
28.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
320,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
29,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups:
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Religions:
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages:
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Government Lesotho
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Maseru
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru,
Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution:
2 April 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note -
King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to
February 1995, while his father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the
majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister;
the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution,
which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is
a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative
powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to
determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as
regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may
even depose the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22
principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party)
and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by direct popular vote and 40 by
proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year
terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120
in the May 2002 election
elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC
7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of
Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Tseliso MAKHAKHE]; Basotho National
Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress
for Democracy or LCD [Phebe MOTEBANO, chairwoman; Pakalitha
MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress
or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles
MOFELI]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP and Setlamo Alliance
[Vincent MALEBO]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Chief Peete
Nkoebe PEETE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI
FAX: (202) 234-6815
telephone: (202) 797-5533 through 5536
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. LOFTIS embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: 312666 FAX: 310116
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half
is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with
crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with
a green triangle in the corner
Economy Lesotho
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5.583 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.3% industry: 43.3% services: 41.4% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
34.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
49% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56 (1986-87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
838,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Unemployment rate:
45% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $625.4 million
expenditures: $675.2 million, including capital expenditures of $15
million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts;
construction; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
15.5% (1999)
Electricity - production:
0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
40 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,500 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Current account balance:
$-112 million (2003)
Exports:
$450 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and
mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners:
US 97.6%, Canada 1.5%, France 0.5% (2003)
Imports:
$661 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum
products (2000)
Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 36.6%, Taiwan 36.2%, China 12%, Germany 9.9% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$460 million (2003)
Debt - external:
$735 million (2002)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient:
$41.5 million (2000)
Currency:
loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:
LSL; ZAR
Exchange rates:
maloti per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092
(2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Lesotho
Telephones - main lines in use:
28,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
92,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system; a cellular
mobile telephone system is growing
international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
NA (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2000)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.ls
Internet hosts:
119 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
21,000 (2002)
Transportation Lesotho
Highways: total: 5,940 km paved: 1,087 km unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
28 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Military Lesotho
Military branches:
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; with Army and Air Wing)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 465,827 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 253,974 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$32.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.6% (2003)
Military - note:
the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future
structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially
considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening
in political affairs
Transnational Issues Lesotho
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Liberia
Introduction Liberia
Background:
In August 2003, a comprehensive peace agreement ended 14 years of
civil war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles
TAYLOR, who was exiled to Nigeria. The National Transitional
Government of Liberia (NTGL) - which is composed of rebel,
government, and civil society groups - assumed control in October
2003. Chairman Gyude BRYANT, who was given a two-year mandate to
oversee efforts to rebuild Liberia, heads the new government. The
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which maintains a strong
presence throughout the country, completed a disarmament program for
former combatants in late 2004, but the security situation is still
volatile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic
structure of this war-torn country remains sluggish.
Geography Liberia
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote
d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km
Coastline:
579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold
nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and
low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3.95% permanent crops: 2.28% other: 93.77% (2001)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment - current issues: tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
People Liberia
Population:
3,390,635 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 742,508; female 730,677)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 875,951; female 918,570)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 61,867; female 61,062) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.7% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
44.81 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
17.86 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: at least 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding
countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their
ability to return (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 130.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 123.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 137.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.93 years
male: 46.9 years
female: 48.99 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.16 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, Lassa fever, schistosomiasis
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups:
indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru,
Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella,
Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of
immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5%
(descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a
few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6%
note: (2003 est.)
Government Liberia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Monrovia
Administrative divisions:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,
Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,
River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence:
26 July 1847
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution:
6 January 1986
Legal system:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for
the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal
practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note
- this is an interim position until presidential elections in 2005;
the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);
note - this is an interim position until presidential elections in
2005; the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate; note - current cabinet positions are divided among groups
participating in the Liberian peace process
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
October 2005)
note:: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions and the
Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of
former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement,
Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as head of the National
Transitional Government on 14 October 2003
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent
of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF
(UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%; note - Taylor
stepped down in August 2003
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the
House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve six-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance
of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1
elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be
held NA October 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader
NA]; All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian
Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party or
LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA];
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party;
United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP
[Charles CLARKE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aaron B.
KOLLIE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: (202) 723-0436
telephone: (202) 723-0437
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: 226-148
Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in
the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
Economy Liberia
Economy - overview:
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 departure of the former
president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria in August 2003, the
establishment of the all-inclusive National Transition Government of
Liberia (NTGL), and the arrival of a UN mission are all encouraging
signs that the political crisis is coming to an end. The restoration
of infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy
depend on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic
policies, including the encouragement of foreign investment, and
generous support from donor countries.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.261 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 76.9% industry: 5.4% services: 17.7% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
85% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Industries:
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
468.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
435.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Exports:
$1.079 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners:
Germany 43.3%, Poland 10.9%, Greece 9.1%, US 6%, France 5.5%,
Thailand 4.9%, China 4.1% (2003)
Imports:
$5.051 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
South Korea 39.2%, Japan 16.2%, Singapore 12.4%, Germany 9.9%,
Spain 4.1% (2003)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$94 million (1999)
Currency:
Liberian dollar (LRD)
Currency code:
LRD
Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2003), 61.7542 (2002), 48.5833
(2001), 40.9525 (2000), 41.9025 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,000 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
790,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
70,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.lr
Internet hosts:
14 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2001)
Internet users:
1,000 (2002)
Transportation Liberia
Railways:
total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railways are in operation (2003)
Highways:
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:
Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia, Robertsport
Merchant marine:
total: 1,449 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,555,752 GRT/79,125,329 DWT
registered in other countries: 35 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Argentina 9, Australia 3, Austria 16, Belgium 8,
Bermuda 1, Brazil 5, Chile 7, China 40, Croatia 11, Cyprus 4,
Denmark 4, Estonia 1, France 3, Germany 510, Greece 142, Hong Kong
56, Iceland 1, India 3, Indonesia 1, Israel 4, Italy 8, Japan 81,
South Korea 7, Latvia 22, Isle of Man 5, Mexico 1, Monaco 59,
Netherlands 11, Nigeria 2, Norway 54, Panama 1, Poland 2, Portugal
6, Russia 68, Saudi Arabia 23, Singapore 43, Slovenia 1, Spain 1,
Sri Lanka 1, Sweden 9, Switzerland 7, Taiwan 36, Turkey 3, Ukraine
3, United Kingdom 36, United States 95, Uruguay 3
by type: bulk 278, cargo 67, chemical tanker 161, combination bulk
10, combination ore/oil 20, container 388, liquefied gas 77,
multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 3, petroleum tanker
317, refrigerated cargo 62, roll on/roll off 14, short-sea/passenger
3, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 33
Airports:
53 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)
Military Liberia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 752,943 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 406,293 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$10 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Liberia
Disputes - international:
domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth
gangs in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have created
insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, and ethnic
conflicts and refugees in border areas; the Cote d'Ivoire Government
accuses Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 13,941 (Sierra Leone), 38,325 (Cote
d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 500,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in
November 2004) (2004)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption,
criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide
significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
major money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Libya
Introduction Libya
Background:
From the earliest days of his rule following his 1969 military
coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own
political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a
combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal
practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people
themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has
always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used
oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside
Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the
end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he
engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to
gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian
politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992
isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight
103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libyan support for terrorism appears
to have decreased after the sanction imposition. During the 1990s,
QADHAFI also began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN
sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in
September 2003 after Libya resolved the Lockerbie case. In December
2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its
programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, and QADHAFI has
made significant strides in normalizing relations with western
nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders
as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made
his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to
Brussels in April 2004. QADHAFI also finally resolved in 2004
several outstanding cases against his government for terrorist
activities in the 1980s by paying compensation to the families of
victims of the UTA and La Belle disco bombings.
Geography Libya
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2001)
Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four
days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the
Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in
the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under
the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People Libya
Population: 5,631,585 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.2% (male 983,050; female 941,603)
15-64 years: 61.7% (male 1,794,396; female 1,679,828)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 113,391; female 119,317) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.4 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 22.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.37% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
27.17 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 28.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.28 years
male: 74.1 years
female: 78.58 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.42 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,
Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major
cities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
Government Libya
Country name:
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local short form: none
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:
Tripoli
Administrative divisions:
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al
'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al
Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,
Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25
municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:
based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate
religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
people's committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be held
NA)
election results: NA
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Prime Minister) Shukri Muhammad GHANIM (since 14 June 2003)
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected
indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible
memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some
Islamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists,
primarily based in London, but has little influence
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer), WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Libya does not have an embassy in the US but maintains an interest
section under the protective power of the United Arab Emirates
Embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli in May 1980, resumed embassy activities in February 2004 under the protective power of the US interests section of the Belgian Embassy in Tripoli, then opened a Liaison Office in Tripoli in June 2004
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)
Economy Libya
Economy - overview:
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
sector, which contribute practically all export earnings and about
one-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population give
Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of
this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan
officials in the past three years have made progress on economic
reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country
into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN
sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in
December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of
mass destruction. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the
socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying
for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans
for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a
more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing and
construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have
expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the
production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic
conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and
Libya imports about 75% of its food.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $35 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6% industry: 46.1% services: 45.3% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
15% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
1.51 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 17%, industry 29%, services 54% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $10.28 billion
expenditures: $7.86 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Public debt:
16.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
20.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
18.77 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1.429 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
216,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
29.75 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
6.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
5.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
770 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.321 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$6.641 billion (2003)
Exports:
$14.32 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products (1999)
Exports - partners:
Italy 38.8%, Spain 13.4%, Germany 13.4%, Turkey 7.1%, France 6.1%
(2003)
Imports:
$6.282 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods (1999)
Imports - partners:
Italy 27.8%, Germany 10.5%, Tunisia 7.6%, UK 7.1%, France 6%,
Turkey 4.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$19.78 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$4.194 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$15 million (2000)
Currency:
Libyan dinar (LYD)
Currency code:
LYD
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.2929 (2003), 1.2707 (2002), 0.6051
(2001), 0.4994 (2000), 0.3936 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
750,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
100,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;
mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to
France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;
tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
1.35 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Televisions:
730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet hosts:
67 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
160,000 (2003)
Transportation Libya
Railways:
0 km
note: Libya is working on 7 lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge
track; it hopes to open a 191 km line by the end of 2004 (2003)
Highways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:
condensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's
Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 129,627 GRT/105,110 DWT
by type: cargo 8, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll
off 4, short-sea/passenger 4
foreign-owned: Algeria 1, Kuwait 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:
140 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 59
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 80
under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)
Military Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,588,533 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 938,196 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 61,828 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria
and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;
various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Liechtenstein
Introduction Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the
end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic
devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter
into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War
II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low
taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in
banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use
of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein
has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and
recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
Geography Liechtenstein
Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool
to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People Liechtenstein
Population:
33,436 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 2,950; female 3,014)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 11,745; female 11,837)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 1,598; female 2,292) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.8 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 39.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.86% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
10.65 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.4 years
male: 75.8 years
female: 83.02 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.51 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%
(June 2002)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
Government type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and
parliamentary basis
Capital:
Vaduz
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12
July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,
assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince
ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) note - on 15 August
2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince
to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
head of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April
2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April
2001)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%,
FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1
elections: last held 11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or
Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Heinz FROMMELT];
Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List or
FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Elisabeth TELLENBACH-FRICK, Adolf RITTER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 216-0460 FAX: (202) 216-0459
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US
Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein
has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and
living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The
Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of
small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -
and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called
letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,
providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a
customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its
national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy
requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European
Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.
The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with
those of an integrated Europe.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: 40%
services: NA (1999)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001)
Labor force:
29,000 of whom 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria,
Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1.3%, industry 47.4%, services 51.3% (31 December 2001
est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.3% (September 2002)
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Exports:
$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts
for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners:
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK
4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
Imports:
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,
textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:
EU, Switzerland
Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency:
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:
CHF
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876
(2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11,400 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable
and microwave radio relay
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions:
12,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet hosts:
3,727 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2002)
Transportation Liechtenstein
Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
Waterways:
28 km (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
none (2003 est.)
Military Liechtenstein
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of
land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering
remains a concern due to Liechtenstein sophisticated offshore
financial services sector
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Lithuania
Introduction Lithuania
Background:
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by
the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of
the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not
recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the
abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.
Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into
Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the
spring of 2004.
Geography Lithuania
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
water: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
99 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate
winters and summers
Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land
Land use: arable land: 45.22% permanent crops: 0.91% other: 53.87% (2001)
Irrigated land:
90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are
ancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population:
3,607,899 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 309,736; female 294,129)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,202,603; female 1,262,784)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 184,145; female 354,502) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.4 years
male: 34.8 years
female: 40.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.33% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
8.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
11.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 8.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.46 years
male: 68.22 years
female: 79 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.17 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Belarusian 1.6%, other
2.1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant,
Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages:
Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Vilnius
Administrative divisions:
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,
Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,
Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:
11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6
September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is
the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and
established its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared its
independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the
constitutional court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)
head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3
July 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 13 June 2004 and 27 June 2004; premier appointed
by the president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote
- Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly
elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional
representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working
for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, Homeland
Union (Conservatives) 14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal
Democrats and Lithuanian People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center
Union 9.1%, Union of Farmers and New Democracy 6.6%; seats by
faction - Labor 39, Homeland Union 25, Social Democrats 20, Liberal
and Center Union 18, Social Liberals 11, Union of Farmers and New
Democracy Parties 10, Liberal Democrats 10, Electoral Action 2,
independents 6
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for
all courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders:
Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI,
chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius
KUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor Party [Viktor USPASKICH, chairman];
Liberal and Center Union [Arturas ZUOKAS, chairman]; Liberal
Democratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS, chairman]; Lithuanian
Christian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman];
Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania; Lithuanian Social
Democratic Coalition [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the
Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP and the Lithuanian Social
Democratic Party or LSDP; New Democracy and Farmer's Union or VNDPS
[Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; Social Liberals (New Union)
[Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Social Union of Christian
Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman]; Young Lithuania and
New Nationalists
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
MIGA, NIB, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKAS consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York FAX: (202) 328-0466 telephone: (202) 234-5860 chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. MULL
embassy: 2600 Akmenu 6, Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723
telephone: (5) 266 5500
FAX: (5) 266 5510
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview:
Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with
Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.
Unemployment remains high, still 10.7% in 2003, but is improving.
Growing domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered
recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.
Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and
has moved ahead with plans to join the EU. Privatization of the
large, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is
nearing completion. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been
privatized. Foreign government and business support have helped in
the transition from the old command economy to a market economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $40.88 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.1% industry: 31.3% services: 62.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
1.642 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry 30%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.3% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.427 billion
expenditures: $5.742 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)
Public debt:
23.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;
fish
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,
refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,
agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,
computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate:
16.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.62 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
8.683 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
6.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$-1.218 billion (2003)
Exports:
$7.89 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and
equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs
5% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 11.6%, Russia 10.1%, Germany 9.9%, Latvia 9.7%, UK
6.4%, France 5.1%, Denmark 4.7%, Estonia 4.3%, Sweden 4% (2003)
Imports:
$9.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transport
equipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5%
(2001)
Imports - partners:
Russia 22%, Germany 16.1%, Poland 5.2%, Italy 4.3%, France 4.2%
(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$3.45 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$7.671 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$228.5 million (1995)
Currency:
litas (LTL)
Currency code:
LTL
Exchange rates:
litai per US dollar - 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002), 4 (2001), 4
(2000), 4 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
824,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,169,900 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is
nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;
mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet
is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber
applications
international: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia
and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and
Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions:
1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet hosts:
67,769 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
32 (2001)
Internet users:
695,700 (2003)
Transportation Lithuania
Railways:
total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (all service suspended) (2003)
Highways:
total: 75,243 km
paved: 68,697 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)
Waterways:
600 km (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 296,856 GRT/317,731 DWT
foreign-owned: Denmark 12, Netherlands 1
registered in other countries: 11 (2004 est.)
by type: cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 8, petroleum
tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 2,
short-sea/passenger 4
Airports:
102 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 74 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 67 (2003 est.)
Military Lithuania
Military branches:
National Defense Volunteer Forces (SKAT), Ground Forces, Navy, Air
Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 943,063 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 738,602 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 28,300 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:
in May 2003, the Russian Parliament ratified the 1997 land and
maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, which ratified the treaty
in 1999, legalizing limits of former Soviet republic borders; both
states also implement a simplified transit regime for Russian
nationals transiting Lithuania to and from the Russian Kaliningrad
coastal enclave; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998
maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns
over oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe
and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Luxembourg
Introduction Luxembourg
Background:
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an
independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of
its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of
autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany
in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered
into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following
year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries
of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and
in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography Luxembourg
Location:
Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands
to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
flood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use: arable land: 23.28% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 76.32% (includes Belgium) (2001)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:
462,690 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 45,422; female 42,638)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 155,519; female 151,891)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 26,981; female 40,239) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.3 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 39.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.28% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
12.21 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
8.42 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.58 years
male: 75.31 years
female: 82.07 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:
Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,
Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and
resident workers)
Religions:
87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Languages:
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative
language), French (administrative language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Constitution:
17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir
Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1
January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular
elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is
appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of
Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory
body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members
appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,
DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP
14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5
Judicial branch:
judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district
courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and
tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and
tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are
appointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYOEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian
Social Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP
[Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist
Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed Communist
Party DEI LENK (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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)
International organization participation:
ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
FAX: (202) 328-8270
telephone: (202) 265-4171
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr. embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: 46 01 23 FAX: 46 14 01
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;
similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and
is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:
This stable, high-income economy features solid growth, low
inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially
dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include
chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial
sector, which now accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more than
compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned
and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small
family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-border
workers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg,
like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,
the country has maintained a fairly strong growth rate and enjoys an
extraordinarily high standard of living.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $25.01 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $55,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.5% industry: 16.6% services: 82.9% (2002 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
200,000 (of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarily
from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1.9%, industry 8%, services 90.1% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11.82 billion
expenditures: $12.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $760
million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:
barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock
products
Industries:
banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal
products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate:
1.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
457 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
744 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
6.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
865 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
867 million cu m (2001 est.)
Exports:
$8.571 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass
Exports - partners:
Germany 23.3%, France 19%, Belgium 10.4%, UK 9.1%, Italy 6.8%,
Spain 4.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2003)
Imports:
$11.61 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Belgium 29%, Germany 22.9%, France 11.4%, China 10.9%, Netherlands
4.8% (2003)
Debt - external:
NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $147 million (2002)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),
1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:
355,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
473,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6
coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1999)
Televisions:
285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:
.lu
Internet hosts:
28,214 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
165,000 (2002)
Transportation Luxembourg
Railways: total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:
total: 5,189 km
paved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:
37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)
Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Mertert
Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 652,454 GRT/805,101 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 11, container 8, liquefied gas 4, passenger
4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: Belgium 7, Denmark 1, Finland 3, France 3, Germany
10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 5, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 7, United
States 3
registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:
2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:
Army
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 115,721 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 95,107 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 2,601 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$231.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Macau
Introduction Macau
Background:
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the
first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement
signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the
Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December
1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in
Macau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all
matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography Macau
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 25.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 25.4 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:
41 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two
islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
People Macau
Population:
445,286 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 41,460; female 38,595)
15-64 years: 74.2% (male 157,629; female 172,810)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 14,380; female 20,412) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.2 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 35.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.87% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
8.04 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.03 years
male: 79.2 years
female: 84.99 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
0.93 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry),
Portuguese, other
Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:
special administrative region of China
Government type:
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
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
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents
living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited
to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently
registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad
regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government
bodies
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member selection
committee for up to two five-year terms
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004;
received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3
members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absent
cabinet: Executive Council consists of all one government secretary,
four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionist
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20
December 1999)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats; 10 elected by
popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and sevem appointed by the chief
executive; members serve four-year terms); number of legislators
will increase to 29 from September 2005
elections: last held 23 September 2001 (next to be September 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by political bloc -
Entertainment Industry 3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union
2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood Association 2, pro-business 1
Judicial branch:
The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
Some civic associations operate as de facto political parties:
Electoral Union; Pro-Macao and Flower of Friendship and Development
of Macao; Associacao para a Defesa dos Interesses de Macao; Centro
Democratico de Macao; Grupo Independente de Macao; Macau Economic
Promotion Association; Progress Promotion Union; Development Union
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Catholic Church [LAI Hung-sing, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism
and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director]; Union for
Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
International organization participation:
IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO (correspondent),
UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the
US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water
in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large
in center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the
world since its reversion to China in 1999. The territory's net
exports of goods and services account for roughly 41% of GDP with
tourism and apparel exports as the mainstays. Although the territory
was hit hard by the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the global
downturn in 2001, its economy grew 9.5% in 2002. A rapid rise in the
number of mainland visitors because of China's easing of
restrictions on travel drove the recovery. The budget also returned
to surplus in 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a
hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of
government revenue. The liberalization of Macao's gambling monopoly
contributes to GDP growth, as the three companies awarded gambling
licenses have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory. Much
of Macau's textile industry may move to the mainland as the
Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory may have to rely
more on gambling and trade-related services to generate growth. The
government estimated GDP growth at 4% in 2003 with the drop in large
measure due to concerns over the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS), but private sector analysts think the figure may have been
higher because of the continuing boom in tourism.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.1 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 12%
services: 87% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-2.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
214,000 (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:
manufacturing 20%, construction 7%, transport and communications
6%, wholesale and retail trade 15%, restaurants and hotels 12%,
gambling 7%, public sector 8%, other services and agriculture 25%
(2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2003)
Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $1.68 billion, including capital expenditures of $194
million (2002)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, livestock
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
1.611 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
1.688 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
193 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Exports:
$2.356 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, cement, machines, and parts
Exports - partners:
US 49.4%, China 14.1%, Germany 8.1%, Hong Kong 6.7%, UK 4.5% (2003)
Imports:
$2.53 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, yarn, foodstuffs, fuel, automobiles, capital
goods
Imports - partners:
China 43%, Hong Kong 12.7%, Japan 8.7%, Taiwan 5.6% (2003)
Debt - external:
$121 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA (1997)
Currency:
pataca (MOP)
Currency code:
MOP
Exchange rates:
patacas per US dollar - 8.0212 (2003), 8.0334 (2002), 8.0335
(2001), 8.0259 (2000), 7.9919 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
174,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
364,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communication
facility; access to international communications carriers provided
via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2003)
Televisions:
49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet hosts:
89 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
120,000 (2003)
Transportation Macau
Highways: total: 271 km paved: 271 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:
Macau
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Macau
Military branches:
responsibility for defense reverted to China on 20 December 1999;
there are local police forces
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 125,060 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 68,913 (2004 est.)
Transnational Issues Macau
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Macedonia
Introduction Macedonia
Background:
International recognition of Macedonia's independence from
Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new
state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols.
Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995 and the two
countries agreed to normalize relations, although differences over
Macedonia's name remain. The undetermined status of neighboring
Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement - which ended the
2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency - and a weak economy continue
to be challenges for Macedonia.
Geography Macedonia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,333 sq km
water: 477 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 221 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with
heavy snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by
the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources:
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese,
nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 22.26% permanent crops: 1.81% other: 75.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central
Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People Macedonia
Population:
2,071,210 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.5% (male 231,078; female 213,906)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 707,298; female 696,830)
65 years and over: 10.7% (male 97,437; female 124,661) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.8 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 33.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.39% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
13.14 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
7.83 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 12.67 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.73 years
male: 72.45 years
female: 77.2 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.74 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma 2.7%, Serb
1.8%, other 2.3% (2002)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 70%, Muslim 29%, other 1%
Languages:
Macedonian 68%, Albanian 25%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 2%, other
2%
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Macedonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia; note - the provisional
designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia (FYROM)
local long form: Republika Makedonija
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia
local short form: Makedonija
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Skopje
Administrative divisions:
123 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Bac,
Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila,
Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska,
Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo,
Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo,
Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste,
Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor,
Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo,
Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste,
Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis,
Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska
Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila,
Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Polosko, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo,
Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica,
Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman,
Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnica, Srbinovo,
Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica,
Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo,
Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,
Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas,
Zelenikovo, Zeleno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute "greater Skopje"; new information suggests
that the 123 municipalities have been consolidated into 84
municipalities
Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing
independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's
Day and Ilinden
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Assembly approved a series
of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Vlado BUCKOVSKI (since 17
December 2004)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be
held April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election
last held 1 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on
second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,
Sasko KEDEV 37.3%; Vlado BUCKOVSKI elected prime minister by the
Assembly
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the
government coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and BDI
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected by
popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall
vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all serve
four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Together for Macedonia coalition 60 (SDSM 43, LDP 12, others 5),
VMRO-DPMNE 33 (VMRO 28 and LDT 5), Democratic Union for Integration
16, Democratic Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity
2, National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional
Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial
Council - the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA
[Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks
[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [Arben
XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC];
Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Republican
Union of Macedonia or DRUM [Dosta DIMOVSKA]; Democratic Union of
Vlachs for Macedonia [leader NA]; Democratic Union for Integration
or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Agrarian Party or VMRO-Agrarian Party [Marjan GJORCEV];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE (including VMRO and LDT)
[Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-True Macedonian Option or VMRO-Vistinska [Boris
ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Vesna
JANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal
Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV];
National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers'
Party [VejljoTANTAROV]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP
[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or
SDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or
SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition
(including the SDSM and LDP) [Vlado BUCKOVSI]; United Party for
Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; Movement for
Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic Integration [Dosta DIMOVSKA]
International organization participation:
ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: Southfield, Michigan FAX: (202) 337-3093 telephone: (202) 337-3063
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Edward BUTLER embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: 2 311-6180 FAX: 2 311-7103
Flag description:
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of
the red field
Economy Macedonia
Economy - overview:
At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least
developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the
total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of
Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminated
advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence
of infrastructure, UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, one of its largest
markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the
country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth
until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However,
the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and
regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian
insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased
trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on
security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in
2002 to 0.9%, then rose to 2.8% in 2003. Unemployment at one-third
of the workforce remains the most critical economic problem. The
gray economy is estimated at around 40% of GDP. Politically, the
country is more stable than in 2002.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $13.81 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.3% industry: 32.1% services: 56.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
16.3% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
30.2% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
860,000 (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:
36.7% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.582 billion
expenditures: $1.661 billion, including capital expenditures of $80
million NA (2003 est.)
Public debt:
30.2% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry
leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Industries:
coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood
products, tobacco, food processing, buses, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.465 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.112 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
100 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Current account balance:
$-278 million (2003)
Exports:
$1.346 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:
Serbia and Montenegro 37.8%, Germany 27%, Italy 14.7%, Greece 9.7%,
Croatia 6.9%, US 6.1%, Netherlands 4.8% (2003)
Imports:
$2.184 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products
Imports - partners:
Greece 17.3%, Germany 12.6%, Serbia and Montenegro 9.2%, Slovenia
7.9%, Bulgaria 7.4%, Italy 6.2%, Turkey 6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$935.1 million (2003)
Debt - external:
$1.929 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$250 million (2003 est.)
Currency:
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:
MKD
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars per US dollar - NA (2003), 64.3498 (2002),
68.0371 (2001), 65.9039 (2000), 56.9018 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
560,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
365,300 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 389
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet hosts:
3,738 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
100,000 (2002)
Transportation Macedonia
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:
total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
none
Airports:
17 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Military Macedonia
Military branches:
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; including Air and Air
Defense Command)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service, tour of conscript
duty is 6 months; 17 years of age for voluntary service (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 555,611 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 448,095 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 17,595 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia
Disputes - international:
the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights of
ethnic Albanians in Macedonia while continuing to seek regional
cooperation; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo resist demarcation of a
small section of the Macedonia-Kosovo boundary in accordance with
the 2000 delimitation treaty, which transferred a small amount of
land to Macedonia; dispute with Greece over country's name persists
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001; most IDPs have returned)
(2004)
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
although most criminal activity is thought to be domestic and not a
financial center, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly
cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests or prosecutions
for money laundering to date)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony
in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free
presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17
years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential
race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was
returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was
contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc
RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In
April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the
winner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.07% permanent crops: 1.03% other: 93.91% (2001)
Irrigated land:
10,900 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
People Madagascar
Population:
17,501,871 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 3,935,523; female 3,922,077)
15-64 years: 52% (male 4,509,877; female 4,596,662)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 245,168; female 292,564) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.4 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.03% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
41.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
11.62 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 78.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 86.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.54 years
male: 54.19 years
female: 58.96 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.7 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA November
2006); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%,
Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats;
members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms); Senate (100 seats; two-thirds of the seats filled by
regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote;
the remaining one-third of the seats appointed by the president; all
members will serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to
be held NA 2006)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD 5,
others 3, independents 22
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute
Cour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot
RAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National
Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or
FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc
RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee
for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council
of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: (202) 483-7603
telephone: (202) 265-5525, 5526
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:
Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has
since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of
privatization and liberalization. This strategy has placed the
country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low
level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of
the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and
employing four-fifths of the population. Exports of apparel have
boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the
United States. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of
firewood as the primary source of fuel are serious concerns.
President RAVALOMANANA has worked aggressively to revive the economy
following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in
GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be
the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $13.02 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.5% industry: 7.8% services: 57.7% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
71% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
7.3 million (2000)
Unemployment rate:
5.9% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $739.6 million
expenditures: $1.071 billion, including capital expenditures of $331
million (2003)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industries:
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,
glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
830.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
772.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)